What is multichannel?
Multichannel is the process of listing the same property across multiple booking platforms. Using Hometime’s technology, calendar availability and other booking details are synchronised across popular booking platforms. This allows guests to find your property across multiple sites, meaning more visibility and exposure of your property, resulting in more bookings and revenue for you as a homeowner.
Which booking channels do we use to promote your property?
Hometime pushes your property out to Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com, as these are the most in-demand platforms and will add the most value for you. That means Hometime properties will now be listed and advertised on these external channels, plus our own direct booking site at hometime.io.
Vrbo
Launched in 1995, vacation rental by owner, otherwise known as Vrbo, boasts 42 million monthly worldwide unique visitors and 480 million monthly worldwide page views. With over two million global listings, the platform was acquired by HomeAway in 2006, and again by Expedia in 2015. Originally built for homeowners to rent out their family vacation homes, due to the Airbnb revolution, Vrbo has since expanded its offering to host all types of properties.
Booking.com
Launched in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup to one of the world’s leading digital travel companies and most recognised brands. With more than 6.2 million global listings (28 million including hotel rooms), Booking.com offers travellers a one-stop-shop to book everything required for their trip, including flights and rental cars. Originally a platform for operators to list hotel rooms, this travel site now targets vacation rentals due to the rise in popularity of short-term rental homes.
Understanding expanded distribution
Both Vrbo and Booking.com have what’s commonly known as ‘partner distribution programs’ where, at their discretion, properties are available on other sites they own or partner with. By doing this, your listings become accessible to a much wider customer base, increasing exposure and the potential for bookings.
Things to note:
- Listings are distributed at the discretion of Vrbo and Booking.com. However, most listings end up being distributed to at least one of their sites. Vrbo and Booking.com do not provide any indication or links to the channels on which the properties are listed.
- When a booking is made on these partner sites, the bookings are still received and managed through either Vrbo or Booking.com and are compatible with Hometime’s management system and technology.
- Commission is charged at the same rate.
- Calendar availability, pricing, and booking policies remain consistent.
- Listing content can be presented slightly differently, such as the order of photos, but it is otherwise mostly consistent. There are no fundamental changes that affect listing accuracy. It’s important to note that Hometime is not able to change the listing content that is pushed to these channels including photo ordering, copy, and booking settings.
- It is not possible to opt-out. By listing on these channels, we agree to allow them to generate as much business as possible for our properties.
Which other sites do Vrbo and Booking.com distribute to?
The online travel agent companies don’t provide a definitive list of sites that are part of their expanded distribution networks. However, we do know they are likely to appear on the following:
Owned by Vrbo: Expedia Wotif Stayz Trivago Hotels.com
Owned by Booking.com
For more information, see:
- Vrbo: About the Expanded Distribution Network
- Booking.com: Why is my property visible on other websites?