The vacation rental market is growing, and with it, platforms like Vrbo are constantly innovating to simplify and improve the experience for hosts. One such option is the Vrbo One Key Program. It’s a rewards and management program changing how short-term rental hosts attract guests, streamline their operations, and boost occupancy rates.
If you’re a vacation rental host or property manager striving to increase revenue while offering five-star guest experiences, this guide explores everything you need to know. From the One Key program features to actionable tips for getting started, we’ll walk you through the program’s benefits and how it can transform your vacation rental business.
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What is the Vrbo One Key Program?
At its core, the Vrbo One Key Program is a travel rewards program created by Expedia Group. It enables guests and hosts to earn and redeem travel points through bookings across Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, and other affiliated platforms.
Like loyalty programs in traditional hospitality, such as airlines or hotels, the One Key Program focuses on providing value, flexibility, and convenience to travelers and hosts alike. For hosts, the program offers tools to streamline operations, improve guest engagement, and increase bookings by attracting “One Key” members looking for preferred stays and perks.
Key benefits of One Key Rewards for hosts:
- Improved visibility on Vrbo and Expedia platforms.
- Access to loyal travelers within a high-value audience.
- Improved booking rates supported by OneKeyCash™ rewards for guests.
- The program is currently only in the US and UK, so there are limited foreign transaction fees to deal with.
Note that the One Key Program will not work for listings connected to a property management system. We expect this technical difficulty to change in the future.
Key reasons why the One Key program matters:
- Attract Repeat Guests: Guests who are part of the One Key rewards system are incentivized to return to participating properties to maximize their earning power.
- Integrate Rewards: These rewards cover multiple trip elements, from lodging, transportation, and experience to guests bundling their trips for savings.
- Guest Confidence: You benefit from Vrbo’s reputation for quality, which makes travelers more likely to book through affiliated hosts.
How the Vrbo One Key Program Works
The One Key Program offers OneKeyCash™, a form of digital cashback that travelers can earn and redeem across participating brands, including Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Guest Earns OneKeyCash™: With every booking made through Vrbo or any other vacation rental platform partners, guests earn a percentage of their purchase amount in OneKeyCash™. This digital currency can then offset costs for future stays or travel expenses.
Hosts Gain Visibility: Properties that integrate into the program may see increased visibility as travelers filter searches to find homes participating in loyalty programs. You’ll benefit from exposure on partner platforms like Expedia and Hotels.com.
No Strings Attached: The program is designed to be easy for both parties, with no complications or additional steps required for hosts to participate (other than registering through Vrbo).
The Benefits of the Vrbo One Key Program for Hosts
Adopting One Key as a vacation rental host goes beyond guest retention. It increases your operational efficiency, boosts revenue, and improves your reputation as a provider of high-quality stays. Below are the top benefits for hosts:
1. Increase occupancy rates
Properties participating in One Key attract more bookings by appealing to loyalty-first travelers. Higher visibility and access to a larger audience result in higher occupancy rates.
2. Streamlined operations
You can focus on enhancing your property while leveraging tools within the program to automate certain aspects of rental management, such as guest reviews and mobile booking communication.
3. Build long-term relationships
Engaged and satisfied guests are more likely to leave positive reviews or become repeat customers. One Key ensures that your property stands out among the competition.
Tips and Best Practices for Using the One Key Program
Here are some pro tips to get the most value from One Key:
Leverage the Expedia Network: Promote your listing beyond Vrbo by benefiting from partner platforms like Expedia.com and Hotels.com, which are part of the program’s ecosystem.
Highlight Perks for Guests: Communicate clear benefits such as earning OneKeyCash™.
Track and Respond to Feedback: Consistently engage with guest reviews to maintain your credentials as a top-performing listing.
Adapt Seasonally: Use Vrbo’s pricing and availability tools to fully adjust rates during peak seasons to leverage rewards-based search traffic.
Final Thoughts for Hosts of Vacation Rentals
Keeping up with such innovations for vacation rental hosts ensures you remain competitive in a crowded market. Participating in loyalty programs like One Key helps establish your property as a preferred choice for travelers. From increased bookings to happier guests, integrating One Key into your property management strategy is an opportunity to stand out and thrive.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
