This week’s roundup highlights Expedia Group’s latest platform updates, Airbnb’s continued shift towards hotels, a new vacation rental platform gaining traction, the IRS targeting short-term rental income, and trends shaping Greece’s rental market. Let’s dive in.
This week, Expedia Group unveiled a series of updates set to reshape the experience for both hosts and guests on its platforms. First, Expedia is expanding Vrbo property distribution through its B2B network, reaching 70,000 businesses and over 160,000 travel agents, with partners like Delta, Alaska Airlines, and Revolut among the first to distribute Vrbo listings. On the consumer side, Expedia has enhanced its search experience with a new tab-view filter, allowing users to easily toggle between hotels and vacation rentals. Looking ahead to early 2026, Vrbo will also introduce changes to its Premier Host program, aiming to drive more traffic to exceptional listings. The biggest shift will be moving recognition from the host level to individual listings. New qualifications for this listing-level recognition include a 99% acceptance rate, 0% cancellation rate, and a 4.6+ review rating. This change is aimed at highlighting top-performing properties and giving them increased visibility. Lastly, Expedia is rolling out a range of AI-powered features, including AI Guest Review Summary (Live Now) for quick, summarized guest feedback, AI Property Q&A (Beta) for instant answers, AI-Powered Property Highlights (Testing) to showcase unique features based on guest reviews, and Trust Through Real Photos (Testing) allowing guests to upload photos with their reviews.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says the company is now getting serious about hotels, with plans to launch a dedicated hotel interface inside the Airbnb app. After pausing hotel expansion during the pandemic, Chesky confirmed Airbnb will now focus on boutique and independent hotels, starting with a pilot in a few cities, including New York. The move builds on the company’s 2019 acquisition of HotelTonight and aims to keep guests from leaving the platform when they can’t find a suitable home. Chesky also noted that Airbnb’s recent shift to a single-fee pricing structure positions the company to better compete in these markets, where transparent, up-front pricing is already the standard.
Lake.com, a vacation rental platform specializing in lake houses and waterfront properties, has raised $2.6 million in pre-seed funding led by the Business Development Bank of Canada. The site currently features about 40,000 listings across 7,000 destinations in North America and Europe, with plans to handle over 100,000 bookings in the next 18 to 24 months. Lake.com aims to address frustrations with existing platforms by offering clear pricing without surprise fees, consistent cancellation policies, and AI-driven search tools designed to help guests find the perfect home. CEO David Ciccarelli describes the company as creating a new kind of travel agency built for families and the next generation of travelers. By the way, Lake.com is finalizing the OwnerRez integration now, and you'll be able to list your properties in the coming weeks!
The IRS announced this week that it will focus on vacation home rentals in 2025, urging homeowners who rent through platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo to report their rental income properly. In the announcement, they stressed the importance of distinguishing between personal and rental use, with the increased enforcement targeting properties rented beyond certain limits. With this being a key focus in 2025, it's crucial to double-check state and national tax laws to ensure everything is reported correctly.
Travel and Tour World released an article focusing on Greece’s short-term rental market, featuring key data from AirDNA. The report highlights a rise in rental prices across popular Greek destinations, despite a slight dip in occupancy rates. Experts suggest that higher rental prices may be contributing to the decline in occupancy, while still reflecting strong demand for vacation rentals in the region. The article emphasizes the importance of property owners staying on top of their pricing among shifting market trends as Greece continues to attract new travelers.
As the Expedia Group rolls out major updates and Airbnb moves into the hotel space, the vacation rental landscape is shifting in exciting new ways. Stay tuned for more on these developments and how the industry continues to evolve in the weeks ahead!
