If seeing is believing, then planning your next vacation is about to get a little easier. New virtual tour technology now being deployed by the major vacation rental sites promises a more immersive view of a property before you push the “buy” button.
A virtual tour is a simulation made up of a sequence of videos or still images. And while the technology isn’t new, the application is.
“While virtual tour technology is not new to real estate and home buying, the travel and vacation rental industry is just starting to scratch the surface,” says Jake Stewart, a senior product manager of virtual tours at Vrbo.
For example:
- Hosts on Airbnb can create virtual tours through a company called Digital Era 360. The immersive experience “can also provide a sense of familiarity to travelers all over the world,” according to the company.
- TurnKey operates what it calls 360 virtual tours through a company called InsideMaps, adding, “We’re well ahead of the curve by offering this feature for our owners and guests.”
- Vacasa has a deal with Matterport to offer “immersive 3D views of every property in the Vacasa portfolio” to customers.“Each of our listings is equipped with a dynamic virtual tour of the property, giving guests a true-to-life preview of what they’ll experience during their stay,” says Vacasa’s CTO Jeff Flitton.
- Vrbo partners with companies such as SmartShoot and TruPlace to help homeowners and property managers create virtual tours for their property listings. “Being able to virtually walk through your property before booking allows travelers to make more informed decisions,” it promises homeowners.
“Virtual tours are getting very popular,” says Guillaume Picard, the co-founder of TourScanner, a search engine for tours and travel activities. He notes that in addition to vacation rentals, many destinations have begun using these digital immersive experiences to sell tours.
This is going to be a breakout year for virtual tours, experts predict.
What is a virtual tour of a vacation rental?
Think of a virtual tour as a 360-degree, immersive view of a vacation home. Unlike videos, virtual tours let you navigate through a property at your own pace and explore every corner of the vacation home. You’ll get a much better understanding of the home’s features, amenities, layout, and other details that inform your booking decision.
Most vacation rental sites have integrated their virtual tours with the listings, so you don’t have to click off the site to start a virtual tour. Just click on the listing to get started.