Whimstay, the last-minute vacation rental platform, has opened its marketplace to independent hosts for the first time, giving thousands of hosts a new way to monetize unsold nights.
Previously limited to professional property managers, the platform now allows individual hosts to onboard instantly by linking their Airbnb profile. Hosts can now easily import listings and instantly sync calendars, significantly reducing setup friction.
This move targets a persistent problem in the industry: over 50% of vacation rental properties sit empty each night, representing billions in lost income. Whimstay connects last-minute travelers with those vacancies by offering exclusive discounts on stays booked within 30 days of check-in.
“We've proven there's massive demand for quality last-minute rentals at great prices,” said Ben Jamshahi, Whimstay’s founder and CEO. “By opening our platform to independent hosts, we're not just helping property owners fill empty nights – we're creating a win-win situation where travelers get amazing properties at our best rates, and hosts capture revenue that would otherwise be lost.”
Whimstay charges a 5% host commission and imposes no exclusivity requirements, making it a flexible addition for independent vacation rental owners.
To date, the company has facilitated more than 2 million nights across homes, condos, cabins, villas, and resorts in North America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Our Take:
Opening the platform to all hosts is a is a smart move from Whimstay as platforms like Vrbo are ramping up efforts to capture more last-minute bookings. For hosts, the strategy is backed by data: booking windows are shrinking. In the U.S., reservations are now being made 11% closer to check-in compared to last year. Every unsold night is lost revenue, and capturing even one extra booking a month can significantly lift annual income.
