Everything you need to understand about how Hospitable's VRBO integration works, what's included, and what to expect.
We've officially passed VRBO's certification, and we're getting close to opening this up. Hosts in our pilot are already connected and running, and we're excited to start bringing more of you in.
Before you connect, here's what you need to know.
What you'll get
- Pricing and availability management
- Cancellation policies
- Automated messaging and unified inbox for VRBO guests
- Create new VRBO listings from existing Airbnb listings
- Dynamic pricing tools (Price Labs)
- Multiple VRBO accounts under one dashboard
- Chargeback protection
- Tax remittance in selected jurisdictions
- One-click upsell purchases for guests (card is already on file, so buying early check-in, late checkout, or travel insurance is frictionless)
Coming soon after launch: Listings content editing (photos, amenities, descriptions) and additional features.
How payments will work
When you connect VRBO through property management software, VRBO stops processing payments for you. This is how it works with all property management software integrations. It's not optional and it's not specific to Hospitable. Here's what the flow looks like before and after:
The guest experience doesn't change. They still book and pay on VRBO. What changes is who processes that payment on the backend.
Why does VRBO need my credit card? Because VRBO is no longer deducting their commission from payments, they charge it to your card directly. This is standard for all hosts connecting through property management software.
Why Hospitable handles payments differently
Most other providers take the easy route: they connect you to Stripe and leave you to handle chargebacks, taxes, and compliance on your own. We went further and became your Merchant of Record, which means we handle all of that for you.
What does it cost?
Your VRBO commission stays exactly the same (whether per-booking or annual). The only difference is on the payment processing side, and the difference is small:
For an extra $9 on a $1,000 booking, you get full chargeback protection, tax remittance, listings management from Hospitable, and one-click upsell purchases.
Where we remit taxes
If your state is in pink, taxes are handled automatically. You don't need to configure anything. If your state is grey, you'd handle tax filing for that jurisdiction yourself. You can also check the full jurisdiction list here (same places we remit for Direct!)
Will you automatically transition me? How can I join?
We're onboarding everyone slowly. This is a very complex integration and we want to make sure it is stable before releasing it to everyone. In April, you'll receive an invite to connect to the new integration. It won't be automatic.
Common questions
Can I still edit my listing on VRBO directly? Yes.
What happens to existing reservations? Whoever is your Merchant of Record before you connect continues to handle those bookings. Hospitable covers everything after you connect.
Can I go back to how it was before? Yes. You'd ask VRBO to decommission the integration. We do not recommend doing that.
What is a merchant of records (MoR)? A merchant of record is the one who officially processes the payment, collecting from the guest, handling taxes and refunds, and paying you out.
What if there's a payment issue? We will fully refund you. We stand behind the integration.
I'm on an annual plan with VRBO. Does that change? No. Your VRBO commission arrangement stays exactly the same, whether you're on an annual plan, per-booking, or anything else. Connecting through Hospitable doesn't affect how VRBO charges you.
What about Stripe? Coming later this year for international hosts. For US hosts, the Merchant of Record model offers more benefits at a similar price. You can migrate to Stripe later if you wish to do it.
VRBO currently remits my taxes. What changes? Hospitable will remit in selected jurisdictions. If yours is covered, it's automatic. If not, you'd handle filing yourself. Check before you connect.
Who handles taxes during the transition? Whoever is your Merchant of Record before you connect continues to handle taxes on those bookings. Hospitable handles tax remittance for everything after.
Do I configure tax rates? No. Automatic based on property location.
Is 3.9% the same for everyone? Yes.
Any limit on properties or accounts? No.
Can I change from Hospitable MoR to Stripe? Yes, once Stripe is available you'll be able to change anytime. Stripe will be available by June 10th.
Can I change from Stripe to Hospitable MoR? Yes, you can change anytime if you are in the US, UK or Australia. If your properties are in another country Stripe is the right choice for you and you won't be able to change. Please note that Stripe as an option is only available by June 10th.
Can I have some properties on Stripe and some on Hospitable MoR? Yes.
Can I select a different bank account per property to to pay owners our directly? Yes
Questions? Reply to this post and I'll be answering them here!
