What the Amex Travel-Airbnb Deal Means for Expedia
Airbnb secures an exclusive short-term rental partnership with Amex Travel, featuring over 1 million listings while impacting Expedia's Vrbo expansion.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Airbnb becomes the exclusive short-term rental supplier for Amex Travel with over 1 million listings.
- The deal blocks Expedia's Vrbo from expanding its B2B inventory into the Amex portal.
- Expedia continues its core flight and hotel B2B relationship with Amex dating back to 2015.
The online travel landscape shifted significantly when Airbnb became the exclusive vacation rental partner for American Express Travel, integrating more than 1 million listings into a dedicated Homes tab on AmexTravel.com and the mobile application. Concurrently, Amex retired its in-house Select Homes + Retreats product.
Although the arrangement initially appeared to leave Expedia untouched because Vrbo was not supplying the Amex portal, the development narrows Expedia's expansion path. Having started incorporating Vrbo inventory into its broader B2B network in 2025 for partners such as Delta, Alaska Airlines, and Revolut, Expedia now faces a closed door at Amex.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
An American Express spokesperson told Skift that there are no alterations to the existing business operations with Expedia, explaining that the collaboration with Airbnb is strictly designed to broaden short-term rental choices for cardmembers.
"There’s no change to our existing business with Expedia. The Airbnb partnership is focused on expanding our short-term rental offering and giving cardmembers..."
American Express spokesperson
Despite the new competition, Expedia remains a foundational B2B partner for Amex Travel, supplying flights, hotels, and technical infrastructure since acquiring Travelocity in 2015. This card-points channel has served as a primary engine for Expedia's B2B division, which achieved its 20th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in Q2 2026.
This partnership highlights the strategic value of card-issuer travel portals in capturing high-value travelers. By embedding the search and booking experience directly within financial ecosystems rather than relying on traditional affiliate links, platforms can secure deeper customer engagement, posing a structural challenge for incumbent aggregators.
Source: Skift
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