Which platforms to use besides Airbnb to increase bookings
Airbnb is the best-known short-term rental platform, but it's not the only one. Diversifying your presence across multiple platforms is one of the most effective strategies for increasing annual employment and reducing dependence on a single marketplace. Here is a comparison of the main platforms available in Italy in 2025.
The main international platforms
Airbnb — market leader in Italy for short-term leisure rentals. Host fee: 3% (split-fee model). Strength: highly recognizable brand, consolidated community of hosts and guests, two-way review system. Booking.com — leader for the hotel/business segment and for last minute bookings. Commission: 15-18% paid by the manager. Strength: Huge international visibility, strong in European and Asian markets. Expedia/VRBO — strong in the North American market and for bookings of villas and entire houses. Commission: 8-10% + guest fee. Useful for high-end properties aimed at American families. Google Vacation Rentals — it is not a direct booking platform, but aggregates ads from various OTAs and direct sites; essential for visibility.
Niche platforms to consider
Housetrip/TripAdvisor Rentals — strong integration with TripAdvisor, useful for properties close to tourist attractions. Holidu — German meta-engine with strong presence in Europe, aggregator of ads from multiple platforms. Wimdu — European competitor of Airbnb, now downsized but still active. Holiday Homes Italy — Italian platform for short-term rentals oriented towards the domestic market. Lower commissions but lower volumes.
How to choose how many platforms to be present on
The rule of thumb: start with Airbnb + Booking.com (they cover 80%+ of the market) and add Expedia if your property caters to families or the English-speaking market. More platforms mean more management: use a channel manager to synchronize calendars automatically and avoid double booking.
Booking.com, Expedia, VRBO and Italian platforms: complete comparison
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