As of January 1, 2026, Vrbo restructured its recognition system into a single framework called Performance Milestones, with two badges layered on top: Premier Host and Loved by Guests (plus a Top 1% callout). The key structural change is that status is now awarded at the listing level, not the account level — each property stands on its own record.
⚠️ A note on the two rating scales. Vrbo uses two different scales for the same underlying reviews. Guests rate properties on a 1–5 scale, and Vrbo converts those scores to a 10-point scale for public display in search results and on listing pages — so a 5.0 becomes a 10.0. Hosts see the 5-point version in their dashboard. This matters when reading the criteria below: Performance Milestone and Premier Host thresholds are stated on the 0–5 host-dashboard scale, while Loved by Guests thresholds are stated on the 0–10 public scale. To move between them, divide the public score by 2. Don't compare a 4.6 Premier Host requirement against a 9.6 Loved by Guests requirement directly — they are not measured in the same units.
The three Performance Milestones
Every property worldwide can earn up to three milestones, and rewards apply automatically as soon as the requirements are met. Milestone #3 is the highest performance level on Vrbo.
| Milestone #1: Good | Milestone #2: Great | Milestone #3: Excellent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90%+ | 99%+ | 100% |
| Cancellation rate | ≤1% | 0% | 0% |
| Review rating (0–5 scale) | 4.0+ | 4.6+ | 5.0 |
| Review count | No minimum | 5+ | 10+ |
| Bookings | — | 5 bookings or 60 booked nights | 5 bookings or 60 booked nights |
Source: Vrbo Performance Milestones
Rewards by milestone:
- Milestone #1 (Good): increased search visibility and eligibility for the Loved by Guests badge (only properties at Milestone #1 or above are considered).
- Milestone #2 (Great): everything above, plus Premier Host status and badge, priority support with 24/7 expedited assistance, and eligibility for marketing and public relations opportunities.
- Milestone #3 (Excellent): everything above, plus eligibility for the Top 1% callout on the listing.
Premier Host badge
Premier Host is a free, invite-only program that recognizes owners and managers who consistently deliver great traveler experiences. There's no application — as soon as a listing meets the criteria, it's automatically added.
How to obtain it (measured over the trailing 365 days):
- Average review rating of 4.6 or higher on the 0–5 scale (this is the figure shown in your dashboard; it appears publicly as 9.2)
- Booking acceptance rate of 99% or higher
- Host-initiated cancellation rate of 0%
- 5 or more Vrbo reviews
- At least 5 bookings or 60 booked nights
Meeting these requirements simultaneously pushes the listing into Milestone #2.
Benefits:
- Premier Host badge on the listing
- Inclusion in the Premier Host search filter that guests can apply
- Automatic increase in search position
- Priority phone support
Assessment cadence: Vrbo reviews Premier Host listings quarterly — on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1 — looking at the past 365 days, and removes listings that no longer qualify. Hosts are automatically reinstated as soon as the listing meets eligibility again. You can track progress via the Premier Host scorecard on the Performance page of your dashboard, which also lets you download a performance report with filter and sort options to identify areas for improvement.
Loved by Guests badge — the more competitive tier
This badge recognizes high-quality properties based on guest reviews and market comparison. The top 10% of eligible properties in a local market (city) earn the badge.
How to obtain it — a property must meet all of the following. Note that these scores are published on the 0–10 public scale, unlike the milestone criteria above.
- Minimum 9.6 overall review score (equivalent to 4.8 on the host dashboard)
- Minimum 5 total reviews
- Minimum 9.0 sub-score in each category (equivalent to 4.5): Cleanliness, Location, Check-in and amenities, Property condition
- Must have reached a Performance Milestone (Good, Great, or Excellent)
- Must rank in the top 10% of reviews in the local market (city); time-weighted so recent reviews carry more impact than older ones
Eligibility is recalculated regularly using review data. In smaller markets, fewer than 10% of properties may receive a badge if not enough listings meet the minimum requirements.
Top 1% callout — the absolute top tier
The highest recognition available. Eligible listings display the Loved by Guests badge plus a special Top 1% callout in the listing's Highlights section.
Requirements:
- Meet all Loved by Guests eligibility requirements
- Rank in the top 1% of the local market
- Achieve the Excellent Performance Milestone (Milestone #3)
How the two badges interact
They measure different things and are not redundant:
- Premier Host recognizes the host — awarded for consistently high host performance over time, reflecting actions mostly within the host's control (acceptance, cancellations, reliability).
- Loved by Guests recognizes the individual property — awarded on guest reviews and market ranking. It is more competitive than Premier Host because it is both review-driven and market-relative.
Display priority: if a property qualifies for both, the Loved by Guests badge displays instead of the Premier Host badge on the listing.
Practical takeaways for hosts
- Know which scale you're reading. When you check your dashboard and see 4.7, that's a 9.4 publicly — comfortably past Premier Host, but short of the 9.6 Loved by Guests floor. Mixing the scales up is the easiest way to misjudge how close you actually are to the next badge.
- The two hardest metrics are behavioral, not review-based. A single host-initiated cancellation zeroes out your 0% requirement for a full 365 days, and acceptance rate thresholds of 99–100% leave almost no room for declining requests. Keeping your calendar rigorously synced is the single highest-leverage habit.
- Audit each listing separately. Under the listing-level model, one weak property no longer drags down a portfolio — but it also no longer coasts on a strong account's reputation.
- Sub-scores are a distinct hurdle. You can hold a 9.6 overall and still miss Loved by Guests if one category — commonly Cleanliness or Check-in and amenities — sits below 9.0.
- Recent reviews matter most. Because the top 10% ranking is time-weighted, a recovery push on review quality can move you into badge range faster than the raw average suggests.
- Use the dashboard. The Property Performance page shows your current milestone, the metrics needed to reach the next one, and personalized tips and recommendations.
These changes are part of a broader 2025–2026 quality push by Vrbo, announced alongside VrboCare (the renamed and expanded Book with Confidence Guarantee), aimed at raising consistency across the vacation rental category and building traveler trust.