Giving VRBO a head start on Airbnb

[Tom Dieringer]

Looking for thoughts on a strategy to help VRBO not get immediately buried by Airbnb and be permanently assigned to an “also ran” capacity. I realize that there are variables from market to market and property to property that could make VRBO more effective for a given property, but my understanding is that in general Airbnb bookings get out to such a dominant start in regard to percentage of the bookings, that VRBO and other lesser OTAs have trouble catching up.

One unvetted thought I’ve had for when I go live is to give VRBO a 1-2 week head start on our listing. It wouldn’t even be listed on Airbnb during this period so I wouldn’t get dinged by them for blocking the calendar. I would limit the open calendar days on VRBO to maybe only 30 or so out so as to not cause any/many issues (having too many dates show as booked) when I subsequently go live on Airbnb. After the head start period and hopefully getting a couple/few? VRBO bookings in that 30-day window, I would then go live with my Airbnb listing, open out the calendar a little bit further so adequate availability shows, and take advantage of it’s first week or two? of listing boost. In my mind, the reason for doing this would be to have two engaged platforms versus one dominant one.

What am I missing? Why is this not important in the long run? How could it backfire?  Thanks group!

[Andrew Steffens]

In my experience the % booked on each platform largely has to do with the target audience.  We have a lot of more urban units in Tampa that attract mostly Airbnb (maybe 85-90%) and they book close in, often same day.  The larger, family centered houses near the beach are nearly 50/50.  

If your property is ready to rent I would list on both simultaneously.  If you don't you are likely costing yourself bookings.