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Vrbo Needles Airbnb in New Campaign: We're 'Hotter' and 'Cooler'


Skift Take

Vrbo, the underdog in the competition, is getting scrappy with its marketing tactics.

Vrbo this week placed a billboard within view of Airbnb headquarters in San Francisco that said: "Think of us as Airbnb's hotter, cooler, friendlier, long-lost twin that never has hosts. Make it a Vrbo."

It's all part of the Make It a Vrbo campaign, which launched in January and aims to tout the privacy of a Vrbo vacation rental versus things such as Airbnb Rooms, where guests stay with the host present in the property.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky took the stunt in stride, putting a photo of the billboard in an Instagram story.

Source: Brian Chesky

Vrbo plans to expand the campaign in billboards across the country, including in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, and Tampa.

It is the case there are generally no occasions when hosts stay at a Vrbo property when guests are there. But it should be pointed out that most Airbnb stays are private, as well, although Airbnb offers stays shared with the host.