Overview
Vrbo
A global vacation-rental platform that connects travelers with short-term stays.
Problem
Vrbo has difficulty distinguishing itself out amongst its competitors such as Airbnb or Expedia. As a higher quality rental app, it doesn’t feel very different or special compared to the other booking apps.
Solution
As a quality of life update, Vrbo can implement new features that solves common traveler problems
My Role
UX Research
UI Design
Motion Graphics
Timeline
Feb - May 2025 (15 weeks)
Team
Gina Lee
Annette Perez
Yuriko Zheng
Tools
Figma
Adobe Suite, Aftereffects
Miro
UX Research
Primary Audience
Families and groups looking to rent entire full properties rather than single rooms
Secondary Audience
Single travelers that prefer the privacy of full properties rather than shared spaces
Top Themes:
Key Findings
Travelers feel “catfished” by outdated or insufficient property photos, driving demand for video reviews and higher-reviewed hosts to mitigate distrust.
Group travelers struggle with aligning preferences for housing and itineraries, requiring tools to compare multiple properties simultaneously for consensus.
Families prioritize comfort (e.g., room service), while solo travelers sacrifice amenities for cost, though both value freebies like tours.
User Personas
The Family Lead
Emma Jackson, 38
How might we…
...redefine the trip planning process so that users feel supported throughout without having to manage every detail on their own?
The Group Planner
Allen Smith, 23
How might we…
...alleviate the need to manage and chase people down for owed money?
The Digital Nomad
Sophia Schumer, 27
How might we…
...let travelers see only realistic and up to date listing photos and property details?
