Expedia vs Airbnb Platform Reach: Which Drives More Melaka Bookings?

Is Listing on Expedia Worth It for Melaka Properties?

Most Melaka Airbnb owners have never considered listing on Expedia. But Expedia Group is the world's largest travel platform, reaching 400+ million monthly visitors across Expedia, Hotels.com, VRBO, and Travelocity.

For Melaka properties, Expedia delivers a different guest segment: corporate travelers, package tourists, and international visitors who DON'T use Airbnb.

At iHousing, we've listed on Expedia since 2019. Here's what we've learned about Expedia vs. Airbnb for Melaka properties.

Platform Reach Comparison

Metric	Airbnb	Expedia Group
Monthly visitors	100+ million	400+ million (all Expedia brands)
Properties listed	6+ million worldwide	3+ million (hotels + rentals)
Primary markets	North America, Europe, Australia	Global (strong in US, UK, Europe, Asia)
Melaka coverage	1,500+ properties	80-100 properties (underserved)
Guest demographics	Leisure, couples, young families	Business, corporate, families, older travelers

Key insight: Expedia reaches travelers Airbnb DOESN'T. Corporate travelers, package tourists, and older demographics prefer Expedia's traditional booking model.

Booking Volume: Expedia vs. Airbnb

Real data from our properties (Jan-Dec 2025):

Property Type	Airbnb Monthly Bookings	Expedia Monthly Bookings	Expedia as % of Total
Jonker Walk 2BR (Heritage area)	12-15 bookings	1-2 bookings	7-12%
Melaka Raya 2BR (Business district)	10-13 bookings	3-5 bookings	20-30%
Pantai Kundur 3BR (Beach house)	5-7 bookings	2-3 bookings	25-35%
Alor Gajah 3BR (Weekend house)	3-5 bookings	1-2 bookings	20-28%
Studio / 1BR (Any location)	8-12 bookings	0-1 booking	0-10%

Expedia sweet spot: 2BR+ properties in business or family-friendly locations. Business travelers and families prefer Expedia's trusted brand over Airbnb's peer-to-peer model.

Revenue Comparison

Average Daily Rate by Platform

Property Type	Airbnb ADR	Expedia ADR	Expedia Premium
2BR Condo (City)	RM250-280/night	RM300-350/night	+20-25%
3BR House (Beach)	RM350-400/night	RM380-450/night	+8-13%
2BR Condo (Heritage)	RM280-320/night	RM320-380/night	+14-19%

Rate insight: Expedia guests pay 10-25% premium. They book through traditional travel channels, expect hotel-like standards, and don't nickel-dime on pricing.

Guest Profile: Who Uses Expedia?

Characteristic	Airbnb Guests	Expedia Guests
Average age	25-40 years old	35-60 years old
Travel purpose	Leisure, weekend getaway, exploration	Business (40%), corporate (30%), family vacation (30%)
Booking window	7-21 days ahead	14-60 days ahead
Stay length	2-4 nights	3-7 nights
Price sensitivity	Medium-High (compare options)	Low (company pays, or budget-oriented)
Expectations	Flexible, casual, "authentic experience"	Hotel-like consistency, reliable standards, professional service
Repeat rate	12-18%	25-35% (corporate travelers)

Key difference: Expedia guests are OLDER, travel for BUSINESS, plan FURTHER ahead, stay LONGER, and expect HOTEL-LIKE standards. They're LESS price-sensitive when companies pay.

Which Properties Perform Best on Expedia?

Expedia's Sweet Spot

Property Feature	Why Expedia Guests Love It
Business district proximity (Melaka Raya, near malls)	Corporate travelers book for business trips, expense accounts
2+ bedrooms (Families, business travelers)	Space for work, families, longer stays
Desks/work areas (Corporate-friendly)	Business travelers need workspace (WiFi + desk + chair)
Hotel-like amenities (Pool, gym, reception)	Expedia guests expect hotel consistency
Parking included (Corporate + families)	Essential for both business and family travelers
Breakfast available (Or kitchen)	Convenience factor (expect hotel amenities)

Expedia advantage: If your property caters to business travelers or families, Expedia reaches guests Airbnb doesn't.

Cost Comparison: Fees & Commissions

Cost Component	Airbnb	Expedia
Host commission	3% (usually)	12-18% (varies by property)
Guest fee	3-14% (varies)	0% (included in room rate)
Payment processing	Included	Included in commission
Total effective cost	6-17%	12-18%
Impact on RM10,000 booking	RM600-1,700	RM1,200-1,800

Cost analysis: Expedia charges 2× higher commission BUT guests pay 15-25% premium rates. Net result: Similar or HIGHER net revenue despite higher fees.

Listing Strategy: Expedia-Specific Optimization

What Works on Expedia

• Photos: Professional, bright, wide-angle (hotel-style photography)
• Title: Property-focused ("2BR Apartment in Melaka Raya" not "Charming Heritage Condo")
• Description: Detailed amenities list, proximity to business/attractions, room specifications
• Amenities: Emphasize business-friendly features (WiFi, desk, parking, kitchen, laundry)
• Pricing: Higher base rate, corporate-friendly (no dynamic discounts)
• Policies: Clear cancellation, check-in/out times, house rules (like hotels)

The iHousing Expedia Strategy

We don't just list on Expedia. We OPTIMIZE for Expedia's specific guest segment:

1. Corporate positioning: For business district properties, we highlight desk space, high-speed WiFi, proximity to commercial areas
2. Family positioning: For family-friendly properties, we emphasize bedrooms, kitchen, laundry, nearby attractions
3. Hotel-like consistency: We ensure cleaning, amenities, and communication meet hotel standards (Expedia guests expect this)
4. Extended stay discounts: Expedia guests stay longer (5-7 nights). We offer weekly discounts to attract them
5. Corporate packages: For business travelers, we offer monthly rates and flexible cancellation

Our results: Expedia contributes 10-30% of revenue for business and family-oriented properties. For urban studios, Expedia delivers minimal value (we focus on Airbnb instead).

Multi-Platform Revenue Impact

Compare revenue scenarios:

Scenario	Monthly Revenue
Airbnb only	RM9,000
Expedia only	RM2,500-3,000
Airbnb + Expedia	RM11,000-11,500

Diversification bonus: RM2,000-2,500/month extra (22-28% increase) for minimal added effort.

Recommendation: Add Expedia for Specific Properties

Verdict: Expedia isn't for every property. But for business-friendly or family-oriented 2BR+ properties, Expedia adds 20-30% more revenue.

List on Expedia if:

• Property has 2+ bedrooms
Located near business district (Melaka Raya, malls) Has desk/work space (business travelers) Has family amenities (kitchen, laundry, parking) You want corporate traveler segment

Skip Expedia if:

• Property is studio / 1BR
Located in heritage zone (Jonker Walk) Targeting younger, budget-conscious guests Property has unique/quirky features (Expedia guests prefer standard)

The iHousing multi-platform advantage: We analyze your property type, recommend optimal platforms (Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda, VRBO), and manage ALL calendars seamlessly.

Flat RM200-300/month includes:

• All platform setup and optimization
Unified calendar management Platform-specific guest communication Commission tracking and reporting Pricing optimization by platform

Ready to expand your reach? WhatsApp us at +60166996688 for a free multi-platform analysis.

We'll show you exactly which platforms will perform best for YOUR specific property type and location.