The co-host model is used when funds received from guests are partially or fully paid out to another party (a co-host) before reaching the property manager or owner. VRTrust provides dedicated workflows to track these payouts accurately, ensure trust balances reconcile correctly, and keep owner and property management statements clear.
This article provides a high-level overview of how the co-host model works in VRTrust, and how the related setup and review processes fit together.
What Is the Co-Host Model?
In a co-host arrangement:
A co-host assists with managing a listing (marketing, guest communication, operations, etc.)
The co-host is entitled to a portion of the guest payment
That portion is often paid out directly by the booking channel or payment processor
Because the property manager may never physically receive the full guest payment, the co-host model requires special accounting treatment to ensure accuracy.
Key Components of the Co-Host Model
Co-Host Listing Setup
Listings using the co-host model must be configured intentionally so VRTrust knows:
Which listings use a co-host arrangement
How co-host payouts should be treated
This setup ensures deposits and payouts are interpreted correctly during reconciliation.
👉 Refer to the article: Setting Up Listings Using the Co-Host Model
Co-Host Deposits
When reviewing deposits:
Co-host payouts appear as separate components of a deposit
These payouts reduce the amount received into the trust account
VRTrust records them without treating them as owner or PM expenses
This prevents trust imbalances caused by missing funds that were never actually received.
👉 Refer to the article: Reviewing Co-Host Deposits in VRTrust