Vrbo Targets Accessible Travel, Belvilla Acquires MadeComfy, Spain Proposes 21% VAT on Rentals

Vrbo Adds New Accessibility Filters to Help Travelers With Disabilities With Rentable

• Vrbo has rolled out a new suite of accessibility features aimed at helping travelers with disabilities find more suitable stays. 
• Guests can now filter properties by specific accessibility attributes such as entrance ramps, stair-free paths, accessible parking, and pools with handrails.
• According to Becoming rentABLE, only 0.1% of STRs are currently listed as accessible, despite travelers with mobility challenges spending an estimated $60 billion annually on travel. 
• To support the rollout, Vrbo has partnered with Becoming rentABLE, a platform that specializes in accessible short-term rentals.
• Vrbo and Becoming rentABLE are offering hosts a free, 10-minute online training with practical tips on adding or showcasing accessibility features—no certification or prior expertise needed.

Snigdha’s Views

• There’s a big gap between what travelers with accessibility needs are looking for and what most short-term rentals currently offer — and Vrbo aims to close that.
• Vrbo is clearly recognizing a real opportunity here. Guests with disabilities represent a large and often overlooked market, and many listings may already meet some of their needs; they just don’t show it clearly.
• The training from Becoming rentABLE is just 10 minutes long but packed with clear, actionable ideas. It helps hosts see that accessibility doesn’t require a full remodel—just a few thoughtful upgrades that can open their listings to a wider, often overlooked guest segment.
• If Vrbo starts factoring accessibility into search visibility, these updates could also help listings stand out.
• For property managers, this is a good time to take stock — update your listing details, check what small changes might help, and see if there’s more you can offer than you realized.

Oyo-Owned Belvilla Acquires Australia’s MadeComfy to Expand in Oceania

• Oyo-owned Belvilla has acquired MadeComfy, an Australian short-term rental management company managing over 1,200 properties across major cities in Australia and New Zealand. 

• MadeComfy’s core model is managing properties for investors — complements Belvilla’s full-service approach and expands Oyo’s reach in Oceania, one of the world’s most active vacation rental markets.
• Oyo is paying for MadeComfy with a mix of shares and cash: $1.9M in shares now, $9.6M in shares later (likely tied to performance), plus an undisclosed cash amount. 

Snigdha’s Views

• Oyo has followed a clear pattern: acquire regional leaders, integrate them, and scale a unified model. 
• We’ve seen this before: after the 2019 acquisition of the Leisure Group (which added 50,000 European homes), Oyo picked up Croatia’s Direct Booker, Denmark’s Bornholmske Feriehuse, France’s Checkmyguest, and the U.S.-based Motel 6.
• For STR managers in Australia, this deal could also trigger new homeowner expectations. With MadeComfy now backed by a global brand, local owners may demand the same level of tech, support, and earnings.
• Now’s the time to sharpen your value proposition. Owners will be comparing — make sure your offer stands out.

Spain Proposes 21% VAT on Short-Term Rentals, While Hotels Remain at 10%

• Spain is proposing a 21% value-added tax (VAT) on short-term tourist rentals under 30 days, a significant increase from the 10% VAT currently applied to hotel stays. 
• The change would end the VAT exemption that short-term rentals currently enjoy in mainland Spain.
• If approved, this new measure could impact roughly one-third of Spain’s 94 million annual tourists, those who choose vacation homes over hotels.
• The proposal is part of a broader housing bill aimed at addressing affordability and curbing the use of residential properties exclusively for tourism.
• The bill also proposes taxing non-EU buyers up to 100% on non-primary residences and raising taxes on vacant or second homes.
• Apartur, which represents Barcelona’s tourist apartments, insists STRs should be taxed like hotels, not penalized with a “discriminatory” 21% VAT.
• The government lacks a parliamentary majority, making it unclear whether the proposed measures will pass.

Snigdha’s Views

• This new VAT proposal comes right on the heels of Spain ordering Airbnb to delist nearly 66,000 unregistered listings — a clear sign that the pressure on Spanish STRs is escalating fast. 
• A 21% VAT could tilt the playing field in favor of hotels, which would still be taxed at a lower 10%. That’s not just a financial burden on STR operators, it also risks reducing traveler choice by making vacation rentals less favourable.
• If passed, this policy would reshape the economics of short-term rentals in Spain. For property managers, this is a flashing red warning light. Get fully licensed, prepare for rising costs, and advocate strongly.
• Because the proposed VAT only applies to stays under 30 days, managers may want to explore mid-term rental models as a potential hedge.