Vrbo

Second-largest vacation rental marketplace globally, primary competitor to Airbnb within Expedia Group portfolio

Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is a leading online vacation rental marketplace that connects property owners and managers with travelers seeking alternative accommodations to traditional hotels. Founded in 1995 and acquired by HomeAway in 2006, Vrbo became part of Expedia Group in 2015 when Expedia acquired HomeAway for $3.9 billion. The platform specializes in whole-home rentals including vacation homes, cabins, condos, and beach houses across global destinations. While Vrbo is primarily a travel marketplace rather than a pure AdTech company, it operates within the digital advertising ecosystem as a significant advertiser and utilizes sophisticated marketing technology to acquire customers and drive bookings. Vrbo competes directly with Airbnb in the vacation rental space and leverages Expedia Group's extensive advertising capabilities, data assets, and media network. The platform generates revenue through subscription fees for property owners and service fees charged to both hosts and guests on bookings, while also participating in performance marketing and paid search advertising to drive traffic and conversions.