This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s early World Cup travel insights, strong demand for Kansas City’s major events short-term rental permits, proposed policy changes in Arizona, a narrow STR vote in Albuquerque, and a Missouri proposal that could add new costs for vacation rental operators. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb released a new report this week sharing early insights into travel patterns for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as demand continues to build ahead of the tournament kicking off this summer. According to Airbnb’s internal data, travelers from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada are driving the highest volume of searches for stays around match dates. Some of the matches generating the most demand on Airbnb include Haiti vs. Scotland in Boston, USA vs. Paraguay in Los Angeles, and Uruguay vs. Cape Verde in Miami. The report also notes that families and groups account for more than half of World Cup trips, with Los Angeles seeing the strongest demand from this segment. Across host cities, Airbnb says a large percentage of available listings are priced under $500 per night, and early booking trends show guests are gravitating toward these more affordable options at this time.
Previously reported in Industry News on November 14th, Kansas City’s new major events short-term rental permit is already seeing strong interest ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. City officials now say they’ve received more than 200 applications since December and expect as many as 1,000 short-term rentals could be operating during the tournament. The temporary permits are intended to help ease the city’s expected lodging shortage and keep nightly rates more affordable for visitors. To help short-term rental operators in the area prepare and improve their operations, the OwnerRez team is currently at the MOVHA Hosting Crash Course in Kansas City, a two-day event focused on safety, good neighbor policies, guest experience, cleaning, and day-to-day operations. Click here to see all the upcoming events OwnerRez will be attending in 2026!
Arizona’s short-term rental landscape could see significant changes as new proposals are being considered by state lawmakers. Since 2016, state law has limited cities' ability to restrict short-term rentals, but several bills moving through the Legislature would give local governments more authority to regulate the vacation rental industry, including allowing permit caps, zoning restrictions, and additional tax requirements. Separately, Governor Katie Hobbs has proposed a new $3.50 per-night tax on short-term rental stays to help fund utility assistance programs for low-income residents. For short-term rental operators in Arizona, now is a good time to get involved and make your voice known on these bills.
Albuquerque’s City Council voted down a proposed short-term rental regulation this week, marking the third time similar measures have been rejected in recent years. The proposal would have required a 100-foot distance between new short-term rentals, but failed on a narrow 5-4 vote. Supporters said the rule could help reduce concentration in residential neighborhoods, while opponents argued it would unfairly restrict property owners and hurt tourism. The close vote reflects the continued divide over how Albuquerque should approach short-term rental regulations.
Missouri lawmakers this week advanced Bill 126, a proposal that would add new costs and requirements for short-term rental operators. The bill, approved by the Board of Aldermen committee, would require operators to obtain a city business license and pay a 3 percent fee on all rent charged. If passed, revenue collected under the proposal would be directed into a new Affordable Housing License Fee Fund. The bill now heads to the full Board of Aldermen for a vote.
As World Cup travel demand builds and local governments continue to weigh short-term rental policy changes, the short-term rental industry continues to take shape in 2026. Check back next week for the latest news.
