Travel / news
Airbnb Takes Exclusive Vacation Rental Role at Amex Travel, Entering Expedia B2B Channel
Airbnb has become the exclusive vacation rental partner for American Express Travel, adding more than 1 million listings to a new Homes tab on AmexTravel.com and the Amex Travel app.
Expedia remains a major supplier to Amex Travel even as Airbnb takes the exclusive vacation rental role. The relationship covers flights, hotels and technology services and dates to 2015, when Expedia acquired Travelocity.
Expedia’s business-to-business arm sells lodging and other travel services to card issuers, airlines and travel agencies, with loyalty redemptions central to that operation. Its Vrbo unit has begun supplying vacation rentals to other B2B partners, but the Amex Travel arrangement had not included vacation rentals from Expedia, and the Airbnb exclusivity blocks that potential expansion at Amex Travel.
An American Express spokesperson said the company’s existing business with Expedia is unchanged. The spokesperson said the Airbnb partnership is focused on expanding the company’s short-term rental offering.
The arrangement means two online travel competitors now sell side by side on American Express Travel: Expedia in flights, hotels and technology services, and Airbnb in vacation rentals.