Expedia has announced a fall upgrade featuring 12 new functions for the Vrbo and Escapia platforms, in a move aimed both at attracting last-minute bookings and making things easier for professional property managers. According to the company, this is the “largest” product release it has made to date for the two tools.
The package includes nine new features for Vrbo and three for Escapia, Expedia Group’s property management software. Among the most immediate changes are same-day bookings, promotional offers and the ability for Vrbo stays to be included in Expedia packages together with flights and rental cars.
The features changing the game for Vrbo
On the demand side, Vrbo is launching Sponsored Listings globally. Property managers can set a bid, with a minimum of $5 per booked night, so that their listing appears higher in relevant search results.
The Same-Day Bookings feature, which is already available for eligible listings, allows guests to book up until noon on the day of arrival. The company presents the tool as a way to recover revenue from last-minute cancellations.
In the same context, Limited Time Offers are coming soon, with visibility during high-traffic periods such as Black Friday, as well as Non-refundable Rates for eligible properties, allowing lower, non-refundable rates to be offered alongside standard rates. Meanwhile, Flexible Cancellation Policies are already active and provide options for a full refund up to 5 days before check-in or a stricter 1-day window.
The most strategic change, however, is the upcoming ability to include Vrbo listings in Expedia packages. Based on what the company has announced, travelers will be able to combine accommodation, flights and rental cars through Expedia’s package platform.
What is changing in guest communication
In the hospitality area, the Welcome Guide now serves as a central hub for check-in instructions, Wi-Fi codes and house rules. Expedia says it also includes delivery confirmation, allowing property managers to know that the key instructions have been sent.
Inbox-Scheduled Messaging pulls information directly from the Welcome Guide and uses it for automated messages to guests at key points during their stay. At the same time, Host with Confidence is currently in beta and is expected to expand coverage for property damage, chargeback disputes and lost revenue from guest-caused damage.
What is changing in Escapia
For professionals using Escapia as their central PMS, Expedia is adding the New Reservation Grid, a new environment for managing reservations and distribution, with the ability to create a single offer for more than one property. The company also says that Distribution Optimization brings improvements to folio handling and commission tracking, with more automation to follow.
The third addition is Vrbo Payments, which is currently in a pilot phase for selected partners. The solution allows payments using Expedia One Key rewards points and incorporates fraud and chargeback protection, according to the company.
The stricter policy on ratings
At the same time, Vrbo is implementing more strict quality standards through its Minimum Standards program. As of September 15, 2026, the permanent suspension of listings that fail to meet the basic performance thresholds over a rolling 12-month period began.
The three main requirements are clear: an acceptance rate above 50%, a cancellation rate below 10% and an average rating above 2.0 stars. Initial warnings began on August 31, while the platform says that exemption procedures are available for confirmed exceptional circumstances.
For new listings, the policy applies only when there is sufficient performance history to allow an assessment of the previous 12 months. Expedia has not published a quantitative definition of what constitutes “sufficient history,” leaving open exactly when a new listing moves to full evaluation.
What flight packages mean for professionals
The inclusion of Vrbo properties in Expedia’s flight and car packages is perhaps the most significant move in the package, as it puts the platform’s inventory in front of a mass audience that is already booking flights. The company has not yet provided a specific launch date, but has described the feature as “coming soon.”
For property managers, the new flow raises practical questions about how cancellations resulting from flight disruptions will be handled, who will have primary responsibility for communicating with the guest, and how net returns will be calculated when packages with combined pricing are applied. These issues are expected to be at the center of discussions at industry events this fall.
What hosts should be watching
For short-term rental professionals, the immediate focus is on three areas: same-day bookings for recovering lost revenue, new communication tools for guests and stricter quality thresholds on Vrbo. Those managing listings on the platform need to review their current 12-month performance data and assess which of the new tools can be activated without significant risk.
The announcement also shows that Expedia continues to connect Vrbo more closely with its wider ecosystem, from search and communication to flight packages. For property managers, this means that distribution rules and the commercial exposure of a listing may change more quickly than in the past.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which features are already available and which are coming soon?
According to Expedia, live features already include Sponsored Listings, Same-Day Bookings, Flexible Cancellation Policies, the Welcome Guide, Inbox-Scheduled Messaging, the New Reservation Grid and improvements to Distribution Optimization. In development or coming soon are Limited Time Offers, Non-refundable Rates, Host with Confidence, the inclusion of Vrbo in Expedia Packages and Vrbo Payments in a pilot phase.
When can a listing be removed from Vrbo because of its rating?
Vrbo says it will proceed with permanent suspension for listings that, over a rolling 12-month period, fall below the minimum requirements: an acceptance rate above 50%, cancellations below 10% and an average rating above 2.0 stars. For new listings, the assessment is carried out only when there is enough performance history for review.
