HomeAway's Apple TV App Provides Renters an In-Room Concierge

Vacation rental owners with Apple TVs can now provide their guests with information about Wi-Fi passwords, the trick to turning on the hot tub and activities' recommendations from Gogobot through the just-launched HomeAway Apple TV app.

Some property owners have already created how-to's about the property and things-to do in the area that guests can find through HomeAway's iPhone and iPad app. "Now these owners can simply add an all-new Apple TV to their rental and create a beautiful, large-screen experience based on that same content that can be accessed by guests," says Tom Hale, HomeAway's chief operating officer.

HomeAway invested in Gogobot in 2014, and is using Gogobot's activity recommendations, ranging from restaurants to tours, in HomeAway's Apple TV app.  Guests can text the recommendations to their iPhones from the Apple TV app, HomeAway states.

While HomeAway is following rival Airbnb to the Apple TV market (Airbnb launched its app in September), its product is focus on sharing information with guests once they are in market rather than using the product to inspire travel.