This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s 2026 Fall Update, Vrbo’s upcoming commission change, the latest STR regulation news in Maui and Annapolis, and the OwnerRez Hangout in Nashville, TN. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb dropped its Fall 2026 Update on Wednesday, which includes new AI and social features, more in-app services, and a few new tools for hosts. In the U.S., guests can now search using natural language, compare listings in a side-by-side display, use keywords to find and select filters, and see AI summaries in search results that highlight key features in listings. Airbnb also leaned into the social side of the platform by introducing Connect, Travel Map, and Neighborhood Pages. These new additions allow guests to connect with friends on the platform, view those users' past trips and reviews, and see local recommendations and insights for specific areas. The update also included new in-app service categories to house recently announced services, such as Instacart, which was covered in Industry News on September 25th. Lastly, for hosts, Airbnb announced a new multi-listing calendar, 3D floor plans, AI earnings insights, and a dynamic pricing tool.
Expedia Group announced this week that most Vrbo hosts will move to a new 12% commission structure. Hosts still on Vrbo’s legacy annual subscription plan will be moved to a pay-per-booking model, replacing the flat yearly fee with the new commission. It is still unclear whether Vrbo’s separate guest service fee will change. The new structure takes effect on October 29th.
Previously covered in Industry News on June 26th, Maui County approved Bill 88 earlier this year, creating two new hotel zoning districts, H-3 and H-4, that give some short-term rentals impacted by Bill 9 a path to continue operating. This week, the Maui Planning Commission recommended hotel rezoning for just five of the 48 properties being considered by the County Council. The properties supported for rezoning were either entirely timeshares or already approved to operate as STRs. The County Council will now make the final decision.
In more short-term rental regulation news, the Annapolis City Council in Maryland voted on Monday to raise the maximum fine for STR violations from $1,000 to $5,000, the highest amount allowed under state law. This follows a city report from last year that found nearly half of Annapolis short-term rentals were operating without a license, along with a decision to put in place a one-year pause on new STR licenses that began March 9th. Since the pause began, officials have opened 59 cases involving unlicensed rentals.
The 2026 OwnerRez Hangout is Monday, October 5th, from 7–9 PM CT in Nashville! Come join us for FREE drinks, FREE food, LIVE music, and lots of opportunities to connect with the OwnerRez team and our incredible co-hosts: Lynnbrook Group, PriceLabs, Rental Guardian, and PetScreening. If you haven’t already, reserve your FREE ticket here! We can’t wait to see you there!
As OTAs introduce new features and make big changes in Q4, the vacation rental industry continues to take shape in 2026. Check back next week for the latest news!