Vrbo Introduces Global Sponsored Listings for Hosts

The platform now allows property managers and hosts to pay for premium placement in search results, operating on a pay-per-booked-night model.

Vrbo has launched sponsored listings globally for all partners, allowing property managers and hosts to pay for premium positions at the top of relevant search results. The system operates on a pay-per-booked-night model. Partners are charged only when a traveler clicks a promoted property and completes a booking, not for impressions or clicks that do not convert.

Campaigns are managed through the Expedia Group Advertising platform. Partners select their target audience and submit a bid for each booked night, with a minimum bid of $5 and no maximum. An advertising score determines which properties secure premium placement. Partners can monitor impressions, clicks, bookings, and return on advertising spend through a campaign dashboard.

This global rollout follows a six-month pilot with nine property management companies, including AvantStay. According to Expedia Group internal data, participating partners recorded average increases of 49 percent in bookings, 39 percent in revenue, and 30 percent in booked nights during the pilot period.

Tim Rosolio, vice president of vacation rental partnerships at Expedia Group, stated that Vrbo’s migration to the group’s ecommerce technology platform enabled this product. He added that guests increasingly expect standards from vacation rentals comparable to hotels. Sponsored listings offer operators a way to gain visibility in competitive markets and manage promotions, potentially useful for filling gaps during quieter periods.

For jungle stay hosts, this offers a new tool to increase property visibility on Vrbo, while travelers may see more promoted options in their search results.