Vacasa vs Wyndham Vacation Rentals: Which Management Company Is Better?

Vacasa and Wyndham Vacation Rentals are both full-service vacation rental management companies — but they represent different eras and philosophies in the industry. Vacasa is a tech-driven, venture-backed operator built for scale. Wyndham Vacation Rentals (now operating primarily under the Travel + Leisure Co. umbrella following the RCI acquisition) is a legacy hospitality brand. Understanding what each actually delivers for property owners requires looking beyond the brand names. For a full market comparison, see Awning's top Airbnb management companies review.

Vacasa: Tech-Driven, Scale-Focused

Vacasa's model is built on technology: dynamic pricing algorithms, digital listing optimization, centralized guest communication, and a national operations infrastructure. They've grown rapidly and now manage one of the largest vacation rental portfolios in North America.

Vacasa's Ownership Experience:

•        Full-service management — listing, pricing, ops, cleaning, maintenance

•        25–35% management fee depending on market

•        Real-time owner portal with booking and revenue data

•        Significant operational restructuring in 2022–2026 has introduced variability

Wyndham Vacation Rentals / Travel + Leisure Co.

Wyndham Vacation Rentals has undergone significant structural changes. The core vacation rental management business is now operated primarily through Travel + Leisure Co.'s vacation ownership and exchange programs, with their RCI network serving as the distribution backbone. For individual property owners, 'Wyndham Vacation Rentals' as a standalone management option is less clearly defined than it once was — most owners interact with regional operators affiliated with the broader network.

Key Considerations for Property Owners:

•        Brand recognition with travelers — Wyndham's hospitality brand carries weight in some markets

•        Distribution through RCI and Travel + Leisure Co.'s network — different traveler profile than Airbnb-native operators

•        More appropriate for resort-style properties in established leisure destinations

•        Less tech-forward than Vacasa in terms of pricing optimization and digital distribution

If your property is in a resort destination where Wyndham has established inventory and traveler traffic, their network distribution can add value. For most STR properties targeting Airbnb and VRBO travelers, a tech-forward manager with strong OTA distribution will deliver better RevPAR.

What to Evaluate When Comparing Either Option

Before committing to any large management company, validate their claims independently. Use Awning's Airbnb market data to understand what comparable properties in your market actually earn. The income estimator gives you a property-specific projection to compare against what either company projects.

Also look at Airbnb cap rates for your market and the top Airbnb management companies review for additional perspective on how these companies compare to newer, more focused operators.

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📎  Related Resources

→ Top Airbnb Management Companies Reviewed

→ Airbnb Market Data

→ Airbnb Income Estimator

→ Airbnb Cap Rates Guide

→ Awning Full-Service Management

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