VRBO Recommending disconnecting Hospitable

What feature? VRBO reps actively reaching out for listings feature feels like a scam. The only calls we get are guest complaints. 🥴 Also, Hospitable is a soft connection with VRBO still, yet soon will be changed. In other words, everything in VRBO should work fine as without a property manager. So, I am very unsure of this call. Unless other hosts got same calls. 

I actually recall getting a call from VRBO once. It was a few years ago and I found it to be a bit odd since they were trying to get me to be more active on VRBO, but they never mentioned anything about Hospitable.

He said I couldn’t use any of them 😅

Yeah, that’s what it felt like...or a new VRBO rep that doesn’t understand how it all works together.  

​@ohiastays similarly I’ve had a few different VRBO “account reps” reach out to coach me up on what I’m doing wrong.  Not surprisingly what I’m doing wrong is not offering enough discounts, especially last minute, and having too long of minimum stay duration.

After explaining guest psychology to the first one and seeing it was a futile endeavor I’ve decided to tune these out as Unsolicited Advice from Posers and keep on trucking with the help of the VRBO rep.

If your experience varies I’d love to hear :)

I too responded to an invitation from Vrbo for a “5-10 minute call” on how to “optimize my listings,” and it was basically just a sales call where they tried to convince me to offer 10% discounts left and right.

I think the reason they do these consultations over the phone is because it allows the reps to say or imply things that are not quite true. I was told (verbally) that you need to offer at least 10% under any of their promotions in order for it to “get picked up by the algorithm” (they explicitly told me that 5% is basically the same as having the promotion turn off -- which can’t possibly be true), and that “the algorithm explicitly boosts listings that have promotions of at least 10%.” But none of my research after the call seems to support these claims. 

Ultimately their motivation seems to be to get me to lower my prices, which would of course result in more bookings, and therefore more commissions for Vrbo. No duh.

And I also got the impression (gut feeling) that these sales reps are possibly compensated based on how many hosts “turn on” promotions under their account after the call.

 In ohiastays’ case, maybe what the rep was really getting at, was that if you’re not logged in directly to Vrbo, you are not likely to see all the different levers that can be pulled, and you would never see all the “opportunities” they are encouraging you to take action on. It’s not that you “don’t have access to them” (as in they are turned off for you or you are somehow forbidden to use them)… it’s just that when you’re managing your Vrbo account through a third-party interface like Hospitable, you simply don’t see all the “pitches” they are offering to you through their own UI. 

For what it’s worth, here’s what Vrbo DID put in writing for me after the call. Note that it is very shy on the claims that were made to me verbally. And any mention of getting a “visibility boost” as a result of implemeting 10% promotions is probably just a natural side effect of lowering your prices.

[begin quote of email from Vrbo]

Thank you again for your time on the call. It’s the best moment to elevate your listings and maximize your income with Vrbo’s most compelling promotional strategies. With new and powerful discounts targeted to Vrbo One Key members, you’re positioned to attract more travelers and reach the highest converting audiences on the platform.

Unleash the Power of Vrbo Promotions

1. Weekly & Monthly Discounts

Activate a minimum 10% weekly or monthly discount and unlock:

• More long-term stays: Attract guests staying 7+ or 30+ nights, reducing gaps and turnover costs.
• Instant guest appeal: Strike-through pricing makes travelers feel they’re scoring a deal.
• Higher visibility: Your property appears in search filters for weekly/monthly stays—translating to up to 40% more views and conversions.
• Special banners: Promotional cues encourage guests to extend their stays—boosting your revenue potential.

How to Set Up:

1. Log in to Vrbo Owner Dashboard.
2. Select your property.
3. Go to Calendar > Settings > “Base rates and discounts.”
4. Enter your base rate and set a 10% (minimum) weekly/monthly discount.
5. Click Save!

2. Last-Minute Deals

Drive occupancy and gain extra visibility by filling calendar gaps.

• Prominent placement: Vrbo highlights last-minute deals in traveler searches.
• Gaps filled fast: Capture revenue from nights that might otherwise go unsold.

How to Add:

1. Calendar > Settings > Promotions.
2. Select “Create Promotion” > Last minute.
3. Enter at least a 10% discount and Save!

3. Early Booking Incentive

Lock in future income and take planning stress off the table.

• Secure revenue early: Get advance bookings and smooth your income flow.
• Operational peace of mind: More time to manage turnover and adjust plans.

How to Activate:

• In Promotions, select “Early booking” and set at least a 10% discount to far-in-advance stays—no end date needed.

4. Mobile Booking Incentive

Nearly half of Vrbo bookings come from mobile—make your listing a mobile standout!

• Stand out with a special badge: Instantly catch the eye of fast-acting mobile travelers.
• Dedicated mobile filters: Your discount ensures you appear in app-exclusive “deal-seeker” searches.
• Increased impulse bookings: Perfect for converting travelers ready to book NOW.

How to Launch:

• From Promotions, create and select the mobile booking deal, set a 10%+ discount, and activate!

5. Tiered Vrbo Member Only Deal — Turbo-Charge Your Conversion!

We’re now offering a tiered Member Only Deal—your property will attract Vrbo’s most valuable guests and keep them coming back.
Here’s how the new Member Only Deal works:

• Blue Members: Enjoy a 10% discount on all stays. For select shorter stays, a minimum 5% discount may apply.
• Silver Members: Get a generous 15% discount—motivating guests to level up their One Key status!
• Gold & Platinum Members: Unlock an exclusive 20% discount—the best rates for Vrbo’s most loyal travelers.

Benefits to you:

• Maximum search visibility: Each tiered deal displays the special “Member Price” badge/offer, driving more clicks and bookings.
• More repeat bookings: These exceptional discounts encourage loyalty and maximize exposure to the highest-converting audience.
• Higher ranking: Vrbo’s algorithm rewards Member Only Deals—your property will show up more often when travelers filter for member rates and deals.

Quick Steps to Enable:

1. Confirm enrollment in One Key (the Vrbo/Expedia/Hotels.com rewards program).
2. Go to Calendar > Settings > Promotions / Member Only Deal.
3. Create and layer promotions for each membership tier:
   • Blue: Set a 10% deal (or 5% for special stays)
   • Silver: Set a 15% deal
   • Gold & Platinum: Set a 20% deal
4. Save your promotions and watch your property jump in searches and performance!

Tip: If the system limits deals to one Member Only Deal, set the highest discount and communicate tiered benefits in your listing details and messages for awareness.

Ready to Get Started?

• Log in and visit Calendar > Settings > Promotions/Base rates
• Activate weekly/monthly, last-minute, early-booking, and mobile deals—start with a minimum 10%, or higher for member tiers
• Enable and highlight your tiered Member Only Deal for One Key guests!

Every promotion you set increases your advantage, boosts your visibility, and attracts high-quality, high-value travelers. If you need personalized guidance, reply here and the Vrbo Account Management team will help you every step.

Let’s work together—get the most bookings and the best guests this season!

[end quote of email from Vrbo]