Vrbo to Double Commissions as It Plays Catch-Up to Airbnb

Photo Credit: Ariane Gorin speaking during Skift Global Forum 2026 in New York City. Skift Vrbo, the Expedia Group vacation rental brand, said Tuesday it is transitioning hosts and property managers to a flat 12% fee starting October 29. Property managers connected to a property management system currently pay Vrbo a 5% fee, and hosts not connected to a PMS pay an 8% commission. About 55% of listings globally connect to Vrbo through PMS software, including 51% in the U.S., according to AirDNA. A note to hosts announcing the update did not address guest fees, which currently sit at 11-14%, but a vacation rental expert familiar with Vrbo's plans said the company plans on drastically reducing them. In a link to frequently asked questions seen by Skift, Vrbo said some guest fees would remain: "In most cases travelers will still see a service fee applied at the time