Two platforms, two radically different approaches to spring travel. Airbnb is chasing urban event-goers, Vrbo is pulling in families and sun-seekers. But what does that mean for professional short-term rental managers? The answer lies in how you position your listings, which platform you prioritize, and when you adjust your pricing. With clear signals from both platforms, Spring 2025 could be a game-changer—if you act now.
Airbnb vs. Vrbo: Diverging Strategies to Capture Spring Demand
The 2025 Spring travel lists highlight how Airbnb and Vrbo continue to serve different traveler segments:
- Airbnb prioritizes urban, cultural, and event-driven travel. The platform’s trending destinations include Basel (Switzerland) for Eurovision, Amsterdam for King’s Day, Milan for Design Week, and Cologne for its famous Carnival. This suggests that Airbnb is increasingly positioning itself as a platform for globally minded, event-driven travelers who seek cultural experiences rather than just seasonal leisure trips.
- Vrbo focuses on seasonal, climate-driven, and domestic U.S. travel. Vrbo’s list has a significant concentration of Florida destinations (Kissimmee, Sarasota, St. George Island), along with other U.S. beach and outdoor locations. While Vrbo does reference cultural events (e.g., Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., Songkran in Bangkok), its list overwhelmingly aligns with predictable seasonal demand patterns rather than event-specific surges.
Implications for STR Managers:
- If your property is in an urban area near major cultural events, prioritizing Airbnb listings with event-driven pricing and marketing can maximize returns.
- For vacation rentals in beach or nature destinations, Vrbo’s audience remains ideal for long-term leisure stays, requiring a different pricing approach and family-friendly positioning.
- Airbnb’s clear push for event-based bookings means managers should actively monitor major festivals and cultural events near their listings and adjust rates accordingly.
Solo Travelers Are Choosing to Stay Longer (on Airbnb)
Airbnb reports that solo travel searches are up 90% year-over-year, with these travelers booking an average stay of 17 nights. This marks a significant demand shift—solo travelers aren’t just increasing in numbers; they’re staying longer.
Implications for STR Managers:
- Optimize listings for solo travelers: Smaller units, studios, and one-bedroom apartments can be repositioned to highlight safety, work-friendly features, and social accessibility.
- Leverage flexible stay policies: Offering discounts for 2+ week stays could help capture this growing market segment.
- Use dynamic pricing strategies: If Airbnb is fueling solo travel demand, pricing algorithms should adjust accordingly—longer stays can reduce turnover costs while maintaining strong occupancy.
The Continued Rise of Pet-Friendly Travel (A 30% Surge)
Vrbo and Airbnb both highlight an increase in pet-friendly bookings, with searches for pet-friendly stays up by 30%. This presents a strong revenue opportunity for STR managers.
Implications for STR Managers:
- If feasible, consider making properties pet-friendly. The demand is growing, and pet-friendly listings often command premium rates.
- Ensure listings highlight pet-specific amenities. Adding pet beds, fenced yards, and pet-welcome policies can make properties stand out.
- Adjust fees accordingly. While pet-friendly stays can drive more bookings, managers should factor in cleaning fees and deposit policies to mitigate additional wear and tear.
Event-Driven vs. Climate-Driven Demand
One of the most striking differences between Airbnb and Vrbo’s lists is why destinations are trending:
- Airbnb’s event-driven travel approach suggests that short-term rental managers should think beyond seasonal peaks and start tracking local events as demand indicators.
- Vrbo’s climate-driven travel model reinforces that many travelers still prioritize weather, especially for family vacations and longer getaways.
Implications for STR Managers:
- Use major events as pricing triggers. If Airbnb is betting on event-driven demand, managers should actively monitor local festivals, conferences, and seasonal happenings to implement event-based pricing.
- Highlight weather advantages in Vrbo listings. If Vrbo is focusing on climate-driven travel, property descriptions should emphasize seasonal benefits (e.g., “Perfect Florida Beach Escape for Spring Break”).
Vrbo’s In Its AI-Marketing Era?
Beyond the insights from the travel trends themselves, there’s a deeper industry shift at play—Expedia Group (Vrbo’s parent company) recently laid off a significant portion of its marketing team, signaling a strong pivot toward AI-driven marketing and automation.
Vrbo states that its destination lists are based on a combination of real booking data and expert curation. However, the fact that these lists have been pre-populated for the entire year suggests a systematic, AI-supported forecasting approach rather than traditional human-led marketing efforts.
Implications for STR Managers:
- AI-driven travel trend forecasting may shape Vrbo’s ranking algorithms. This means that listings aligned with trending seasonal themes (beach vacations, spring festivals, etc.) could gain greater visibility in Vrbo’s search rankings.
- Expect AI to influence Vrbo’s traveler targeting. If Expedia is shifting marketing spend away from traditional ads and toward AI, then listing optimization—keyword-rich descriptions, seasonal relevance, and competitive pricing—will be more important than ever.
- Monitor shifts in Vrbo’s demand generation. If Expedia’s AI marketing strategy works, expect more personalized travel recommendations and predictive booking trends.
Final Thoughts
Airbnb and Vrbo’s Spring 2025 travel trends highlight clear differences in demand, platform positioning, and booking behaviors. STR managers who understand these shifts can:
- Adjust pricing models based on event-driven (Airbnb) vs. climate-driven (Vrbo) demand.
- Optimize listings to capture solo travelers, pet-friendly guests, and long-stay bookings.
- Track platform-specific ranking shifts as Vrbo leans into AI-driven forecasting.
With Expedia’s broader shift toward automation, the way STR managers optimize for platform visibility may soon look very different. The ability to leverage AI-driven insights while still applying human judgment to pricing and marketing decisions will define the most successful property managers of 2025.
