• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026

1

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
Real Estate

Looking for a villa or private island retreat? You’re in luck.

By
Christopher Tkaczyk
Christopher Tkaczyk
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Christopher Tkaczyk
Christopher Tkaczyk
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 27, 2014, 2:21 PM ET
HomeAway.com
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The exclusive world of luxury vacation rentals just keeps getting bigger.

Since the launch of its stand-alone site Luxury Rentals from HomeAway in Oct. 2013, HomeAway has become the industry leader in rentals of castles, villas, and estates. In one year its luxury portfolio has grown from 800 properties to more than 4,500 high-end listings in 40 countries. But those pricey digs only comprise less than one percent of HomeAway’s vast inventory of more than 1 million active vacation rentals. To put it in perspective: HomeAway’s nearest competitor TripAdvisor (TRIP) lags behind with 630,000 listings.

HomeAway (AWAY) had $346.5 million in revenue in 2013. Though it doesn’t break out segmented sales figures, the company projects income this year will be $450 million, a 30% increase, as vacationers are opting for a home away from home instead of hotel stays. And a recent report from MMGY Global reveals that 20% of wealthy travelers say they are planning to take even more vacations than they did last year. According to the report, “travelers who earn $250,000 or more annually took an average of 6.2 leisure trips in 2013.”

Luxury Rentals is just one of dozens of rental sites in a highly competitive niche market that HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples says is steadily growing. And the reason more wealthy people are renting out their second homes? They’re paying down mortgages during a slow recovery. “The biggest driver is that far more rentals are available now. We went through this cycle where there was a tremendous amount of overbuilding in vacation markets around the world and then the economy took a dive. People built big grand houses that are very expensive to maintain. Now you can go online and rent a six bedroom villa on a beach or on an island somewhere, and at a price that’s not that wacky considering what you get,” Sharples told Fortune.

HomeAway has been on an acquisition tear since it was founded in 2005, buying 21 companies, most of them outside of the U.S as it expands its global reach. Its portfolio of 14 brands include VRBO and VacationRentals.com as well as international versions of HomeAway.com. Earlier this year the company acquired Glad to Have You, a tech startup that created a mobile app for HomeAway users, which Sharples says puts everything renters need right into their pockets. “It shows you how the stereo systems works, saves the lock codes for the house, gives you local restaurant recommendations, and more.”

For last year’s launch into luxury, HomeAway sought the expertise of a third party to hand pick the properties that would truly qualify as “exceptional.” In the past, Sharples says, any homeowner who wanted to list a rental property as luxury could do so by checking a box. “One person’s idea of luxury could be very different from everyone else,” he admits.

To better curate properties, HomeAway partnered with the experts at travel newsletter Andrew Harper to evaluate listings, which must meet certain criteria on price, location, and amenities to qualify as luxury. For anyone willing to plop down $57,000 per night for the use of Musha Cay, it’s helpful to know what you’re getting.

But don’t expect any discounts. The average daily rate for luxury rentals on HomeAway is $1,800, while non-luxury rates average $225 per night. Just because there’s an abundance of properties on the market doesn’t mean homeowners are cutting prices anytime soon.

About the Author
By Christopher Tkaczyk
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Real Estate

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Real Estate

Woman taking photo in scenic landscape
Successlifestyle
Americans are escaping the U.S. for New Zealand where house prices have hit a new low—but only wealthy Americans with $3 million spare can invest
By Emma BurleighJuly 2, 2026
8 hours ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for July 2, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for July 2, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 2, 2026
16 hours ago
Mortgage rates today, July 2, 2026
Personal Financemortgages
Mortgage rates today, July 2, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 2, 2026
16 hours ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for July 2, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for July 2, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 2, 2026
16 hours ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for July 1, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for July 1, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 1, 2026
2 days ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for July 1, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for July 1, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJuly 1, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
Big Tech
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 1, 2026
2 days ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
8 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 1, 2026
1 day ago
Trump got a $78K pension from the Screen Actors Guild in 2025 because he appeared in Home Alone 2 in 1992
Politics
Trump got a $78K pension from the Screen Actors Guild in 2025 because he appeared in Home Alone 2 in 1992
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 1, 2026
1 day ago
Today, Emily Blunt is worth $80 million thanks to her Hollywood career—but she actually wanted to be a UN Spanish translator on $80K
Success
Today, Emily Blunt is worth $80 million thanks to her Hollywood career—but she actually wanted to be a UN Spanish translator on $80K
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 2, 2026
16 hours ago
CEO of $248 billion cybersecurity company says workers are about to face a ‘Darwinian moment’ thanks to AI: Evolve or get cut
Success
CEO of $248 billion cybersecurity company says workers are about to face a ‘Darwinian moment’ thanks to AI: Evolve or get cut
By Emma BurleighJuly 1, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.