Agoda vs Airbnb: Melaka Market Performance Comparison for Vacation Rentals

The Agoda Opportunity in Melaka

While Airbnb dominates the vacation rental conversation in Melaka, Agoda represents a significant untapped opportunity. Owned by Booking Holdings, Agoda captures a different segment of the market - particularly Asian travelers and last-minute domestic bookers.

This guide breaks down exactly how Agoda compares to Airbnb for Melaka properties and shows you why listing on both platforms maximizes your revenue.

Platform Market Position

Agoda in Melaka

• Melaka listings: 800+ vacation rentals
• Primary market: Southeast Asian tourists (Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines)
• Booking pattern: Last-minute, short stays
• Market share: Growing 25% year-over-year

Airbnb in Melaka

• Melaka listings: 3,000+ vacation rentals
• Primary market: International and domestic tourists
• Booking pattern: Advance planning, longer stays
• Market share: Dominant but saturated

Guest Demographics

Agoda Guest Profile

Guest Origin	% of Bookings	Booking Pattern
Singapore	35%	Weekend trips, 1-2 nights
Indonesia	25%	Family trips, 2-3 nights
Thailand	15%	Cultural tourism, 2-3 nights
Philippines	10%	Shopping trips, 2-4 nights
Malaysia (domestic)	15%	Last-minute getaways, 1-2 nights

Airbnb Guest Profile

Guest Origin	% of Bookings	Booking Pattern
Singapore	25%	Planned weekends, 2-3 nights
China	20%	Group tours, 1-2 nights
Australia	10%	Extended stays, 4-7 nights
Europe	10%	Cultural trips, 2-4 nights
Malaysia (domestic)	35%	Family trips, 2-3 nights

Booking Behavior Comparison

Timing and Planning

Metric	Agoda	Airbnb
Booking window	1-7 days in advance	14-30 days in advance
Stay length	1-2 nights	2-4 nights
Last-minute bookings	60% of bookings	15% of bookings
Same-day arrivals	25% of bookings	5% of bookings

Booking Value

Real data from Melaka 2-bedroom condos (2025):

Platform	Avg. Rate/Night	Occupancy	Monthly Revenue
Agoda only	RM260	52%	RM4,056
Airbnb only	RM320	68%	RM6,528
Both platforms	RM300	85%	RM7,650

Key finding: Adding Agoda increases revenue by 17% over Airbnb-only.

Seasonal Performance

Peak Season Performance

Agoda:

• Strong during Singapore school holidays (March, June, September, November)
• Surges during Indonesian public holidays
• Performs well on Malaysian long weekends

Airbnb:

• Dominates December-January (year-end holidays)
• Strong during Chinese New Year
• Consistent throughout school holidays

Off-Season Performance

Agoda advantage:

• Fills midweek gaps better than Airbnb
• Attracts last-minute domestic travelers
• Performs relatively well during monsoon season (shorter stays)

Guest Quality and Behavior

Communication Patterns

Agoda Guests:

• Pre-arrival questions: 1-2 messages typical
• Language: Often use app translation (mixed English/Malay/Chinese)
• Expectations: Quick check-in, clean rooms, working amenities
• Interaction: Minimal host interaction preferred

Airbnb Guests:

• Pre-arrival questions: 3-5 messages typical
• Language: Mostly English (some Chinese)
• Expectations: Local tips, host recommendations, personalized experience
• Interaction: Welcome host interaction

Property Care

Agoda Guests:

• Care level: Moderate (hotel mindset)
• Issues reported: 10% report minor problems
• Check-out condition: Generally acceptable
• Repeat visits: 15% return within 6 months

Airbnb Guests:

• Care level: High (treat like home)
• Issues reported: 5% report minor problems
• Check-out condition: Usually tidy
• Repeat visits: 25% return within 12 months

Platform Fees and Economics

Cost Structure

Fee Type	Agoda	Airbnb
Host commission	15% (fixed)	3% (typically)
Guest fee	Usually 0%	0-14% (variable)
Total cost to guest	Visible in listing	Added at checkout
Payment processing	Included in commission	Included in fee

Net Revenue Comparison

On a RM300/night booking:

• Agoda: RM300 - RM45 (15%) = RM255 net
• Airbnb: RM300 - RM9 (3%) = RM291 net (guest pays additional 0-14%)

Consideration: Agoda's higher commission is offset by higher volume and occupancy.

Listing Strategy Differences

Agoda Listing Optimization

What works:

• Photos: Bright, professional, hotel-style
• Titles: Descriptive, feature-focused ("2BR Condo Near Jonker Walk")
• Descriptions: Bullet points, amenities-focused
• Pricing: Competitive positioning (lower than Airbnb typically)
• Reviews: Critical for visibility

Airbnb Listing Optimization

What works:

• Photos: Lifestyle shots, personal touches
• Titles: Engaging, experience-focused ("Charming Heritage House")
• Descriptions: Story-driven, host personality
• Pricing: Value-based, can command premium
• Superhost: Badge significantly impacts bookings

Review Systems

Agoda Reviews

• Scale: 1-10 (not 1-5 stars)
• Review rate: 30% of guests leave reviews
• Criteria: Cleanliness, facilities, location, service, value
• Impact: High - affects search ranking significantly
• Response: Public response to all reviews recommended

Airbnb Reviews

• Scale: 1-5 stars
• Review rate: 70% of guests leave reviews
• Criteria: Overall + subcategories (cleanliness, communication, etc.)
• Impact: Critical - Superhost requires 4.8+
• Response: Public response to all reviews required

When to Prioritize Agoda

Ideal Agoda Properties:

• Near Singapore-friendly attractions (Jonker Walk, Mahkota Parade)
• Accept 1-night stays
• Competitively priced (not luxury/premium)
• Quick turnaround possible (efficient cleaning)
• Located in tourist-heavy areas

When Agoda Outperforms Airbnb:

• Singapore public holidays (long weekends)
• Indonesian school holidays
• Malaysian festive periods (Hari Raya, Deepavali)
• Last-minute midweek gaps
• Low-season months

Managing Both Platforms Successfully

Calendar Synchronization

Essential to prevent double bookings:

• Real-time sync across platforms
• Buffer time for turnover (minimum 4 hours)
• Instant booking rules carefully set
• Manual sync as backup

Pricing Strategy

Optimize for each platform:

• Agoda: Lower base rate, competitive positioning
• Airbnb: Higher base rate, value positioning
• Dynamic adjustment: Algorithms account for platform differences

iHousing Multi-Platform Management

We handle:

• 5-platform listings: Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, VRBO, Expedia
• Calendar sync: Real-time across all platforms
• Platform-specific optimization: Tailored descriptions, pricing, photos
• Review management: Responses to all reviews within 24 hours
• Performance tracking: Monthly reports by platform

Revenue Impact Analysis

1-Year Comparison (2BR Condo in Melaka)

Airbnb only:

• Occupancy: 68%
• Average rate: RM320
• Annual revenue: RM78,336

Agoda + Airbnb:

• Occupancy: 85%
• Average rate: RM300
• Annual revenue: RM91,800

Revenue increase: +RM13,464/year (+17%)

Ready to Expand Your Platform Presence?

Adding Agoda to your listing strategy captures a different segment of the market - one that Airbnb doesn't fully reach. The result? Higher occupancy and more revenue.

But managing multiple platforms is time-consuming. Calendar sync, pricing adjustments, review management - it requires dedicated attention.

Let iHousing handle it for you.

For Parkland Avenue by the Sea:

Includes: 5-platform listing with calendar sync and optimization.

Flat fee: RM200-300/month

For All Other Properties:

WhatsApp us for custom pricing based on your property type and target markets.

Take Action Today

Don't limit yourself to Airbnb's audience. Expand to Agoda and capture the growing Southeast Asian travel market.

WhatsApp iHousing now to start your multi-platform strategy.