FINLAND, 3 February 2026 — New research from leading vacation rental software, Hostaway, has found that the highest-performing vacation rentals on Vrbo tend to demonstrate the same traits, offering property managers a practical blueprint for improving listing performance on the Expedia-owned platform.
Using AI to analyze thousands of its users’ most successful listings on Vrbo, Hostaway found that:
- 90% of top listings feature 40 or more amenities
- 90% of leading hosts offer flexible cancellation policies
- 80% of top listings showcase 35 or more high-quality photos
- 80% of the best-performing properties have Instant Booking enabled
- Top hosts highlight clear location types, such as beachfront or mountain-view
One of the clearest differentiators among top-performing listings is the level of detail provided. Hostaway’s analysis found that 90% of high-performing Vrbo listings report 40 or more amenities. While this may sound extensive, it enables properties to surface in more filtered, intent-driven guest searches, significantly improving discoverability and relevance.
Visual content continues to influence booking decisions. 80% of top-performing listings include at least 35 high-quality photos, helping guests better visualize their stay and building trust, especially when imagery closely matches the listing description.
Location clarity is another common trait. High-performing hosts are far more likely to specify clear location types — such as beachfront, mountain view, or city center — improving discoverability through filtered searches and better matching guest intent.
As AI search becomes more widespread, this level of detail becomes essential to attract the attention of Large Language Model (LLM) searches, which prioritize detailed, consistent information and digital trust signals when surfacing recommendations.
Platform signals matter
Operational choices also affect how listings perform within Vrbo’s algorithms. Flexibility is critical, with nine in ten leading listings offering flexible cancellation policies, helping to reduce booking friction as travelers remain cautious in a high-inflation economy. Hostaway also found that 80% of top-performing hosts enable Instant Booking, a feature that reduces barriers to purchase and helps capture last-minute and impulse bookings.
Unlocking underperforming revenue
By applying these optimization strategies, Hostaway helped property managers generate more than $9 million in additional revenue in 2025 from underperforming Vrbo listings.
Marcus Rader, CEO and Co-Founder of Hostaway, said: “Small, data-driven optimizations can make a meaningful difference to listing performance. What this analysis shows is that success on platforms like Vrbo can be achieved by consistently applying best practices that improve visibility, reduce friction, and align with how guests search and book, especially as AI revolutionizes travel discovery.”
Hostaway’s strong connection with Vrbo also plays a key role in driving performance, supporting accurate pricing, real-time availability syncing, smooth guest communication, and the prevention of double bookings. Hostaway is a Vrbo Elite Connectivity Partner for 2026, representing the excellent quality of its channel connection. More information can be found here.
