How to List on Google Vacation Rentals in 2026

Key Takeaways

• Google Vacation Rentals is a metasearch engine, not an OTA like Airbnb or Vrbo.
• Individual homeowners can't list their property directly on Google Vacation Rentals.
• There are three ways to appear on GVRs.
• The easiest option for individual vacation rental hosts to list on GVR is through their property management software such as iGMS.

Google shows vacation rentals right inside Search, Travel, and Maps. If you want more direct bookings and more control over your listings, showing up on Google Vacation Rentals is the right choice.

The thing many hosts get wrong about Google Vacation Rentals is this: your rental may already be showing up there because Google pulls your listing from platforms like Vrbo or Booking.com.

This guide teaches you the steps to get listed on Google in a way that you keep control and all the profit.

How Google Vacation Rentals Work for Hosts

Google Vacation Rentals isn't just another booking platform. It’s a metasearch engine that aggregates vacation rental listings from various sources.

It’s a way to show up in organic search results when people look for accommodation in your city.

Travelers can search and book vacation rentals either by being redirected to popular booking platforms or directly, through your website.

Google Vacation Rentals uses algorithms to rank listings based on relevance, pricing, and availability.

People searching for vacation rentals on Google will see property images and descriptions, nightly rates and availability, guest reviews, and a direct link to book through the host’s website or an OTA.

How Google Vacation Rentals Shows Up in Search

On this popular search engine, Google Vacation Rentals appear when a user searches vacation rentals, for example, “vacation rental in Miami.”

Users can apply several filters to narrow down results. Here are the primary filters that hosts should be aware of:

• date
• occupancy
• budget
• property type
• guest rating
• offers like free cancellations or special offers

People can easily compare properties, photos, and prices on a dedicated vacation rentals tab just like on any platform.

How Are Google Vacation Rentals Different from OTAs

Google Vacation Rentals acts as a metasearch engine and does not process bookings or charge commissions. OTAs process bookings directly, handle guest payments, listings, and provide customer support.

Here's the complete table to compare:

Advantages of Adding Your Property to Google Vacation Rentals

Google Vacation Rentals provide the most benefits to hosts who accept direct bookings on their own website, making it the best way to maintain full control.

Keep in mind that if Google simply pulls your listing from Vrbo or other third-party websites, you’ll still pay the regular commissions charged by those platforms.

GVR offers several advantages:

• Increase direct bookings and revenue for property managers.
• Gain more control over pricing, availability, and property details when listing through a connectivity partner like iGMS.
• Google Vacation Rentals does not charge commission fees.
• Showcase properties and attract more bookings through Google Search, Google Travel, and Google Maps.

Who is Eligible to List on Google Vacation Rentals

Google Vacation Rentals is currently designed for professional property management companies, not individual homeowners.

To qualify for direct integration, your business must be authorized or licensed to market and manage multiple listings. To be precise, you need 500 or more short-term rental properties to manage on behalf of owners, handling bookings and day-to-day operations.

Property managers with fewer than 500 properties are recommended to work with one of Google’s approved connectivity providers such as iGMS, which can handle integration regardless of company size.

On iGMS, you also create a direct vacation rental website, which serves as the landing page for accepting reservations through GVR.

Who Can't Get Listed on Google Vacation Rentals

Listing vacation rental properties on Google is not possible for:

• Individual homeowners or peer-to-peer rentals
• Individual rooms or partial homes
• Properties not managed as a professional business

3 Ways to Be Listed on Google Vacation Rentals

#1 Through OTAs

Hosts use online travel agencies to list their properties, but this incurs regular commission fees set by platforms. In this case, Google will pull your listing automatically.

# 2 List directly

You can list directly with Google if you manage over 500 properties as a professional.

# 3 With a Google connectivity partner

The easiest way for individual hosts to get listed on GVR is via property management software like iGMS, an approved Google connectivity partner.

Use iGMS to Publish Your Direct Booking Website on Google Vacation Rentals

These are steps to list on Google Vacation Rentals with iGMS: For guidelines on streamlining your Airbnb checkout instructions, see how iGMS can help optimize the process.

1. Create a Direct Booking Website

iGMS has a feature to build a direct booking site, and Google accepts listings published through this site.

2. Publish Your Properties on the Vacation Rental Website

Only properties marked as “published” on your Direct Booking Website will appear on Google.

3. Turn on Google Vacation Rentals Integration

Go to Websites → Vacation Rentals and toggle Display brand properties on Google Vacation Rentals.

Optimize Listings for Better Visibility

To ensure visibility, you need to meet Google's listing requirements. Improve your ranking by optimizing listings and providing accurate and up-to-date property details.

Make sure each property has:

• A full and accurate address (including coordinates)
• A phone number
• A description of at least 50 characters
• At least 8 photos
• A maximum guest count

Make sure you:

• Use relevant keywords
• Include high-quality photos
• Provide detailed descriptions of all amenities
• Keep your prices accurate
• Complete as many property attributes as possible

Google ranks trusted websites higher in search results.

FAQ

Can I see reports on bookings from Google Vacation Rentals?

Yes, you can see reports on bookings from Google Vacation Rental. If you're using iGMS to connect to Google Vacation Rentals, you can track booking reports and other metrics directly in your dashboard.

Can individual property owners list directly on Google Vacation Rentals?

No, individual owners can’t list directly on GVR.

What iGMS plans include Google Vacation Rentals integration?

Google vacation rental integration is available on all iGMS plans.

Do I need a Google Business Profile account to appear on GVR?

No, you don’t need a Google Business Profile to appear on Google Vacation Rentals.

About the Author
Zorica Milinkovic is a B2B SaaS writer who is passionate about psychology, marketing, and, when inspiration strikes, cooking. You can find her on LinkedIn.