Expedia confirmed that Vrbo listings are now available through its Rapid API, the system partners use to pull Expedia’s lodging supply. This change means vacation rentals will show up on more travel platforms without property managers needing to join each partner one by one.
Expedia’s Rapid API now includes over 900,000 vacation rentals. That total combines 265,000 properties already in Expedia’s system and more than 650,000 Vrbo properties.
Integration Challenges
Expedia is rolling out API access slowly, starting with a small group of approved partners, because adding STRs into a hotel-focused system comes with real complications. STR bookings have different rules for reservation changes, guest communication, and local regulations, so partners must meet stricter requirements before they can access Vrbo inventory. Expedia also needs to ensure property types are labeled correctly. A single-family home with no front desk, for example, cannot be listed or displayed like a hotel.
Communication standards are another friction point. Many Vrbo properties have no on-site staff, which means guests need detailed arrival instructions and a direct way to reach the host. Since Vrbo bookings do not yet connect to Expedia’s Property Message Center, partners must provide traveler email addresses so hosts can send check-in details and resolve issues during the stay.
Takeaways for vacation rental property managers
Vrbo listings will now appear across Expedia’s wider network, including airlines, loyalty programs, travel agents, and financial partners. This won't drive a sudden spike in demand, but it will put STRs in front of more travelers who may not have visited Vrbo directly. So in the long term, Vrbo listings will gain more distribution without adding new platforms to manage.
The update strengthens Expedia’s position as a vacation rental OTA and gives hosts on the platform another path to reach guests and increase bookings.
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