Just in time for U.S. football season, Vrbo comes out with a hilarious ad about the vacation rental host in a shared space that you never want to meet. Even if it's in an Airbnb Room.
Short-term rental hosts are increasingly relying on amenities – like pools, hot tubs and mini golf – to make their listings stand out from the competition, and some say the end result is an “amenities arms race.”
While Vrbo's new ad campaign to attract hosts doesn't mention its competitor Airbnb by name, Expedia’s smaller short-term rental platform keeps poking at what makes it different from the industry juggernaut.
Discount travel sites tend to do well during times when vacation rentals and hotels aren't selling well on more traditional travel sites. Expedia/Vrbo's deal with Whimstay may reflect those market dynamics.
Now you know why online travel companies do so much A/B testing. The whole world seems to depend on whether a price disclosure is in a bold or light font. Fee transparency is being put to its own test in California.