Traveler Trust Is the New Currency: What Property Managers Should Plan for in 2027

The next competitive advantage in vacation rentals will not come from adding more to a listing. It will come from consistently delivering what travelers already expect.

That is the clearest takeaway from Expedia Group’s Built to Stay Report: The Keys to Winning Traveler Trust in Vacation Rentals, based on a survey of 1,758 vacation rental travelers across seven global markets in 2026.

The report gives property managers a useful planning lens: traveler trust is no longer a brand promise reserved for the best-performing properties. It is an operating standard that shapes conversion, pricing power, reviews, and repeat demand across the entire portfolio.

For enterprise-level managers operating 25, 250, or even 2,500 properties, that distinction matters. Delivering a dependable stay in one home takes attention. Delivering it across dozens or hundreds of homes requires repeatable systems. 

For many coastal property managers, the end of summer peak season creates a natural planning window. The business is moving from execution into evaluation: which properties held rate, where did service issues occur, which listings lost momentum, and what needs to change before demand returns?

For ski and mountain operators, the same period is a preparation window. Winter demand is approaching, and the quality signals that matter most need to be visible, accurate, and operationally ready before guests begin comparing options.

Across both seasonal models, the planning question is the same: Can your team deliver the same level of confidence across every property, channel, and stay? 

The Built to Stay findings suggest that the answer will increasingly determine which properties earn the booking, which ones command a premium, and which ones are left competing on price.

Travelers are not necessarily asking for luxury. They are looking for fewer surprises.

The report found that 86% of travelers would pay more for a vacation rental with a higher-quality listing, rising to 92% among Gen Z. In addition, 81% would pay more for a property with stronger trust signals.

That creates a practical opportunity for professional managers. Quality is not only an experience or marketing conversation. It is part of the revenue strategy.

The report’s leading quality signals include: 

• Host responsiveness: 79% identified it as an important indicator of quality.

• Cleanliness and reliable amenities: 78% cited each.

• Comfortable beds and quality linens: 77%.

• Clear and detailed arrival instructions: 75%. 

These are not luxury add-ons. They are the fundamentals that help travelers feel confident enough to book.

For a portfolio manager, the challenge is making those fundamentals measurable and repeatable. That means defining what “ready” looks like, identifying where standards are slipping, and giving teams a way to act before a quality issue becomes a review issue or a lost booking.

Vrbo Promotions can help a strong listing win the final comparison. But for professional property managers, the opportunity is more strategic: use the right promotion to solve the right inventory problem.

The Built to Stay Report found that 91% of travelers are influenced by promotions or discounts when booking a vacation rental. Promotions help 45% choose between similar properties, encourage 39% to upgrade to a more expensive property, and prompt 38% to extend their stay.

The question is not simply, “Where can we offer a discount?” It is:

• Which properties need demand?

• Which dates need attention?

• Which traveler segment are we trying to reach?

• What business outcome should the promotion support?

Match the promotion to the opportunity

Within Escapia, property managers can manage five native Vrbo promotion types in one workflow: Early Booking, Last Minute, Member-Only, Mobile, and New Listing.

Early Booking: Build future occupancy and create momentum for upcoming demand periods.

Last Minute: Help turn open near-term nights into revenue as arrival dates approach.

Member-Only: Reach One Key loyalty members who may be comparing similar properties.

Mobile: Connect with travelers searching and booking through mobile devices.

New Listing: Help eligible new Vrbo properties gain early visibility, bookings, and reviews.

Because promotions are managed directly in Escapia, teams can create, adjust, pause, and track offers across selected properties without managing each promotion manually in the Vrbo portal. Learn more strategies on how to increase Vrbo bookings. 

Same-Day Bookings are a separate operational capability, not a promotion type. For teams equipped to manage same-day demand, the setting can help capture open-night opportunities—but it should be evaluated alongside turnover capacity, after-hours coverage, and connected-channel availability.

Traveler expectations are rising. The 2027 planning advantage will belong to the operators who make trust repeatable. 

Escapia is purpose-built for professional vacation rental managers operating 25, 250, or even 2,500 properties. It combines trust accounting, distribution, rate management, reporting, owner visibility, guest communications, and Expedia Group-backed innovation in one platform.

Learn how Escapia helps professional property managers run smarter today and scale confidently tomorrow.