Episode Details

In today's episode, Jasper tackles one of the most common questions STR operators ask: which distribution channels should you actually be on to maximize your revenue? He walks through the full picture, from the history of each major platform to a practical framework for deciding where to list based on your market, your stage, and your goals.

Freewyld currently manages over 4,000 properties across 75+ clients worldwide and $200 million in annual bookings. That data set informs every recommendation in this episode.

You will hear:

• How VRBO, Booking.com, and Airbnb each got started, and why the founding story of each platform still explains the type of guest using it today
• US market share data from 2024-2025: Airbnb at 43%, Direct at 28%, VRBO at 28%, Booking.com at 8%, and why Europe looks completely different
• The three factors Jasper weighs when advising clients on channel selection: risk, revenue, and operational complexity
• Why concentrating all bookings on Airbnb creates compounding momentum and search visibility, and when that tradeoff is worth it
• Why Jasper considers Airbnb and Direct to be must-haves for almost every operator regardless of market
• How to evaluate whether VRBO or Booking.com is worth adding in your specific market, and what to look for before making that call

We also talk about:

• Why a guest email list is the one asset no OTA can take from you, and how to start building it from your first booking
• Booking.com's growing push into the US market, its reputation for complexity, and how the platform has improved in recent years
• Why adding channels beyond the big four rarely moves the needle and almost always adds operational cost

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Free Revenue Audit: freewyldfoundry.com/get-started
• Email Jasper: jasper@freewyldfoundry.com

Favorite Takeaway:

"Don't build your business on somebody else's land. If you're only using Airbnb, Airbnb can block your account, they can ban you as a user. If you built your business solely on Airbnb, you're taking risk because you have no control over what Airbnb decides to do."

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