Direct Booking Matters
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:35 am
While Airbnb is the primary listing website for short-term rentals, with 94% of owners and managers listing on the platform, it isn’t considered the one and only magic bullet for listing and renting out properties.
In fact, 38% use their own website or booking engine, which demonstrates how they’re engaged with their property on pricing, using industry data, and incorporating technology.
Additionally, the 38% of owners and managers who use their own website or booking engine might want more autonomy with their properties, not really caring to share their profits phone number list with OTAs or follow their rules.
This increase in self-management of online listings can also be partially attributed to Airbnb’s decision to not hold guests accountable for cancellation fees during the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns of 2020.
That decision resulted in managers and owners bearing the brunt of the revenue losses, a decision that still rankles in the community and resulted in some hosts leaving the platform altogether.
The top four booking websites for listing short-term rentals are Airbnb (94%), Vrbo (62%), Booking.com (28%), and TripAdvisor (20%).
In fact, 38% use their own website or booking engine, which demonstrates how they’re engaged with their property on pricing, using industry data, and incorporating technology.
Additionally, the 38% of owners and managers who use their own website or booking engine might want more autonomy with their properties, not really caring to share their profits phone number list with OTAs or follow their rules.
This increase in self-management of online listings can also be partially attributed to Airbnb’s decision to not hold guests accountable for cancellation fees during the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns of 2020.
That decision resulted in managers and owners bearing the brunt of the revenue losses, a decision that still rankles in the community and resulted in some hosts leaving the platform altogether.
The top four booking websites for listing short-term rentals are Airbnb (94%), Vrbo (62%), Booking.com (28%), and TripAdvisor (20%).