Hydeaway Stay vs. The Competition – A Smarter Approach to Maximizing Owner Returns 

Why Hydeaway Stay Lists Your Property on All Major Booking Platforms

At Hydeaway Stay, we take luxury property management to the next level by ensuring your investment property is visible on all major booking platforms—Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and our own direct booking site. Many property managers, especially lower-cost ‘co-hosts,’ rely solely on Airbnb, limiting potential revenue. In contrast, our multi-platform strategy ensures maximum visibility, attracts the right guests, and drives higher occupancy and higher nightly rates. Read on for more and stay tuned for our next post where we’ll be highlighting the value of using Dynamic Pricing.  

Each booking platform serves a unique audience. By leveraging all three of the global behemoths, plus our own site, we ensure that your Hydeaway property reaches a broad, high-value market, resulting in more bookings, fewer gaps in occupancy, and stronger overall returns. Let’s break down why each of these platforms plays a vital role in maximizing your rental income. 

1. Vrbo – Attracting High-End Travelers & Families 

Best for: Affluent U.S. travelers, families, and longer stays 

Many property managers overlook Vrbo, but it’s a powerhouse for high-value bookings. Unlike Airbnb, which caters to a broad audience, Vrbo specializes in entire home rentals—a perfect fit for premium properties like yours. 

Why Vrbo Matters for Hydeaway Owners: 

✅ Attracts affluent travelers and families who prioritize quality over cost 

✅ Typically secures longer stays, reducing turnover and cleaning costs 

✅ Part of Expedia Group, increasing exposure across Expedia, Hotels.com, Travelocity, and Trivago 

✅ Guests tend to be more respectful of properties compared to other platforms 

For luxury properties in prime vacation destinations like Canmore, a Vrbo listing is a must-have to capture high-value bookings that would otherwise be missed. 

2. Airbnb – The Bread & Butter of Short-Term Rentals 

Best for: Maximum exposure, High booking volumes, digital nomads, younger travelers 

Airbnb remains far and away the most recognized name in the short-term rental industry. While it doesn’t always command the highest nightly rates, it provides a steady flow of bookings and broad market exposure. We concede, if you were only going to choose 1 platform, for 90% of properties this would be the one.  

Why Airbnb is Essential: 

✅ Largest booking platform globally, offering unmatched exposure 

✅ Attracts shorter stays and weekend travelers, filling in gaps between longer bookings 

✅ Highly optimized search and review system, helping build your property’s reputation 

✅ Integrated instant booking & flexible pricing tools to maximize revenue 

While some managers (okay lots) only rely on Airbnb, we strategically use it alongside other platforms to ensure your property is always booked at the highest possible rate. 

3. Booking.com – A Gateway to Global Travelers 

Best for: International guests, hotel-style bookings, last-minute travelers 

Booking.com is often underutilized by vacation rental managers, but it’s a critical tool for securing international travelers and last-minute bookings. Unlike Airbnb and Vrbo, which focus on vacation homes, Booking.com captures hotel-style travelers who may not have originally considered a short-term rental. 

Why Booking.com Expands Your Reach: 

✅ Massive global audience, especially from Europe, Asia, and business travelers 

✅ Higher credit card security, reducing cancellation risks 

✅ Last-minute bookings, often from hotel travellers help fill in gaps in occupancy 

✅ Direct integration with Google Travel, making your Hydeaway visible beyond traditional OTAs 

By listing on Booking.com, Hydeaway Stay ensures your property reaches travelers who typically book hotels, opening up an entirely new revenue stream. 

4. Hydeaway Stay’s Direct Booking Site – The Key to Higher Margins 

Best for: Repeat guests, cost-conscious travelers, and those receiving our direct marketing campaigns.  

While OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) drive the majority of bookings, they also come with steep fees (up to 15-20% per booking). That’s why we prioritize our Hydeaway Stay direct booking site, ensuring guests who love their stay can rebook directly—without the OTA markup. 

Why Direct Bookings Are a Game-Changer: 

✅ Saves guests money by avoiding OTA service fees, making rebooking attractive 

✅ Keeps more profit in our owner’s pockets, avoiding costly commissions 

✅ Builds a loyal customer base, leading to repeat bookings & referrals 

✅ Fully branded as Hydeaway Stay, reinforcing our premium positioning 

Additionally many guests now search for property managers directly after finding a property they like on an OTA. By having a strong direct booking presence, we capitalize on this behavior and convert more bookings at a higher profit margin for owners. 

Why Hydeaway Stay’s Multi-Platform Approach Wins 

Many short-term rental managers take shortcuts by listing only on Airbnb, limiting revenue potential. At Hydeaway Stay, our multi-platform strategy ensures: 

✅ Maximum exposure to a wide range of guests 

✅ Higher nightly rates by leveraging different platforms strategically 

✅ Stronger occupancy & fewer empty nights 

✅ Direct bookings that save you money on OTA fees 

By leveraging Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and direct bookings, Hydeaway Stay drives more revenue and delivers higher returns than single-platform competitors. Oh, and let’s not forget that Hydeaway Stay has been awarded the top award available to hosts on all platforms; Superhost on Airbnb and Premier Host on Vrbo.  

Want to see how we can maximize your property’s earnings? Contact us today to learn more about our luxury property management services!