Uber announced a partnership with Expedia that will bring more than 1 million Vrbo vacation rentals into the Uber app later this year.
The deal, revealed at Uber's annual GO-GET event on April 29th, already allows U.S. users to search and book from over 700,000 hotels globally. 1 million+ Vrbo vacation rentals will be added later in 2026.
Hotels are the centerpiece of the initial rollout. But Vrbo's inventory, which holds roughly 29% of the North American vacation rental market, will be available to Uber's 202 million monthly active users without hosts lifting a finger.
How It Works for Vacation Rental Hosts
Vrbo listings will flow into the Uber app through Expedia's Rapid API, the same technology that powers Expedia's broader partner network. Hosts don't need to opt in, connect a new channel, or take any action. If a property is listed on Vrbo, it will eventually be bookable through Uber once the vacation rental side goes live.
Uber’s tying the feature to its Uber One subscription program, which has 46 million members paying $9.99 per month. Members get 20% off a rotating selection of hotels and earn 10% back in Uber Credits on all bookings, redeemable across rides and Uber Eats.
The partnership runs in both directions. Starting in June, Uber rides will be bookable inside the Expedia app, with pre-trip notifications prompting hotel guests to book discounted rides for their stay.
One detail worth noting for hosts: Vrbo operators will have no direct visibility into bookings that originate from Uber. Listings flow through Expedia's existing infrastructure, and there won't be a separate "Uber" channel in host dashboards. This adds a distribution layer operators can't directly track.
Airbnb Is Not Part of This Deal
Airbnb, with more than 9 million global listings, is absent from the partnership. The company's platform exclusivity and brand identity make it unlikely to white-label its inventory through a competitor's app.
Both companies are expanding into each other's territory. Airbnb recently launched a private car service in over 125 cities and its chief business officer confirmed the company is "absolutely thinking about" adding flights. Uber’s moving in the opposite direction, from transportation into lodging. The Vrbo deal gives Uber a vacation rental channel that competes with Airbnb's inventory without needing Airbnb's participation.
The Takeaway
For Vrbo hosts, this is a new distribution channel that requires no setup and no new tools. Listings will reach Uber's user base automatically through Expedia's existing systems.
Whether the Vrbo integration drives meaningful demand once it launches, especially through a ride-hailing app where most users open the app for transportation, is an open question.
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