Who Owns Vrbo?

Vrbo, short for Vacation Rentals by Owner, is owned by Expedia Group, the publicly traded travel technology company listed on NASDAQ under the ticker EXPE. Expedia Group acquired Vrbo through its $3.9 billion purchase of HomeAway in December 2015.

During 2024, Vrbo saw accelerated bookings growth each quarter following a platform migration to Expedia’s unified tech stack. Expedia added roughly 1 million new properties to Vrbo, primarily apartments in urban areas. Q4 2024 saw 12% year-over-year growth in booked room nights across Expedia Group. Vrbo attracts around 18 million unique users and recorded 11.6 million app downloads in 2024.

Who Owns Vrbo?

Expedia Group owns Vrbo outright. It is not a separate publicly traded entity. When you book a cabin, condo, or beach house through Vrbo, the transaction runs through Expedia Group’s infrastructure, which powers over 200 online travel websites globally.

David Clouse founded the platform in 1995 as “Vacation Rentals by Owner.” HomeAway acquired it in 2006, and Expedia Group then purchased HomeAway for $3.9 billion in December 2015. By 2020, Expedia retired the HomeAway brand and consolidated all vacation rental operations under the Vrbo name.

Expedia Group’s Role as Vrbo Parent Company

Expedia Group houses brands including Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Orbitz, Travelocity, and Trivago. Vrbo sits within this portfolio as the group’s dedicated vacation rental arm. Ariane Gorin, who became Expedia Group CEO in May 2024, oversees the company’s strategic direction. Since 2023, Vrbo has been part of the One Key loyalty program, letting users earn rewards across Vrbo, Expedia, and Hotels.com.

History of Vrbo and Its Co-Founders

David Clouse and the 1995 Launch

David Clouse, a software engineer in Austin, Texas, created Vacation Rentals by Owner in 1995 to rent out his ski condo in Breckenridge, Colorado. The original model was simple: property owners paid a flat annual fee to list their homes, with no per-booking commissions. This gave owners full control over pricing and guest communication. By 2006, Vrbo had accumulated over 65,000 listings.

Vrbo Ownership Timeline

HomeAway’s acquisition gave Vrbo access to broader travel infrastructure and technology. When Expedia Group bought HomeAway nine years later, Vrbo became part of one of the world’s largest online travel companies. The 2020 consolidation completed its transition to a globally recognized vacation rental platform.

Largest Shareholders of Vrbo’s Parent Company

Vrbo itself has no independent shareholders. It is fully contained within Expedia Group’s corporate structure. To understand who controls Vrbo, you need to look at Expedia Group’s stock ownership.

Institutional Ownership Breakdown

As of mid-2025, institutional investors held about 94.77% of Expedia Group’s outstanding shares. This heavy concentration reflects Expedia’s inclusion in the S&P 500 index, which draws significant passive fund investment from firms managing trillions in assets across the global economy.

The top five institutional holders alone control more than 31% of outstanding shares. Their collective weight gives them considerable say in shareholder votes, proxy battles, and executive compensation packages.

Key Individual Shareholders

Barry Diller is the most prominent individual shareholder of Expedia Group. Alexander von Furstenberg, Diller’s stepson, holds roughly 7.96% of a specific share class. Total insider ownership stood at about 1.33% (approximately 1.69 million shares) as of May 2025.

Buybacks and Voting Structure

Expedia Group has been actively repurchasing its own stock. In 2024, the company bought back over 12 million shares for $1.6 billion. During Q1 2025, another 1.7 million shares were repurchased for $330 million. Expedia reinstated a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share in March 2025.

Since 2019, Expedia Group has operated under a one-share-one-vote common stock structure with no dual-class shares. This gives large asset managers like Vanguard and BlackRock real influence on governance and director elections.

Who Is on the Board of Directors for Vrbo?

Because Vrbo operates as a subsidiary, its governance falls under Expedia Group’s board of directors. As of April 2025, the board has 11 members with backgrounds spanning media, technology, finance, law, and public policy. The board sets the direction that shapes how Vrbo operates, from pricing and technology investments to international expansion.

Corporate Strategy and Media

Barry Diller has served as Chairman and Senior Executive since 2005. He previously led Paramount Pictures, Fox Inc., and QVC, and sits on the boards of The Coca-Cola Company and MGM Resorts International. His media background has informed Expedia Group’s brand-building strategy. Peter Kern, the former CEO, remains as Vice Chairman, overseeing business strategy and corporate development.

Executive Leadership

Ariane Gorin joined the board in February 2024 and became CEO in May 2024 after 11 years at the company. She previously ran Expedia’s B2B and international divisions, and also sits on the boards of Adecco Group and trivago N.V. Scott Schenkel became CFO in February 2025 after previously serving as interim CEO of eBay.

Finance and Consumer Services

Beverly Anderson, a director since 2020, is President and CEO of BECU, one of the largest U.S. credit unions, with prior experience at Equifax and Wells Fargo. Her consumer financial services background informs the board’s perspective on loyalty programs. Moina Banerjee brings investment and real estate market expertise from Blackstone Group and JBG SMITH Properties.

Legal, Governance, and Public Policy

Patricia Menendez Cambo brings corporate governance experience from SoftBank Group International and Greenberg Traurig. Robert Dzielak, Chief Legal and People Officer, serves as Corporate Secretary and manages regulatory compliance. Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, has been a director since 2019, contributing perspective on global policy and public health governance.

FAQs

Who is the current owner of Vrbo?

Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE) is the current owner. Vrbo operates as a wholly owned subsidiary within Expedia Group’s portfolio of travel brands.

Who founded Vrbo and when?

David Clouse founded Vrbo in 1995 in Austin, Texas, originally as “Vacation Rentals by Owner” to list his ski condo in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Is Vrbo publicly traded on the stock market?

Vrbo itself is not publicly traded. Its parent company, Expedia Group, trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol EXPE.

How much did Expedia pay for Vrbo?

Expedia Group acquired HomeAway, which included Vrbo, for $3.9 billion in December 2015. Vrbo was not purchased separately.

What is the difference between Vrbo and Airbnb ownership?

Vrbo is owned by Expedia Group. Airbnb is an independent publicly traded company (NASDAQ: ABNB). Vrbo lists only whole-home rentals; Airbnb also offers shared rooms.