HomeAway

HomeAway, acquired by Expedia Group in 2015 and retired as a distinct brand in 2020, was a vacation rental marketplace website. It facilitated connections between travelers seeking alternative accommodations and property owners or managers listing their homes, apartments, villas, and other types of rentals. At its peak, HomeAway offered a vast inventory of properties worldwide, allowing users to search, compare, and book directly through the platform.

HomeAway's core business model centered around charging property owners subscription fees and/or commission fees for listings on its platform. Travelers could typically communicate directly with property owners or managers to inquire about details, availability, and booking terms. The company provided features such as traveler reviews, secure payment processing, and insurance options to build trust and facilitate safe transactions.

The HomeAway brand encompassed several subsidiary companies and regional websites, including VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner), which was a prominent and well-established player in the vacation rental space prior to HomeAway's acquisition of it. The merger of HomeAway and VRBO aimed to consolidate market share and provide a broader range of options to both travelers and property owners.

Following the acquisition by Expedia Group, the HomeAway brand was gradually integrated into the broader Expedia framework. Many of its functionalities and property listings were migrated to the VRBO platform, effectively retiring the HomeAway brand and consolidating its services under the VRBO banner. While the HomeAway name is no longer actively used, it remains a significant part of the history of the vacation rental industry and a notable predecessor to VRBO's current offerings.