Taking a vacation and staying in a hotel is rapidly becoming obsolete. Each year, an increasing number of tourists choose to spend their vacations in vacation rentals, renting individual homes to share with their friends and family.
When travelling for business or pleasure, thousands of people choose to rent a vacation home or rent out someone’s apartment. The issue is that you now have a variety of options when it comes to booking your vacation.
Which listing service to choose is one of the most essential decisions to have to make before starting to host guests in a short-term rental.
There are several alternatives to grab, such as FlipKey and Vrbo, both of which are well-known in the rental industry. Travellers can reserve rental houses, apartments, and vacation homes through FlipKey and Vrbo, two rental companies.
Key Takeaways
- TripAdvisor owns FlipKey and focuses on providing verified guest reviews, while VRBO is part of the Expedia Group and emphasizes direct owner-to-guest communication.
- VRBO targets vacation homes and larger properties, while FlipKey offers a wider variety of accommodations, including apartments and rooms.
- FlipKey uses a pay-per-booking model, whereas VRBO offers pay-per-booking and subscription-based pricing options for property owners.
FlipKey vs Vrbo
The difference between Flipkey and Vrbo is that both companies offer rental apartments, but FlipKey also offers Travel. FlipKey offers hotel ratings, travel ratings and much more about rental properties. Vrbo focuses only on rental vacation houses for tourist attractions.
FlipKey is a vacation rental marketplace that operates online. It is a TripAdvisor affiliate.
The company listed almost 300,000 homes in 179 countries in 2016. The headquarters of the business is in Boston, Massachusetts.
Despite the fact that rental owners are vetted by business personnel before being posted to the FlipKey website, the platform largely relies on traveller evaluations of rental homes.
FlipKey also provides ratings for famous heritage sites in the United States, as well as evaluations for travel-related goods such as culinary blogs.
Holiday Rentals by Owner, or VRBO, is an online marketplace for vacation rentals in the United States. HomeAway purchased it in 2006.
On December 15, 2015, Expedia Group purchased HomeAway. VRBO was rebranded Vrbo on March 27, 2019, with a new logo, capitalization, and pronunciation.
In July 2020, the HomeAway and Vrbo websites merged to become a single Vrbo website.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | FlipKey | Vrbo |
|---|---|---|
| Niche | Travel and Rentals | Rental |
| Founded in | 2007 | 1995 |
| Founders | TJ Mahony | David Clouse |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Parent Company | TripAdvisor | Expedia Group |
| Website | www.flipkey.com | www.vrbo.com |
| Monthly Traffic | 94 million visitors | 14 million visitors |
What is Flipkey?
FlipKey, a TripAdvisor subsidiary, can help you locate a rental in any region of the globe that fits your budget.
The website not only helps visitors find rental houses to stay in, but it also helps property owners find tenants for their properties. FlipKey was founded in 2007.
The first thing to notice when visiting the FlipKey vacation rental website is a search option. This allows you to search for and reserve a suitable vacation rental by entering a location and the trip dates you’re searching for.
When you enter the place you’ll be going to and the dates you’ll be there, you’ll see a list of all the properties that are available in that area.
TripAdvisor’s six-month average of 187 million monthly visits is remarkable, but it’s essential to note that much of this traffic is likely focused on the site’s other travel-related services like reviews, hotels, and car rentals.
Flipkey began by selling memberships to homes from offices on Boston’s Lincoln Street. FlipKey modified its sales approach after 2013, allowing property owners to pay a percentage fee for each rental home.
In 2014, FlipKey relocated to Causeway Street in Boston, which was also set to host another Tripadvisor affiliate, Smarter Travel.
FlipKey produced a virtual tour of Boston for its webpage in order to advertise its real estate listings in the city. FlipKey runs on a pay-per-booking model, with an owner charge starting at 3%.
What is Vrbo?
The website eventually evolved into a business that allows homeowners to advertise their homes for short-term rental.
HomeAway, the owner of both websites as well as a few other rental websites, powers this holiday rental industry. Vrbo has a vast database of vacation rentals all around the world,
with a larger variety of properties and attractions in the US. Unlike Airbnb, they specialize in traditional rentals of whole homes designed for vacations rather than work trips.
Booking rental is similar to booking any other vacation rental or trip booking service. Customers may choose from hundreds of thousands of listings, then select dates and confirm rates.
For owners looking for classic holiday rentals, Vrbo is a great option. This website concentrates solely on “whole home” rentals in order to appeal to travellers who prefer not to share space with others.
David Clouse established the original VRBO.com website in 1995 in Aurora, Colorado, to rent his Breckenridge Ski Resort apartment.
The website eventually evolved into a business that allows homeowners to advertise their homes for short-term rental.
Formerly available holiday rental services are categorized as advertising, management services and rental collection, depending on the place. Vrbo had steadily grown to feature over 65,000 rentals in its first ten years.
Vrbo was purchased by HomeAway in 2006, and HomeAway was purchased by Expedia Group, Inc. on December 15, 2015. In April 2019, the platform had over two million properties available for rent across the world.
Main Difference Between Flipkey and Vrbo
- FlipKey was founded in 2007, whereas, Vrbo was founded in 1995.
- FlipKey’s headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and Vrbo’s headquarters are in Austin, Texas, United States.
- FlipKey has monthly traffic of 94 million visitors on its website, while Vrbo has 14 million visitors on its website.
- FlipKey falls under the category of travel and rentals, but Vrbo only falls under the category of rentals.
- FlipKey is a subsidiary of the company TripAdvisor, and Vrbo is a subsidiary of Expedia Group.
- FlipKey charges 8 to 16 per cent guest fees, while Vrbo charges 10 to 11 per cent guest fees.
- https://www.lodgify.com/guides/flipkey/
- https://wallethero.com/airbnb-vs-vrbo-vs-homeaway-vs-flipkey-comparing-vacation-rental-sites/
Last Updated : 04 August, 2023
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The competition between FlipKey and Vrbo is something to watch. It shows the potential of the vacation rental market.
Absolutely, the dynamics of this competition will have implications for travelers and property owners alike.
That’s right. It will be interesting to see how they innovate and compete in this space.
The trajectory of FlipKey and Vrbo, from their founding to their current status, reflects the changing landscape of the travel industry.
I agree. The evolution of these platforms mirrors the shifts in consumer preferences and technological advancements.
The business models of FlipKey and Vrbo are worth examining. They offer varying approaches that cater to different needs.
Indeed, their models reflect the diverse requirements of property owners and travelers in the vacation rental market.
The growth of the vacation rental market and the emergence of these platforms signal a new era in travel.
The emergence of FlipKey and Vrbo as leading platforms further substantiates the growing interest in vacation rentals.
Absolutely. People are now more inclined to rent vacation homes than traditional hotels.
Yes, the rise of these platforms is indicative of a shift in consumer behavior when it comes to vacation accommodations.
The surge in vacation rentals is an interesting development. The driving force behind it is something that needs to be studied further.
Absolutely agree. This is a social phenomenon that has to be closely monitored.
Indeed, this is a new trend that is reshaping the way people go on vacation.
The history and growth of both FlipKey and Vrbo are fascinating. It’s indicative of the transformation in how people choose accommodations when they travel.
Absolutely. These platforms are at the forefront of a major change in the travel and hospitality sector.
The growth and acquisition history of Vrbo is intriguing. It’s a testament to the potential and value of the vacation rental space.
Absolutely. The trajectory of Vrbo’s development is an interesting case study in the evolution of the travel industry.
The comparison table provides clear insights into the differences between FlipKey and Vrbo. Helpful for anyone considering vacation rentals.
Yes, it’s a useful tool for making an informed choice between these platforms.
The functionalities and reach of FlipKey and Vrbo are impressive. They’ve significantly expanded the options for travelers and property owners alike.
Definitely. The impact of these platforms extends beyond just convenience, it’s reshaping the entire travel experience.