A Look at the Performance of the 10 Largest Vacation Rental Companies

From the beaches of Florida to the windswept wilds of Montana, the vacation rental industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with more and more travelers opting for short-term rentals over traditional hotels for their getaways.

As a vacation rental owner or manager, you’ve likely seen this shift firsthand. Large vacation rental companies have emerged to help you streamline the management and marketing of your real estate.

These companies play a crucial role in connecting you with travelers, handling bookings, guest communications, maintenance and even dynamic pricing strategies.

Vacation rental companies simplify your property management by offering a range of services that help maximize your rental income while minimizing operational challenges. Their support typically includes:

• Marketing and exposure: Listing properties on high-traffic platforms and optimizing visibility through strategic marketing strategies.

• Booking management: Handling reservations, calendar synchronization and guest communications.

• Pricing optimization: Using data-driven algorithms to set competitive rates based on demand, seasonality and market trends.

• Guest services: Managing check-ins, providing round-the-clock customer support and ensuring a seamless guest experience.

• Property maintenance and housekeeping: Coordinating cleaning services, inspections and maintenance requests to keep properties in top condition.

Partnering with a vacation rental company can significantly reduce the time and effort you need to operate a rental while increasing your profitability through professional management and marketing expertise.

But it’s more than admin; understanding the performance and influence of the largest vacation rental companies is essential. Here’s are some of the reasons why:

• Market insights: The largest companies set industry trends, adopt new technologies and establish best practices that can impact how smaller operators and independent owners conduct business.

• Competitive benchmarking: As an owner, you can compare your performance – such as occupancy rates, pricing strategies and guest reviews – against leading companies to identify areas for improvement.

• Strategic decision-making: Whether choosing to list with a large company, work with multiple platforms or operate independently, knowing who dominates the market will help you make an informed decision about where to invest your time and resources.

• Industry influence: Major players influence regulations, guest expectations and technological advancements in the vacation rental space. By staying informed, you can adapt to changes proactively.

So, what’s the first step?

If you decide to go down this route, there are lots of companies to choose from. But we’ll give you a headstart by examining the performance of the 10 biggest players.

Whether you’re considering partnering with one of these major companies or simply looking to refine your rental strategy, understanding the landscape of the vacation rental market is a crucial step toward success.

1. Vacasa

One of the largest companies in this category in North America, Vacasa offers full-service vacation rental management for short-term rentals. Founded in 2009, the company manages vacation homes across the United States, Canada, Mexico and beyond, and aims to leverage technology-driven pricing strategies and marketing to maximize occupancy and revenue for homeowners.

Key insights

• Property count: 44,000+ vacation homes

• Average review score: 4.3+ stars (varies by location)

• Occupancy rate: approximately 70% (fluctuates seasonally)

Top services and features

• Dynamic pricing: AI-driven pricing to optimize revenue

• 24/7 guest support: Round-the-clock customer assistance

• Housekeeping and maintenance: Professional cleaning and upkeep

• Marketing and distribution: Listings on major travel platforms

• Owner dashboard: Real-time performance tracking

Vacasa provides a comprehensive solution for vacation rental owners, balancing technology with high-quality service.

2. Evolve

A tech-driven vacation rental management company, Evolve offers flexible and affordable solutions for short-term rental owners. Founded in 2011, it manages properties across the US, providing marketing, booking management and guest support, while allowing owners to handle on-the-ground services like cleaning and maintenance.

Key insights

• Property count: 30,000+ vacation rentals

• Average review score: 4.7+ stars (varies by location)

• Occupancy rate: Data varies but optimized through dynamic pricing

Top services and features

• Low-cost management: 10% booking fee with no long-term contracts

• Marketing and distribution: Listings on Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and more

• Dynamic pricing: Data-driven rate optimization

• Guest support: 24/7 assistance for travelers

• Owner dashboard: Performance tracking and insights

Evolve is designed to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional property management, helping you maximize bookings with less hassle.

3. SkyRun

SkyRun is a vacation rental management company offering a hybrid franchise model, allowing local entrepreneurs to operate rental management businesses under its brand.

Founded in 2004, the company manages properties across 30+ destinations in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. It provides a combination of technology-driven property management and personalized local service.

Key insights

• Property count: 1,000+ vacation rentals

• Average review score: 4.5+ stars (varies by location)

• Occupancy rate: Varies by market; optimized through revenue management

Top services and features

• Franchise model: Local ownership with corporate support

• Dynamic pricing: AI-driven revenue optimization

• Marketing and distribution: Listings on major travel platforms

• Owner control: Flexible management options

• Guest experience: 24/7 support and local expertise

SkyRun aims to offer a unique blend of corporate support and local expertise, helping you maximize your revenue while maintaining a personalized service.

4. CasaGo

CasaGo specializes in full-service property management and hospitality solutions. With over 20 years’ experience, it operates in destinations across the U.S., Mexico and beyond. The company focuses on maximizing revenue for property owners through technology-driven pricing and extensive marketing while ensuring high-quality guest experiences.

Key insights

• Property count: 4,000+ vacation rentals

• Average review score: 4.6+ stars (varies by location)

• Occupancy rate: Variable; optimized through dynamic pricing and local expertise

Top services and features

• Full-service management: Maintenance, housekeeping and guest support

• Marketing and distribution: Listings on major travel platforms

• Revenue optimization: Data-driven pricing strategies

• Local expertise: Franchise model with on-the-ground teams

• Owner dashboard: Real-time performance tracking

CasaGo blends technology with a personalized service, offering a robust solution for vacation rental owners seeking professional management.

5. Expedia

Part of the vast Expedia Group, Expedia Vacation Rentals is a leading online travel marketplace offering short-term rentals across thousands of global destinations.

With millions of listings available through its platforms – including Vrbo, Hotels.com and Expedia.com – it provides travelers with diverse lodging options while helping you as a short-term rental property owner maximize your bookings through extensive exposure and technology-driven solutions.

Key insights

• Property count: 2+ million vacation rental listings globally

• Average review score: Varies by listing; generally 4.5+ stars on Vrbo

• Occupancy rate: Depends on market trends; optimized through dynamic pricing

Top services and features

• Global reach: Listings on Expedia, Vrbo and Hotels.com

• Marketing and exposure: Access to millions of travelers worldwide

• Dynamic pricing: AI-driven revenue optimization

• Secure booking system: Fraud protection and payment security

• Guest and owner support: 24/7 assistance

Expedia Vacation Rentals provides enormous global exposure, making it a top choice if you’re seeking maximum visibility.

6. AvantStay

A luxury vacation rental management company, AvantStay specializes in high-end group travel experiences. Founded in 2017, its properties span 100+ destinations in the U.S. and beyond.

The company focuses on tech-driven operations, curated home designs and seamless guest experiences to maximize your occupancy and revenue.

Key insights

• Property count: 1,500+ luxury vacation homes

• Average review score: 4.8+ stars (varies by location)

• Occupancy rate: High, driven by premium service and dynamic pricing

Top services and features

• Luxury experience: Professionally designed homes with high-end amenities

• Tech-enabled management: Smart locks, app-based controls and automated processes

• Marketing and distribution: Listings on AvantStay, Airbnb, Vrbo and Expedia

• Full-service management: Cleaning, maintenance and guest support

• Group travel focus: Homes tailored for larger gatherings and events

AvantStay blends hospitality and technology to provide premium vacation rental experiences.

7. Wyndham Destinations

Wyndham Destinations offers professionally managed vacation properties across popular travel destinations. With a strong presence in North America and elsewhere, Wyndham provides a mix of resort-style accommodations, private vacation homes and condos, catering to both leisure and business travelers.

Key insights

• Property count: Thousands of vacation rentals worldwide

• Average review score: Typically 4.5+ stars, depending on location

• Occupancy rate: High; influenced by Wyndham’s global brand presence

Top services and features

• Resort-style stays: Access to pools, fitness centers and concierge services

• Global distribution: Listings on Wyndham, Expedia and other major platforms

• Loyalty program: Rewards through Wyndham Rewards for repeat guests

• Full-service management: Maintenance, housekeeping and guest support

• Flexible booking options: Short- and long-term stays available

Wyndham Destinations combines trusted hospitality with high-quality vacation rental experiences, offering owners extensive brand-backed marketing and management support.

8. Airbnb

Airbnb is the world’s largest vacation rental marketplace. Founded in 2008, its rise a few short years later triggered a revolution in the short-term rental industry. Operating in more than 220 countries and regions, it connects travelers with unique stays, ranging from private homes to boutique accommodation.

Unlike traditional vacation rental management companies, Airbnb serves as a platform for both individual hosts and professional property managers, offering powerful tools to optimize bookings and maximize revenue.

Key insights

• Property count: 7+ million listings worldwide

• Average review score: 4.7+ stars (varies by location)

• Occupancy rate: Varies by market; driven by platform algorithms and demand trends

Top services and features

• Global exposure: Access to a massive traveler base through Airbnb’s marketplace

• Dynamic pricing: Smart pricing tool that adjusts rates based on demand, seasonality and competition

• Guest communication and booking management: Integrated messaging and reservation system

• Host protection and support: $3M host guarantee for property damage and liability coverage

• Experiences and additional revenue streams: Option to offer guided tours, activities and local experiences

• Superhost and category-based visibility: Enhanced search rankings for high-performing listings

Airbnb’s extensive reach, user-friendly interface and innovative booking model make it a dominant force in the vacation rental industry, offering unparalleled exposure and earning potential for property owners.

9. Vrbo

Also part of Expedia Group (see main entry above), Vrbo – or Vacation Rentals by Owner – is a leading vacation rental platform connecting travelers with privately owned vacation homes. Founded in 1995, it specializes in whole-home rentals, catering to families and groups seeking more space and privacy. With a global presence, Vrbo offers millions of properties in top destinations.

Key insights

• Property count: 2+ million vacation rentals worldwide

• Average review score: Typically 4.5+ stars (varies by listing)

• Occupancy rate: Varies by region; optimized through dynamic pricing tools

Top services and features

• Global exposure: Listings featured across Expedia Group platforms

• Flexible pricing tools: Owners can set custom rates and use dynamic pricing features

• Secure booking system: Fraud protection and secure payments

• Owner support: Tools for marketing, guest communication and booking management

• Whole-home rentals: Focuses on private homes for families and groups

Vrbo provides a robust platform for property owners, maximizing visibility and bookings while offering travelers quality vacation experiences.

10. Booking.com

Booking.com offers a vast selection of vacation rentals under its Booking Homes category, providing travelers with access to apartments, villas and unique stays in over 220 countries. As part of Booking Holdings, the platform gives property owners global exposure and powerful booking tools to maximize occupancy and revenue.

Key insights

• Property count: 6+ million vacation rental listings

• Average review score: Typically 4.4+ stars (varies by listing)

• Occupancy rate: High; driven by extensive global reach and marketing

Top services and features

• Massive global audience: Millions of travelers use Booking.com daily

• Instant booking and secure payments: Hassle-free reservations with fraud protection

• Marketing and SEO: Increased visibility through advanced algorithms

• Flexible pricing and revenue management: Tools to adjust rates based on demand

• 24/7 support: Multilingual customer service for owners and guests

Booking.com’s vacation rental platform provides exposure of a scale matched only by Expedia, making it another attractive option if your principal objective is maximizing bookings.

A comparison of top USA and European PMs

When analyzing the differences between the top PMs from the USA and Europe, three notable findings arise. Firstly, there is more competition between European PMs, where the top 25 have a more even share than that of inventory.

In the United States, we find a few much larger companies possessing the majority of the market. The top 3 US PMs manage 30%, 19% and 10% respectively, while the top 3 European PMs each manage around 10% of the property count of the top 25 PMs.

Secondly, we find a commonality between the two markets in the 5-star average ratings. In both the US and European markets, most if not all of the top property managers are boutique PMs with unique and local services.

Lastly, we also found that occupancy rates were distributed more evenly between higher numbers (94% to 100%) for European PMs. At the same time, the USA PM average occupancy rates condensed around 91% to 95%.

These findings give us better indications of how the short-term rental environments in these different regions are performing. Note that these metrics are far from the only measures, and we only covered rank by properties managed, occupancy and rating. Nonetheless, our metrics allow you to deduce what you can learn from these outstanding companies.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way for you to gauge your property management company against the market. See how Lighthouse data can increase your operational efficiency and boost your revenue.

What the performance of top property management companies means for your short-term rental

The success of industry leaders like Airbnb and Vrbo reflects strong demand for short-term rentals, evolving guest preferences and the increasing role of technology in property management.

For smaller property managers, this means competing with well-funded companies that leverage dynamic pricing, extensive marketing and streamlined guest experiences.

However, it also highlights opportunities to differentiate through personalized service, unique properties and niche markets that large platforms may not focus on.

Rather than directly comparing performance with these giants, you should benchmark against similar properties in your market using metrics like occupancy rate, average nightly rate and guest reviews.

Studying the strategies of top companies can help improve your marketing, pricing and guest experience. For example, in your:

• Marketing: Optimize listings on multiple platforms and use professional photography.

• Pricing: Implement dynamic pricing based on demand and seasonality.

• Guest experience: Enhance amenities, automate check-ins and prioritize excellent communication.

By leveraging industry insights, you can stay competitive and maximize their rental’s success. But do bear in mind that we haven’t reviewed the management fee or contractual models used by these companies for use of their platforms and booking sites, so be sure to compare rates and terms when exploring your options for partnerships.

Find out how your property’s performance compares to the wider vacation rental market

Success in the short-term rental market depends on understanding the bigger picture – how demand, pricing, and competition shift in your market

The largest vacation rental companies set industry trends, but you can stay competitive by leveraging the right data to establish your strategy.

Access to accurate, real-time insights on market performance, occupancy trends, and pricing dynamics makes all the difference.

With Lighthouse Data Solutions, you can optimize revenue, improve guest experiences, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth. We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways.

Trusted by over 65,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partners – their success is our success.

This article originally appeared on Lighthouse.