Expedia Vrbo Expert

Reference Files

Load the relevant reference file when the user's question goes deeper than this overview:

• listings.md — Managing the My Properties page, listing statuses, bulk actions, Content Score, listing requirements
• rates-availability.md — Calendar management, base rates, seasonal pricing, fees, minimum stays, rate plans, bulk updates
• reservations.md — Viewing, modifying, canceling reservations; no-shows; partner cancellation penalties
• content.md — Photos, descriptions, amenities, points of interest, Photo Score
• promotions.md — Accelerator, Members Only Rates, TravelAds, package deals, length-of-stay discounts
• performance.md — Analytics dashboard, Rev+/MarketMaker, Premier Host program, competitive set
• communications.md — Messages tool, scheduled messages, reviews, in-house feedback, mobile app
• cancellation-policies.md — Six policy types, refund windows, deposit configuration
• connectivity.md — iCal sync, PMS/channel manager integrations, VRBO Connectivity Partner Program
• epc-extranet.md — Deep EPC-specific reference: full navigation map, room types/rate plans, availability restrictions (CTA/CTD/stop-sell/MinLOS), Finance tab, Rev+, Accelerator setup, virtual card payments, user management, and EPC-vs-Vrbo comparison table

Key Terminology

Listing Plans

• Pay-Per-Booking: Commission 10–30% per booking (default for most hosts)
• Professional Plan: Annual subscription; better for high-volume managers (10+ units)

Gotchas

• Amenities must be explicitly listed or the cabin is excluded from filtered searches — missing amenities are invisible to guests filtering by those features.
• The Content Score sub-scores (amenities, room amenities, policies, photos) each affect search ranking independently — a high overall score with a weak photos sub-score still hurts.
• Partner-initiated cancellations carry financial penalties — never cancel a guest booking without understanding the External Partner-Initiated Cancellation Policy first.
• Cancellation deadlines are 11:59 p.m. in the property's time zone, not the guest's.
• iCal sync has a delay (typically 15–30 min) — it does not prevent double bookings in real time; a channel manager is more reliable for multi-platform hosts.
• The Accelerator tool is pay-per-stay (charged only on completed stays), not pay-per-click — it carries no upfront cost risk.
• Listing minimum requirements must all be met before a listing can go Active; a single missing element keeps it in "Incomplete" status.