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Booking Platforms for Short-Term Rentals

Where guests actually find you matters more than almost any other operational decision. Each major OTA has a different audience, a different fee structure, and a different bias in its ranking algorithm. The right distribution mix is rarely "just Airbnb."

Airbnb

The default OTA for short-term rentals — the largest single source of bookings worldwide.

Audience
Leisure travellers globally; especially strong with millennials, families, and group travel.
Fees
Hosts: 3% (split-fee, default). Guests: 14–16%. Or host-only: ~15% (no guest fee).
Reach
7M+ active listings; ~150M users.
HQ & founded
San Francisco, USA · 2008
  • Smart Pricing + Search rank algorithms
  • Identity verification + insurance (AirCover)
  • Plus / Luxe curated tiers
  • Integrated direct messaging + Co-host model

Cavmir take: Required for any serious STR distribution strategy. Algorithmic — small listing changes move bookings.

Visit Airbnb →

Vrbo

Whole-home, family-focused OTA — strongest in US, Canada, and beach/ski markets.

Audience
Multi-generational families, group travel, longer stays. Skews older than Airbnb.
Fees
Hosts: 8% (5% commission + 3% payment processing). Guests: ~6–12%.
Reach
2M+ listings; majority US-centric.
HQ & founded
Austin, USA (Expedia Group) · 1995
  • Whole-home only (no shared rooms)
  • Premier Partner status programme
  • Linked to Expedia Group + Hotels.com
  • Strong on weekly + monthly bookings

Cavmir take: Older demographic, higher average booking value. Often complements an Airbnb listing.

Visit Vrbo →

Booking.com

Largest hotel + accommodation OTA in the world — increasingly relevant for STR.

Audience
International travellers, especially Europe and Asia. Hotel-style booking behaviour.
Fees
Hosts: 15% commission (most countries; 18% in some markets). No guest fee.
Reach
7M+ properties (mostly hotels but growing STR share).
HQ & founded
Amsterdam, Netherlands · 1996
  • Free cancellation flexibility (often required)
  • Genius loyalty programme
  • Open Pricing dashboard + analytics
  • Same-day + last-minute booking strength

Cavmir take: Strong for international travellers. Cancellation policies tilt towards the guest.

Visit Booking.com →

Expedia

Hotels-led OTA whose vacation-rental inventory feeds Vrbo and partner sites.

Audience
Bundled travellers (flight + hotel) and points-driven consumers.
Fees
Effectively rolls up via Vrbo for STR (8% host).
Reach
Same Vrbo inventory exposed across Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz.
HQ & founded
Seattle, USA · 1996
  • Cross-promotion across Expedia Group brands
  • Loyalty: One Key
  • B2B distribution to thousands of OTAs

Cavmir take: You don't list directly here for STR — you list on Vrbo and inherit Expedia exposure.

Visit Expedia →

Agoda

Asia-Pacific powerhouse OTA, increasingly relevant for STR in APAC and beyond.

Audience
Asian outbound + intra-Asia travellers; growing in Australia and Europe.
Fees
Hosts: 15–18% commission depending on market and booking type.
Reach
4M+ properties.
HQ & founded
Singapore (Booking Holdings) · 2005
  • Strong APAC localisation (currencies, languages)
  • AgodaHomes vertical for STR
  • Aggressive last-minute discounting

Cavmir take: Essential if your inventory is in APAC or you want APAC demand. Less relevant for US-only properties.

Visit Agoda →

Plum Guide

Curated boutique OTA — only ~3% of homes that apply are accepted.

Audience
Design-conscious, premium-price travellers in major global cities.
Fees
Hosts: ~3% commission. Guests: ~15%.
Reach
~30,000 curated homes in major cities globally.
HQ & founded
London, UK · 2015
  • Application-only inclusion (rigorous screening)
  • Editorial-led photography + descriptions
  • Concierge + 24/7 guest services
  • Premium positioning + price

Cavmir take: High bar to qualify. Excellent demand if you make the cut.

Visit Plum Guide →

Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott's curated luxury VR programme — points-eligible inventory for Bonvoy members.

Audience
Marriott Bonvoy loyalty members — high-spend, brand-conscious travellers.
Fees
Through approved property managers; commission via your manager.
Reach
~140,000 homes in 700+ destinations.
HQ & founded
Bethesda, USA · 2019
  • Bonvoy points earn + redeem on stays
  • Curated, professionally managed only
  • Marketed to Marriott's 200M+ Bonvoy members
  • Quality bar enforced

Cavmir take: You list via an approved professional manager, not directly. Excellent demand for premium homes.

Visit Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy →

HomeToGo

Meta-search aggregator that surfaces listings from 600+ partners in one place.

Audience
Comparison shoppers — travellers who want to scan many sites at once.
Fees
No direct host fee — listings are pulled from partner OTAs.
Reach
15M+ aggregated listings via partners.
HQ & founded
Berlin, Germany · 2014
  • Meta-search across Vrbo, Booking, smaller OTAs
  • Acquired Interhome 2024
  • Travel-tech leader in EU public markets
  • Direct-booking option via HomeToGo Pro

Cavmir take: Extra discovery surface — your existing OTAs may already feed it. Worth knowing exists.

Visit HomeToGo →

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