The Ultimate To-Do Guide: How Hotels & Resorts Can Successfully List on Airbnb & Vrbo

Hotels & resorts are missing out on a lucrative guest segment by not leveraging vacation rental platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.

These platforms attract travelers who value unique experiences, longer stays, and personalized service, segments traditional OTAs often fail to capture. But hotels struggle to bridge the gap due to technical and operational mismatches.

Based on our 10 year’s worth of experience in helping Hotels and Resorts reach new guests on Airbnb & Vrbo, this guide shows you how to overcome those barriers, step by step.

Step 1: Assess Your Tech Stack & Integration Readiness

Why this matters

Vacation rental platforms were designed for single-unit properties with minimal backend complexity. Hotel PMS systems, built for scale and rate code logic, often fail to communicate effectively with these platforms.

A seamless integration ensures your rates, availability, and bookings flow automatically—without manual intervention that invites errors. Without this step, scaling is impossible.

Best Practices:

• Confirm PMS or channel manager supports direct API integration with Airbnb and Vrbo. You might be able to access VRBO via your Expedia distribution but keep in mind those Vrbo listings will not be content rich, personable and will therefore convert less than a direct Vrbo listing
• For non-integrated setups, you will need to create Airbnb and Vrbo accounts and manage the content, rates and availability manually. We recommend seting aside 1-3 units of allocation in order to avoid double bookings
• Alternatively, explore middleware solutions (like Jetstream) purpose-built to bridge hotel systems to these vacation rental / STR channels

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Assuming traditional OTA integrations will suffice—they won’t. At least not in a way that wil maximize the bookings and revenue potential
• Attempting to manage Airbnb/Vrbo manually at scale is operationally unsustainable. However it can be an entry point to test these new channels
  
  

Step 2: Structure Multi-Unit Listings Properly

Why this matters

Airbnb and Vrbo were designed for unique, one-off properties. Hotels, by nature, sell multiple identical units (think 50 King Rooms). Structuring multi-unit listings correctly ensures your inventory isn’t artificially capped, maximizing booking potential.

Best Practices:

• Both Airbnb and Vrbo support multi-unit listings, both through channel managers or managed manually within their platform. Use multi-unit distribution settings to reflect multiple identical rooms. Airbnb allows you to define the “number of units” behind a listing. Vrbo calls these “Complex Listings” or “Multi-Unit Listings” and allows the creation of multiple “child units” behind a “parent listing”
• Test availability syncing across various booking scenarios
• For manual setups, clearly state available units per listing within Airbnb & Vrbo

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Listings disappearing after a single booking due to improper multi-unit configuration
• Not verifying live inventory sync, leading to missed opportunities
  
  

Step 3: Optimize Content for Vacation Rental Platforms

Why this matters

Unlike OTAs that sell by price and brand, Airbnb & Vrbo sell experiences. Their audiences are inspired by stories, visuals, and guest-centric content—not just bed counts and square footage.

Your listing needs to appeal to the emotional drivers of these travelers.

Best Practices:

• Rewrite hotel descriptions to focus on experience, atmosphere, and guest benefits. You can select one of your staff members who has marketing flair or Pro Tip → load your basic content in ChatGPT and ask that tool to create engaging content
• Invest in high-quality photography that showcases rooms, amenities, and local attractions
• At Jetstream, we sequence images intentionally using the following recipe: room > amenities > destination lifestyle.
• Though extensive A/B testing, we have found that a stellar photo of the best amenity in the overall property is what leads to the highest conversions. Think something unique, experiential. Pool, hot tubs, water slides, etc, as long as the photo is exceptional
• Search your local area on Airbnb & Vrbo and click on the listings that have the highest number and quality of reviews. Study their content, photography and cancelation policy

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Repurposing OTA content that lacks inspiration
• Using outdated or poorly shot images that diminish appeal
• Ignoring competitor analysis for top-performing listings in your area
  
  

Step 4: Prepare for 24/7 Guest Communications

Why this matters

Airbnb and Vrbo buyers expect a higher level of engagement pre- and post-booking. Platforms publicly display your response time and rate, directly influencing your visibility and bookings.

Failing to meet these expectations drastically reduces your listing’s performance.

Best Practices:

• Implement 24/7 guest communication support (in-house or outsourced). From our experience, this is the highest operational burden from Airbnb and Vrbo platforms. Look at utilizing your front desk staff to provide overnight support. Alternatively, Jetstream can help here.
• Maintain a near-instantaneous response time: aim for under 1 hour, under 15 minutes is best
• Train staff on platform etiquette: personalized, conversational, empathetic

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Relying on limited call center hours—guests expect round-the-clock responsiveness
• Ignoring response metrics—poor scores lower search visibility
• Underestimating the guest-centric bias of these platforms in conflict resolution
  
  

Step 5: Align Pricing Strategy for Vacation Rental Channels

Why this matters

Vacation rental platforms display pricing differently and both Airbnb/Vrbo add guest service fees (10-15%) on top of your base rate. Through polling of Jetstream’s customer base, Airbnb & VRBO deliver bookings that have an average 25-30% higher LOS, making a strong case for LOS Promotions. Because vacation rental channels only support a singular rate plan, you will need to craft a proper rate distribution strategy. Misaligned pricing and promotional strategies can instantly kill conversion rates.

Best Practices:

• Adjust base rates to reflect platform fee structures
• Regularly audit rate parity across channels to ensure competitiveness. Make sure to audit multiple date ranges and occupancies
• Utilize the backend analytics of Airbnb & Vrbo accounts to monitor performance metrics: impressions, CTRs, conversions
• Offer early bird and length-of-stay discounts to capitalize on longer average stays
• Use your BAR with the most flexible cancelation policy as your single allowed rate plan. Alternatively, Jetstream has built the world’s only technology that converts your Hotel’s multi-rate codes to Airbnb & Vrbo’s single rate codes

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Misconfigured rate flows that inflate prices beyond competitiveness
• Neglecting platform analytics and flying blind. These analytics provide an early warning of pricing misconfigurations, poor hero image selection and/or bad reviews
• Failing to provide, at a minimum, LOS promotions in order to capitalize on guests who book longer stays on these platforms
  
  

Step 6: Focus Relentlessly on Reviews & Guest Experience

Why this matters

On Airbnb & Vrbo, reviews are the lifeblood of visibility. Unlike traditional OTAs where brands can compensate with ads or loyalty programs, here your search ranking depends on guest satisfaction.

A 4.5-star rating is “good” on OTAs. On Airbnb, it’s the basement. The target is 4.7+. You need a 4.8+ score to qualify for Superhost status. Airbnb is relentless in culling underperforming listings from the platform altogether.

Best Practices:

• Deliver standout guest experiences to earn top reviews. Airbnb is likely the most demanding OTA from a guest satisfaction point of view. The positive flip side being that leaning into improving the guest experience will bear fruit across your entire hospitality business
• Engage with feedback, resolve issues proactively
• Foster team awareness that review scores directly impact listing placement and bookings

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Accepting average scores as sufficient
• Delayed or dismissive responses to negative reviews
• Ignoring the compounding impact of review scores on visibility
  
  

Step 7: Continuous Monitoring & Optimization

Why this matters

Listing on Airbnb & Vrbo is not a one-time task. Algorithms evolve, guest behaviors shift, and small configuration errors can cost thousands in lost bookings if unchecked.

Continuous optimization keeps you ahead of the curve.

Best Practices:

• Conduct regular audits of rates, content, and inventory sync.
• Track visibility metrics and conversion KPIs through platform dashboards. Alternatively, Jetstream can provide industry leading analytics
• Adjust promotions seasonally based on booking lead times and guest behavior trends.

Pitfalls to Avoid:

• “Set it and forget it” mindset—these platforms reward active engagement.
• Failing to adapt strategies for seasonality or emerging platform features.
• Overlooking minor errors (rate misalignments, outdated photos) that silently erode performance.
  
  

Action Summary: Your Practical Checklist

1. Tech Stack Audit & Integration Readiness
2. Proper Multi-Unit Listing Setup
3. Content & Photography Revamp
4. 24/7 Guest Communication Preparedness
5. Rate Strategy Aligned to Platform Realities
6. Guest Experience & Review Management
7. Continuous Performance Monitoring & Adjustments
   

Closing Thoughts

Mastering Airbnb & Vrbo isn’t about reinventing your business model. It’s about respecting the nuances of these platforms and executing with precision.

The technical and operational challenges are real—but they are 100% solvable.

Get the basics right—Photos, Reviews, Pricing (P-R-P)—and you’ll unlock powerful new revenue streams without cannibalizing existing channels.

Alternatively, Jetstream provides a turn-key solution that combines the channel distribution technology, content creation/optimization and 24/7 Call Center services to ensure you are winning on these channels.

Your guests are already searching.
Let’s help them find you.