10/22/2026
🏖️ THE VACATION RENTAL INDUSTRY IS CHANGING. HOW YOU BOOK MATTERS MORE THAN EVER.
If you love visiting Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, or Fort Morgan, please take a minute to read—and SHARE—this post.
Major booking platforms are changing their fee structures, and those changes affect both vacation rental owners and the travelers who stay with them.
Airbnb’s single-fee model generally deducts 15.5% from the host’s payout. Vrbo’s new pay-per-booking structure carries a 12% commission for affected properties. These commissions can apply to cleaning fees, too.
Even when a platform fee moves from the guest’s checkout screen to the property’s payout, that cost still exists. As owners and management companies adjust to those expenses, travelers may see higher rental rates.
💡 AT POOLE & ASSOCIATES, WE’VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS SHIFT FOR A LONG TIME.
We’ve continued building our direct-booking business because we believe the relationship between our guests, our homeowners, and our local team matters.
These industry changes reinforce why that preparation is so important.
When you book directly with Poole & Associates, you’re booking with the company that manages your vacation home—the local team you’ll turn to with questions before, during, and after your stay.
✅ Avoid third-party booking platform service fees.
✅ Speak directly with our local team.
✅ Get help choosing the right property for your family.
✅ Keep more of your vacation budget available for your vacation.
🏡 SAME PROPERTY. SAME LOCAL MANAGEMENT TEAM. A DIFFERENT WAY TO BOOK.
Before reserving your next stay, compare the TOTAL price for the same property and dates, including fees, taxes, and cancellation terms. Booking direct could make a meaningful difference in what you pay.
🌐 BOOK DIRECT:
http://www.realestate-gulfshores.com
📞 CALL OUR LOCAL TEAM: 251-948-8030
🕗 8 AM–5 PM, 7 DAYS A WEEK
📣 PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE THIS POST!
Help us reach the families who return to our beaches every year—and those planning their first visit. Share it with your beach-loving friends, tag your vacation crew, and follow Poole & Associates so we can stay connected directly.
The industry is changing. We’ve been preparing, and we’re ready to keep helping you make memories on Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
❤️ YOUR NEXT BEACH VACATION STARTS WITH POOLE & ASSOCIATES.