If you currently connect Vrbo to Hospitable through the legacy Chrome extension, you'll eventually be invited to upgrade to the Vrbo Partner Connection.
The Vrbo Partner Connection uses Vrbo's official API and makes Hospitable the source of truth for your listings, pricing, availability, reservations, and guest communication. It also introduces a new payments and payouts experience, along with several operational improvements.
This article explains what changes, what benefits you'll gain, and what to expect before upgrading.
At a Glance
No Chrome extension required
More reliable connection with fewer disconnects
Manage listings directly from Hospitable
Create new Vrbo listings from Hospitable
Hospitable can process guest payments and payouts
Support for split payouts, upsells, and payment terms
Available to hosts with access to Hospitable Payments or Stripe
A More Reliable Connection
The Vrbo Partner Connection removes several limitations of the legacy Chrome extension.
With the Partner Connection:
You no longer need to install or maintain a Chrome extension
You don't need to remain logged in to Vrbo for the connection to work
Multi-account setups are easier to manage
Calendar synchronization is more reliable
Connection interruptions are significantly reduced
This creates a more stable connection between Hospitable and Vrbo and reduces the need for manual troubleshooting.
Full Listing Management in Hospitable
With the Vrbo Partner Connection, Hospitable becomes the source of truth for your Vrbo listings.
This means:
Listing content is managed in Hospitable
Pricing is managed in Hospitable
Availability is managed in Hospitable
Messaging is managed in Hospitable
Changes automatically sync to Vrbo through the official API
You can also create and publish new Vrbo listings directly from Hospitable.
You'll still have access to your Vrbo account for billing and account-level settings, but listing management is handled in Hospitable.
Hospitable Handles Payments and Payouts
One of the biggest changes when upgrading is how guest payments are processed.
Under the legacy connection, Vrbo collects guest payments and sends payouts directly to you.
Under the Vrbo Partner Connection, Hospitable can act as the Merchant of Record, processing guest payments and sending payouts through Hospitable. This is the same payments infrastructure used by Direct Premium.
In addition to payment processing, the Vrbo Partner Connection supports flexible guest payment schedules.
Hosts can offer installment payments and benefit from automated payment collection workflows, including:
Payment reminders sent to guests
Automatic payment retries
Guest self-service payment method updates
Policy-based reservation cancellation when payment remains outstanding
Also see: Vrbo Partner: Payment Terms
Where Hospitable Is Available as Merchant of Record
Hospitable currently supports Merchant of Record services for properties located in:
United States
United Kingdom
Australia
For properties in these countries, hosts can choose either:
Hospitable as Merchant of Record
Stripe
For properties outside these countries, the Vrbo Partner Connection may still be available through Stripe, provided Stripe supports the country where the property is located.
Hosts can review Stripe's supported countries here: https://stripe.com/global
Eligibility is determined by the country where the property is located, not the country where the host resides. To use the Vrbo Partner Connection, a property must be supported by either Hospitable Payments or Stripe.
Benefits of Using Hospitable as Merchant of Record
When Hospitable processes payments and payouts, hosts gain access to:
Chargeback protection
Chargeback loss coverage
Upsell charges on the guest's payment method
Tax compliance facilitation where supported
Split payouts across properties
Guest payment terms and installment schedules
These benefits only apply when using Hospitable as Merchant of Record. Hosts using Stripe remain responsible for payment processing, chargebacks, and tax obligations.
What It Costs
The overall cost is similar to the legacy connection, but the fee structure changes.
Legacy Connection
Vrbo commission: 5%
Vrbo payment processing: 3%
Vrbo Partner Connection Using Hospitable
Vrbo commission: 5%
Hospitable Merchant of Record fee: 3.9%
The Merchant of Record fee covers:
Payment processing
Chargeback management
Chargeback loss protection
Upsell payment processing
Tax compliance facilitation where supported
Vrbo Partner Connection Using Stripe
Vrbo commission: 5%
Hospitable service fee: 1%
Stripe processing fees
If you choose Stripe, you assume responsibility for payment processing, chargebacks, and tax remittance.
Vrbo Commission Billing
Regardless of which payment processor you choose, Vrbo's commission is billed separately by Vrbo.
The commission:
Is charged to the credit card on file in your Vrbo account
Is not deducted from your Hospitable payout
Requires a valid credit card with sufficient available credit
Vrbo does not accept debit cards for commission billing.
Questions about Vrbo commission charges or payment methods should be directed to Vrbo Support.
Payouts Arrive 24 hours After Check-In
When using Hospitable as Merchant of Record, payouts are typically sent 24 hours after check-in.
This aligns with how most major booking platforms manage payouts.
If you currently receive early payouts through a legacy Vrbo setup, that option may not be available after upgrading.
What's Not Included Yet
A few features are not currently available as part of the initial Vrbo Partner Connection rollout.
These include:
Automated Vrbo reviews
Some Vrbo-specific promotional tools and discounts
Feature availability will continue to expand as the integration evolves.
Who Can Use the Vrbo Partner Connection?
The Vrbo Partner Connection is available to hosts who have access to:
Hospitable Payments, or
Stripe
Availability depends on the country where the property is located.
For example:
A property in the United States can use Hospitable Payments or Stripe.
A property in France may be eligible through Stripe.
A property in a country supported by neither Hospitable Payments nor Stripe cannot use the Vrbo Partner Connection.
What About Vrbo Accounts With Supported and Unsupported Properties?
Some hosts manage properties in multiple countries under a single Vrbo account.
Whether those properties can use the Vrbo Partner Connection depends on the payment processing options available in each property's country.
Example 1: Supported Through Hospitable and Stripe
A host has:
One property in the United States
One property in Mexico
Both properties can use the Vrbo Partner Connection because each property has a supported payment processor available.
The host can choose either:
Hospitable as Merchant of Record for the US property and Stripe for the Mexican property, or
Stripe for both properties
Example 2: Unsupported Property on the Same Vrbo Account
A host has:
One property in the United States
One property in Iceland
The US property can use the Vrbo Partner Connection because Hospitable Payments and Stripe are supported.
The Iceland property cannot use the Vrbo Partner Connection because neither Hospitable Payments nor Stripe supports payment processing there.
As a result:
The US property can remain connected through the Vrbo Partner Connection.
The Iceland property will become unlisted on Vrbo and cannot be made live while it remains on that Vrbo account.
This is a Vrbo requirement. Properties connected through the Vrbo Partner Connection must have a supported payment processor configured through their property management software.
If a property is located in a country supported by neither Hospitable Payments nor Stripe, it cannot use the Vrbo Partner Connection and may become unlisted on Vrbo.
How to Resolve This
If you have unsupported properties on the same Vrbo account:
Create a separate Vrbo account.
Move the unsupported property to the new account.
Connect the new account using the Vrbo Legacy connection.
You can contact Vrbo Support for assistance with moving a property between Vrbo accounts.
This allows you to:
Use the Vrbo Partner Connection for supported properties
Continue using the Vrbo Legacy connection for unsupported properties
What You'll Need to Do
When your account becomes eligible:
Upgrade your Vrbo connection from Channel Connections in Hospitable.
Add a credit card to your Vrbo account for the commission billing.
Confirm your payout bank account details.
Review your tax settings.
Complete the upgrade process.
Once the upgrade is complete, you can stop using the Chrome extension.
Channel Connections page displaying the option to upgrade from Vrbo Legacy to the Vrbo Partner Connection
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need the Chrome extension?
No. The Vrbo Partner Connection uses Vrbo's official API and does not require a Chrome extension.
Can I still log in to my Vrbo account?
Yes. You'll continue to use your Vrbo account for billing, commission payments, and account-level settings.
Can I create new Vrbo listings in Hospitable?
Yes. The Vrbo Partner Connection allows you to create and publish new Vrbo listings directly from Hospitable.
Can I use Stripe instead of Hospitable Payments?
Yes. If Stripe is supported for your property's location, you can choose Stripe instead of Hospitable as Merchant of Record.
What happens if one of my properties is in an unsupported country?
That property cannot use the Vrbo Partner Connection. If it shares a Vrbo account with supported properties, you may need to move it to a separate Vrbo account and continue using the Vrbo Legacy connection.
Will my payouts still come from Vrbo?
No. When using Hospitable as Merchant of Record, Hospitable processes guest payments and sends payouts.
Need Help?
If you're unsure whether your properties are eligible for the Vrbo Partner Connection, contact Hospitable Support and include:
Your Vrbo Advertiser ID / Hospitable ID
The countries where your properties are located
Whether you plan to use Hospitable Payments or Stripe