This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s most wishlisted listings across the U.S., a new tax proposal in Victoria, Texas, PriceLabs’ major platform update, and Airbnb’s $150K donation to local nonprofits in New York. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb released on Wednesday its most wishlisted listings across the U.S., pointing to continued demand for unique, experience-driven properties. According to Airbnb, more than half of surveyed travelers in early 2026 said a unique listing would inspire them to visit a destination they had not previously considered, and 86 percent said they are interested in remote or rural destinations. The report highlights an ongoing trend, especially among younger travelers, where the stay itself is playing a bigger role in the overall trip and even influencing the overall destination.
The City of Victoria, Texas, is considering a proposal that would require short-term rentals in the area to pay the same tax as hotels. While the state of Texas already taxes short-term rentals, the city currently does not impose its own local tax. Officials say the goal is to create a more level playing field between STRs and hotels while also generating additional revenue for the city. The proposal, still in its early stages, would also create a registry of short-term rentals and require inspections. Local officials point to a steady rise in short-term rentals in the area since 2017 as a key driver behind the proposal. The measure is under review, making this a good time for local operators to stay informed and make their voice known.
PriceLabs announced on Wednesday the release of its 2026 Revenue Accelerator, a significant update that expands the software beyond setting the daily rate through dynamic pricing to a more complete revenue management tool. The update adds more than 30 new features for vacation rental operators, including: a market-driven base price helper, a safety minimum price setting, a listing optimizer, new forecasting tools, and more. PriceLabs says this release is "designed to transform PriceLabs into your end-to-end revenue growth platform."
Airbnb shared this week that New York hosts have helped direct $150,000 to three local nonprofits focused on preventing homelessness, supporting first-time homeownership, and helping low-income individuals build long-term careers. As part of the initiative, local hosts will also volunteer with each organization, including a “build a bed” event in Albany and a homebuilding day in New York City this summer. The donation builds on more than $3 million Airbnb has contributed to nonprofits across New York in 2025, and is part of Airbnb's goal to distribute $100M to communities through 2030.
As the vacation rental community looks to give back and tools like PriceLabs expand their capabilities, there is a lot already happening in 2026. Check back next week for the latest news.
