Airbnb has secured an exclusive short-term rental partnership with American Express Travel, a move that effectively blocks competitor Vrbo from accessing the card issuer’s business-to-business network. The agreement places more than 1 million Airbnb listings into a new Homes tab on AmexTravel.com and the Amex Travel app, while simultaneously shutting out other vacation rental providers from that specific channel.
While the deal does not directly alter the existing relationship between American Express and Expedia for flights and hotels, it creates a significant barrier for Expedia’s vacation rental division. Vrbo, which is owned by Expedia, had recently begun supplying its inventory to other B2B partners, including Alaska Airlines, Delta, and Revolut. The exclusivity clause in the Amex deal prevents Vrbo from adding the card issuer to that growing list of corporate clients.
Impact on Expedia’s B2B Network
Expedia has supplied American Express with flights, hotels, and technology services since 2015, following its acquisition of Travelocity. This B2B unit is a critical growth engine for the travel giant, having recorded a 21% increase in gross bookings in the second quarter of 2026. This marks the 20th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth for the segment, which serves 75,000 B2B partners globally.
Card points redemption is a central component of this business model. By locking in Airbnb as the sole vacation rental provider, American Express has closed a potential revenue stream for Vrbo within this high-value channel. An American Express spokesperson stated that there is no change to its existing business with Expedia, emphasizing that the new partnership is focused on expanding the short-term rental offering. Both Airbnb and Expedia declined to provide further comment on the strategic implications.
Deeper Integration Than Previous Airline Deals
The structure of this partnership differs significantly from Airbnb’s previous collaborations with airlines such as Qantas, Delta, and British Airways. Those earlier arrangements typically routed members to Airbnb.com through tracked links, meaning the airline acted primarily as a referral source. In contrast, the Amex Travel integration allows card members to search and book listings directly within the American Express platform.
Airbnb closes the sale, retains payment processing, and handles customer support for these transactions. This deeper integration keeps the user experience within the Amex ecosystem while giving Airbnb direct access to a large base of premium cardholders. The deal also coincides with American Express shutting down its own Select Homes + Retreats product, further consolidating its vacation rental inventory under the Airbnb brand.
The exclusivity runs both ways. While Vrbo is barred from Amex Travel, Airbnb is also restricted from supplying short-term rentals to other B2B partners. This leaves Expedia’s vast network of 75,000 B2B partners open to Vrbo inventory, potentially allowing the vacation rental giant to expand its corporate reach through other channels that are not tied to American Express.
Source: Skift
