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Hopefully ok to ask this here of other hosts. What's the drawback to converting a personal PayPal to business.
It's it just you can't to fee free transfers to friends to split a meal outing or wherever
Or did business PayPal actually change how much PayPal costs and operates for general purchasing?
I have Stripe for payment processing. So should I connect Paypal thru Stripe or thru OR or both?
Connect PayPal directly to OR, not through Stripe. Then, OR will use both payment methods side by side but prefer the Stripe one for CC stuff.
I have Stripe for payment processing. So should I connect Paypal thru Stripe or thru OR or both?
This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s New Year’s Eve anti-party measures, Expedia’s move to deepen its experiences business, rising World Cup-driven demand in Los Angeles, and a key legal ruling in Nevada that could reshape local short-term rental enforcement. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb is activating heightened anti-party technology in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the UK, France, Spain, and Australia to help reduce the risk of disruptive parties during New Year’s Eve this year. The company says the system is designed to identify and block higher-risk bookings while steering guests toward lower-risk accommodations, such as private rooms or hotel rooms. Airbnb says that last New Year’s Eve, similar measures prevented over 20,000 people in the U.S. and more than 3,000 people in Canada from booking an entire home listing. The continued rollout of this technology during holiday weekends is designed to support positive stays and help vacation rental operators protect their homes and surrounding communities during peak travel periods.
Expedia announced an agreement to acquire Tiqets, an Amsterdam-based platform for museum and attraction tickets, following an extended sales process that drew interest from multiple travel companies, including Airbnb. The deal gives Expedia more direct access to major European attractions and reduces its reliance on third-party partners as it continues to expand its experiences business. In announcing the acquisition, Expedia said the move supports its broader travel strategy. “The Tiqets integration is a key step toward our vision to build the most comprehensive, global travel solution,” said Alfonso Paredes, President of B2B at Expedia Group. For vacation rental operators, the deal signals continued investment across the travel industry in experiences as a growing part of how guests plan and book trips.
The Los Angeles Times released an article highlighting the increased pricing and demand for short-term rentals in Los Angeles ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The article spotlights one Airbnb host near SoFi Stadium who raised their rates from $1,000 to $10,000 for a two-night stay. The article notes that currently more than 70 percent of short-term rentals in the Inglewood area are already booked for June 12th, the night of the opening match, representing a 58 percent increase compared to typical reservation rates. The World Cup is also being viewed as an early test case for the 2028 Olympics, which are expected to bring an estimated 15 million visitors to the region. This surge in demand is great news for vacation rental operators in the area, presenting an excellent opportunity to maximize revenue during the global event through seasonal rates or dynamic pricing.
In a recent ruling, Nevada District Court Judge Miranda Du paused fines, penalties, and liens against Clark County homeowners for short-term rental activity, signaling that the Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association and its co-plaintiff, Airbnb, are likely to succeed in a legal battle that dates back to 2021. Judge Du ruled that prohibiting property owners from renting their homes likely violates due process protections under the 14th Amendment. Under the injunction, Clark County is temporarily barred from requiring short-term rental licenses, issuing fines or liens, and declaring short-term rentals a public nuisance. For vacation rental operators, the ruling represents a significant win amid the ongoing efforts of local governments to regulate short-term rentals.
With upcoming global events and ongoing regulatory discussions shaping the vacation rental market, expect continued changes across the rental landscape as we near the end of 2025. Check back next week for the latest news.
Some additional points of clarification:
What the "upgrade" langage means
The "upgrade" language simply means to upgrade the connection, not the PayPal account itself. You can use the same PayPal account you already connected with before. You only need to re-connect it. Nothing different is needed on the PayPal side.
Using your existing credit card processor side by side with PayPal
To repeat what Bri said - your existing other credit card processor (Stripe, Lynnbrook, Authorize.Net) will continue to work side by side with PayPal and will be the top preferred option, if you have both. PayPal and Venmo will work beside it, and the internal PayPal credit card fields will not be an option if you have your own. So no worries on that.
Security deposits (RDD and holds)
Yes, these both work with the new PayPal. It was one of the final pieces of work we did in recent weeks to be able to release this. There are new guest forms for taking payments and security deposits/holds that are both out and working. So you are good to go on that end. If you have a standalone credit card option, it will offer that as an option as well, or just use the CC one for cards that are already on file, just like before.
What about security deposits? Can PayPal do these? If we disconnect stripe?
I'd be interested in how others have solved an upcoming and growing dilemma. How do you handle a deposit (or Hold)? Using these non-traditional gateways means we do not get the cc info to do a hold. Or we burden the guest with an added step or submitted more than one real payment method in the process. Have most moved away from deposit holds? Moved to an actual deposit and refund? or none?
"Please be aware that all accounts using the current PayPal connection must upgrade to gain access to the new PayPal. The upgrade is easy! All you need to do is connect your PayPal account again if you connected previously, and if you've never used PayPal, it's never been easier. More details on how to get connected here."
This language is confusing to me. I currently have a Paypal account. It says all I need to do is to "connect to my Paypal account again". I just need to open the account? The blog post says I must upgrade my current account. Upgrade to what? I already have a business account and I don't see any button or link that says "upgrade". Can you be more specific about what I need to do and how to do it?
Thank you for clarifying
This is a great podcast for folks thinking about joining the short term rental business, already in the business or a veteran of the business such as me and husband since 2011. It is a validation of my experience....the ups and downs....and can be quite successful IF you know what it takes. I appreciate having the point of view from the creators of the OwnerRez and knowing that one of you (something about 'dogging it'...I got it with the explanation!) has their own short term rentals/management. I am a big fan of OwnerRez; it literally changed my work life for the better!
Hi everyone! Wanted to jump in here and answer what questions I could.
PayPal accepts businesses with a business address and bank location in the following locations.
They offer short-term, interest-free payments that allow guests to buy now and pay later, while hosts receive payment upfront. You can read more on that topic here.
As for credit card processing, if you have a processor configured we will prefer that over PayPal during the checkout process. This is to say that if your guest chooses to pay by card and you have (let's say) Stripe configured as well as PayPal, Stripe should be the credit card processor in use at the time of checkout. If no credit card processor is configured, we fall back to PayPal.
We use Lynnbrook for CC processing. They offer Venmo, Paypal pay later, apple pay, etc. Can OwnerRez please enable their wallet function so we can use these payment methods? Lynnbrook already offer it to PMs on Streamline and other PMS software providers. We have friends on Streamline and they've been using it for months. Please enable "wallets" for Lynnbrook. Thank you! :)
THIS!!!!! Please enable wallets for your preferred partner, Lynnbrook!
https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests/mobile-pay-w-digital-wallet-apple-pay-venmo-zelle-crypto
This week’s roundup covers Lisbon reversing course on short-term rental restrictions, the Spanish government fining Airbnb, Maui finalizing its vacation rental phase-out after months of debate, and Anchorage voting down a proposed vacation rental tax. Let’s dive in.
Lisbon has recently rolled back tightened short-term rental restrictions after city officials determined that the rules failed to reduce housing costs or improve overall affordability. Airbnb welcomed the decision this week, saying the policies limited hosting opportunities for residents without addressing the city’s underlying housing challenges. According to Airbnb, since Lisbon began imposing restrictions in 2019, the annual growth rate of home prices in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area has nearly doubled, while annual rent increases accelerated from 5.7 percent to 9.2 percent. Over the same period, hotel prices climbed sharply, rising by 30 percent between 2022 and 2024 alone. Under the revised policy, short-term rentals will be allowed to increase from 5 percent to 10 percent of the local housing supply as the city looks to better balance housing needs with tourism demand.
The Spanish government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros, or about $75 million, after regulators said the platform advertised a large number of short-term rentals without valid licenses or accurate registration information. Officials said some of the affected listings also included properties in popular tourist destinations that were banned from being rented altogether. An Airbnb spokesperson said the company has been working in collaboration with the Spanish government since new short-term rental rules took effect in July and plans to challenge the decision in court, despite the Consumer Affairs Ministry stating that the fine cannot be appealed.
In continued coverage of Maui County’s vacation rental phase-out, previously reported in Industry News on June 6th, June 13th, July 4th, August 1st, August 29th, and October 17th, Bill 9 has now been officially signed into law by Mayor Richard Bissen following final approval by the Maui County Council. This hotly debated decision will phase out thousands of vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts, starting in West Maui in 2028 and expanding countywide by 2030. Supporters argue that the law will reintroduce housing units to the long-term market, making things more affordable. At the same time, opponents continue to raise concerns about property rights, real economic impacts, and potential legal challenges. With implementation still several years away, uncertainty remains around how the law will ultimately reshape Maui’s vacation rental market.
The Anchorage Assembly in Alaska voted this week not to advance a vacation rental-specific tax to voters as a ballot measure. The proposed five percent tax on short-term rentals was introduced in September and would have been added to the existing 12 percent room tax that already applies to hotels and short-term rentals. A majority of Assembly members said it was not the right time to pursue an additional tax. While the proposal was rejected, the Assembly approved a separate ordinance requiring short-term rental owners to register their properties with the city, which officials say will improve tracking and help inform future policy decisions.
As governments continue to revisit and refine short-term rental restrictions, the vacation rental landscape continues to evolve. Check back next week for the latest news.
What is the adoption rate they are seeing with those other payment methods?
We use Lynnbrook for CC processing. They offer Venmo, Paypal pay later, apple pay, etc. Can OwnerRez please enable their wallet function so we can use these payment methods? Lynnbrook already offer it to PMs on Streamline and other PMS software providers. We have friends on Streamline and they've been using it for months. Please enable "wallets" for Lynnbrook. Thank you! :)
We need the option to direct standard CC payments to our primary processor and use PayPal to only process PayPal and Venmo.
I don't see the option to configure it that way. Our primary credit card processor is way cheaper than PayPal for standard cards, but offering the Venmo/PayPal option would be great.
This is key.
Prefer default stripe processing to reduce fees. PayPal is 1.4% + 10p more expensive for a GBP payment & 2.64% + 10p more expensive for an international payment.
Will we get funds right away if guest selects PayPal pay later?
Can PayPal do security deposits? Stripe is failing for scheduled security holds right now.
Is it available in UK?
How will Apple and Google pay stack up against other options!
We need the option to direct standard CC payments to our primary processor and use PayPal to only process PayPal and Venmo.
I don't see the option to configure it that way. Our primary credit card processor is way cheaper than PayPal for standard cards, but offering the Venmo/PayPal option would be great.
Exactly 3% is pricey but Venmo would be great
We need the option to direct standard CC payments to our primary processor and use PayPal to only process PayPal and Venmo.
I don't see the option to configure it that way. Our primary credit card processor is way cheaper than PayPal for standard cards, but offering the Venmo/PayPal option would be great.
if we don't want to upgrade or personal PayPal to a biz account (therefore I will delete my PayPal payment option) will that effect our ability to keep taking Venmo?
I believe the old/existing PayPal connection also required business PayPal accounts, so nothing should have changed on that front. It will work with the same PayPal account you had in place already, just have to connect it again.
Venmo is only available with this new PayPal connection. There is no Venmo-only type of connection unfortunately. Generally speaking, Venmo does not connect with merchants directly outside of PayPal except for native mobile apps.
Can the new Paypal be used for security deposit holds?
Also, is it available to UK customers?
if we don't want to upgrade or personal PayPal to a biz account (therefore I will delete my PayPal payment option) will that effect our ability to keep taking Venmo?
Should be the standard paypal and venmo for business rates which are roughly 3%
And what's the charge on the transaction? I think I missed that in the lengthy blog post
Really interesting
it is true...harder to make money now
i've been doing that for 5 years and now i get the help of my two daugthers
my cottage rental site is www.3forestlodge.ca
i think there should be a owner of short term rental association or group exchange of idea. There is not anough community feel in the business
thank you for your help. Ownerez reallt helps my business!
I don't follow... we use this feature, and upon the checkout date the guest selects, it logs out of all the apps that were downloaded and logged into and returns the screen back to the "select checkout date" page for the next guest to add their date, apps, and login.
We have not had an issue with the feature completely logging out of the ROKU account and requiring us to log back in.
Is yours completely wiping the account clean, requiring you to log back into a new ROKU account for verification?
We’re excited to share the third episode of our new podcast, Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals.
How do you build and operate a thriving company in the vacation rental space? This podcast answers that by drawing from the real, unfiltered conversations between OwnerRez co-founders Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes. Their habit of taking weekly walks, pausing work to think through problems, debate strategy, and reset their perspective, became the foundation for the show. Now, those same discussions offer listeners a rare view into the decisions and lessons that shape OwnerRez.
In Episode Three, Paul and Chris take a look at some of the biggest myths versus realities in the vacation rental industry. They talk through how the industry has shifted over the years from a hobbyist side gig into a competitive, professionalized market where standing out requires true hospitality, well-run operations, and a long-term mindset.
Drawing on Paul’s experience running Shenrent with his wife, along with years of watching thousands of OwnerRez users grow, they share what new owners often misunderstand, why a genuine interest in hospitality matters more than most people expect, and how having the right systems in place plays a major role in long-term success.
You’ll hear about:
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:
We’ve already started on the next episodes, and we can’t wait to share them with you.
This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s 2026 travel predictions, AAA’s encouraging holiday travel forecast, Vrbo’s latest ski season insights, and key short-term rental policy updates from New York and Australia. Let’s dive in.
On Monday, Airbnb released its 2026 travel predictions, highlighting several trends vacation rental owners and operators should be watching as demand continues to evolve. Airbnb points to the growth of one to two-day international trips, driven largely by Gen Z travelers seeking high-energy, culture-rich city getaways rather than longer vacations. The report also shows continued momentum around outdoor travel, with searches for stays “near a national park” up 35 percent in the U.S. for 2026, as more guests look to unplug and spend time in nature. Event-focused travel remains a major driver of bookings as well, with 65 percent of Airbnb’s top searched dates and cities tied to major cultural, sporting, and music events, including the Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Carnival, and Coachella.
AAA released its year-end holiday travel forecast, projecting another record-breaking season for U.S. travel. The organization expects more than 122 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more between December 20th and January 1st, surpassing last year’s record and signaling strong demand throughout the holiday season. They predict that road trips will continue to dominate, driven by flexibility and lower fuel costs, while air travel is also expected to hit new highs as millions fly to visit friends and family. AAA says the forecast reflects continued confidence in travel spending, even as travelers remain selective about how and when they book their trips.
Vrbo released Key to Ski: How to Plan a Ski Trip, a new online travel guide that blends expert planning tips with insights drawn from Vrbo’s search data. The guide highlights Big Sky, Montana, as the fastest-growing destination for skiers, Breckenridge, Colorado, as one of the most popular mountain towns, and Vail, Colorado, as a world-class ski destination known for its luxury accommodations. Vrbo also uses this guide to advise travelers to book two months in advance for better prices, to travel during less busy periods whenever possible, and to prioritize stays located near ski resorts to maximize their time on the mountain.
Monroe County became the first major county in upstate New York to opt out of creating a short-term rental registry this week, after the County voted 21 to 8 to decline participation in the state-run system for tracking vacation rental listings. Supporters of the decision cited concerns over added bureaucracy and the county’s existing tax collection agreements, while critics argued the move limits transparency and oversight. The decision highlights an encouraging trend of local governments taking the time to assess long-term implications and regulatory strategies, rather than reacting quickly to public frustration over short-term rentals.
Brisbane City Council has announced a new set of proposed restrictions on short-term rentals, which would require many operators to obtain development approval and permits to continue hosting. Under the proposed plan, short-term rental properties in low and medium-low density zones would need approval to continue operating, with permit holders facing new requirements including public liability insurance, published house rules, and a nominated 24-hour contact who must respond to complaints within one hour and report back to the council within one day. Also added is a three-strikes policy, which would revoke permits after repeated disturbances. Owners who operate without approval could face fines exceeding $140,000. The proposed changes follow a 2023 task force review that found little evidence linking short-term rentals to increases in Queensland’s rental prices. If approved by the state government, the new rules would take effect on July 1st, 2026.
As demand remains strong heading into the end of 2025 and experts look ahead to 2026 travel trends, expect continued shifts in traveler behavior and short-term rental regulation. Check back next week for the latest industry news.
We are excited to announce our new integration with PayPal, which brings several major improvements, including support for Venmo, Pay Later, a new streamlined checkout experience, and more!
This is what you can expect to see when using PayPal now. A beautiful new checkout screen with buttons that most everyone is familiar with seeing across checkout pages when shopping. We believe this new design gives guests greater confidence when finalizing their booking and completing the payment process.
(What guests see during checkout.)
Please be aware that all accounts using the current PayPal connection must upgrade to gain access to the new PayPal. The upgrade is easy! All you need to do is connect your PayPal account again if you connected previously, and if you've never used PayPal, it's never been easier. More details on how to get connected here.
PayPal has stated that you must upgrade your connection by December 31st to continue processing payments. If you don't do this by the cutoff date, the payment will error out for the guest.
If you're currently using PayPal PayFlow Pro or PayPal Payments Pro, your existing connection will be labeled as deprecated on December 31st. You can continue using that until PayPal cuts you off. It's unclear how long you'll be able to continue using those connections after that date.
Our updated PayPal integration now offers significant new improvements, including Venmo, Pay Later and more! Better transaction visibility, ongoing compliance with PayPal’s latest API standards, and a brand new, modernized, and streamlined checkout experience for your guests!
Take a look below and see all the great things you can now do with PayPal:
More Payment Methods Options
Peace of Mind
Get started with PayPal by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with PayPal.
THANK YOU!
