Today, Vrbo announces a new ad campaign with Nick Saban, as the greatest coach of all time turns into the worst vacation rental host of all time. The campaign spotlights a key difference between Vrbo and other vacation rental apps — private vacation homes with no hosts. In Vrbo’s third season as an official sponsor of the College Football Playoff and the title sponsor of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the pioneering vacation rental brand highlights why vacations are better without a host — especially when that host is the retired Alabama football coach known for his uncompromising and demanding leadership style.

Fans will only find whole homes and no shared spaces on Vrbo. That means no awkward run-ins with hosts, turf wars or vacation fumbles. It’s also more rewarding to book on Vrbo: One Key™ is a rewards program you won’t find on any other vacation rental app. Travelers can earn and use OneKeyCash™ for their next eligible Vrbo, Expedia and Hotels.com booking.¹

 It turns out Saban, whose success is due to his relentlessness on the gridiron, also doesn’t have an “off switch” when it comes to being a vacation rental host. In the humorous 60-second spot for the campaign, a nice family arrives at their vacation home to find Saban guarding the front porch. The former coach has a thick playbook of house rules: There’s no fun, no streaming, no games — and no way to get rid of the overbearing host. Even mom and dad must share the hot tub with Saban. Then, the scene cuts to a more relaxing alternative: The family enters an oceanside private vacation home they booked on Vrbo, with no host in sight.

The ads were produced by Anomaly and will air on TV on Aug. 31 during the first major weekend of college football and throughout the season. Fans will also see campaign components during the season through other media integrations, stadium signage and OOH (Out of home) and at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Additional ad campaign elements will also receive increased visibility for fans of Alabama, Ohio State and Texas through Vrbo’s partnership with Learfield.

¹OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.