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This week’s roundup covers World Cup-driven demand, housing concerns in major event markets, short-term rental enforcement in Hawaii, and new data on professional property managers. Let’s dive in.
Short-term rental demand continues to build ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, especially in Miami. New AirDNA data reported by Axios shows nightly demand for some Miami match dates is up between 54% and 118% year over year. At the same time, many listings remain unbooked, suggesting some travelers may wait until matchups and travel plans are clearer before booking.
In Los Angeles, officials are considering whether to temporarily loosen short-term rental rules during the 2028 Olympics. The proposal would allow some second homes to be rented short term through the end of 2028, with supporters pointing to lodging demand and city revenue. Critics argue the change could pull more homes out of the long-term housing market and create additional enforcement challenges.
Housing concerns tied to major events are also growing across World Cup host cities. A Guardian report this week highlighted concerns from housing advocates that increased short-term rental activity could worsen affordability and displacement pressures in cities preparing for the tournament. The report also notes that some host cities are seeing more STR listings and higher nightly rates as the event approaches.
In Hawaii, HGTV’s Renovation Aloha stars were reportedly fined $40,000 by Honolulu for operating illegal short-term rentals. According to the report, the properties were rented for stays under 30 days without the required permits, highlighting how cities with strict STR rules are continuing to pursue enforcement against non-compliant operators.
New industry data from Rentals United and PriceLabs also points to continued professionalization in the short-term rental market. Their 2026 outlook report found that dynamic pricing, channel diversification, and operational efficiency are becoming increasingly important, with professional property managers controlling a large share of major STR markets. The report also warns that relying too heavily on one booking channel is becoming a bigger risk for operators.
As we move further into 2026, the short-term rental industry continues to evolve across major event demand, regulation, enforcement, and operational strategy. Check back next week for the latest updates.
I posted this 2 days ago but some reason it was marked as spam. I signed up my company Bear Creek Vacations with Wander and my experience is documented below:
I started the process with them last December and officially went live in April, but only stayed active for about a week. They had assured me the transition would be seamless, but that wasn’t my experience. I ended up reworking all of my listings myself, about 60 hours spent fixing ads, amenities, and details.
Not everything syncs through OwnerRez, so some updates still have to be managed directly in the Wander back office, which added another layer of complexity. Between the bugs and ongoing hiccups, I ultimately decided to disconnect and return to my OwnerRez hosted site.
I really do love the look and potential of their platform, but it still feels like they have some kinks to work through. I’d absolutely consider revisiting them down the road once things are more dialed in.
Matt Tassello, mt@wander.com is the account exec that brought me and Justin Vazquez, justin@wander.com was the one who did my onboarding. Maybe they can help get you started.
I signed up with Wander last week and requested full since three times and sent multiple emails and no response. Love to get connected but no response.
This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s latest earnings results, new short-term rental regulations in Europe, and changing summer travel trends. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb reported its Q1 2026 earnings this week, showing continued growth despite broader economic uncertainty. Revenue increased 18% year over year to $2.68 billion, while gross booking value reached $29.2 billion. The company also raised its full-year outlook, pointing to resilient travel demand and continued international growth. At the same time, Airbnb noted that rising travel costs and geopolitical uncertainty are beginning to influence booking patterns in certain markets.
Airbnb also revealed that boutique hotels are becoming one of the fastest-growing categories on the platform. While vacation rentals still dominate Airbnb’s business, hotel inventory is growing at more than double the pace of the broader platform. The trend highlights how major booking platforms continue expanding beyond their traditional business models as competition across accommodations increases.
Meanwhile, Europe is preparing for one of the biggest coordinated regulatory shifts the short-term rental industry has seen. New EU rules taking effect later this month will require standardized registration systems and expanded data sharing between booking platforms and governments. Airbnb warned this week that several countries are still not fully prepared for the rollout, while operators across Europe are now preparing for increased compliance and reporting requirements.
Summer demand trends are also continuing to evolve. New data released this week shows travelers are increasingly waiting longer to book summer trips, creating a shorter booking window for many hosts heading into peak season. Analysts say the shift is making pricing strategy and occupancy forecasting more difficult, especially in markets with rapidly growing supply. The trend reflects continued consumer caution around travel spending despite overall demand remaining relatively strong.
As we move further into 2026, the short-term rental industry continues to evolve across demand, regulation, and platform strategy. Check back next week for the latest updates.
We are pleased to announce our integration with Guestwise, helping users simplify guest interactions and reduce manual tasks.
Guestwise adds a modern guest experience layer to your OwnerRez workflow by centralizing communication, automating repetitive tasks, and enhancing every guest interaction. With AI-powered replies, unified messaging, and built-in upsell capabilities, Guestwise helps you respond faster, reduce manual work, and deliver a more consistent, personalized experience across every stay.
Through the integration, OwnerRez continues to power your reservations, operations, and data, while Guestwise handles the guest-facing side, bringing together conversation history, branded GuestGuides, and contextual upsells into one seamless system. The result is a more efficient operation and a better guest experience from booking through post-stay.
Guestwise pricing is as low as $7 per property per month, with scalable tiers based on the number of properties managed. Learn more here.
Get started with Guestwise by visiting here, and check out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Guestwise.
Episode twelve of Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals podcast is live!
Hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, the CEO and CTO of OwnerRez, the Walk ’n Talk podcast brings their long-running weekly walks to life. What started as casual conversations about ideas, challenges, and product decisions has become a chance for you to listen in and take away insights you can apply in your own business.
In Episode Twelve, Paul and Chris are joined by Dan Waldschmidt, an international business strategist, speaker, author, and extreme athlete. They talk about what it really means to be elite, and why it is not just about talent, luck, or having the best idea. They unpack the mindset behind OwnerRez’s long-standing “Elite” messaging and explore how ordinary people and companies can build toward extraordinary results through discipline, adaptability, and a constant drive to improve.
You’ll hear about:
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:
New episodes are already in the works, and we can’t wait for you to join us on the walk.
I'm in a market that doesn't have Uber as a ride source. I'm very curious to see how that will impact our area's roll out and if guests choose to book through Uber.
This week’s roundup covers Uber’s move into vacation rentals, new enforcement data out of New York City, and broader trends shaping the short-term rental market. Let’s dive in.
Uber announced a major expansion into travel this week, partnering with Expedia to allow users to book hotels directly inside the Uber app. Importantly for the vacation rental industry, Vrbo listings are expected to be added later this year, bringing short-term rentals into one of the most widely used apps in the world. This could significantly change how travelers discover and book accommodations, creating a powerful new distribution channel for hosts.
In New York City, strict short-term rental rules remain firmly in place, even with the World Cup approaching. A recent city review found that more than a quarter of approved listings are still operating illegally, highlighting ongoing enforcement challenges. While platforms are complying with registration requirements, enforcement continues to be a major hurdle at the local level.
Many hosts are also facing uncertainty around World Cup demand itself. While bookings are up in some markets, a new report shows many hosts who invested heavily ahead of the event are still waiting for reservations, with factors like high airfare, pricing expectations, and travel uncertainty slowing bookings. The data suggests demand may not be as evenly distributed as expected, reinforcing the importance of pricing strategy and realistic expectations heading into major events.
Short-term rental regulations also continue to expand at the local level, with new rules targeting tax collection and data transparency. In New York, Saratoga County recently approved a new framework requiring a county-wide registry, occupancy taxes, and mandatory data sharing from booking platforms. The move reflects a growing push by local governments to better track STR activity and ensure compliance, signaling where regulation may be heading next in other markets.
As we move further into 2026, the short-term rental industry continues to evolve across distribution, demand, and regulation. Check back next week for the latest updates.
We will be at the Michigan STR Conference. We will see you there!
reach out to Dom Dawkins at dom@wander.com
Anyone actually able to get ahold of someone at Wander to make this integration happen? I signed up last week and no reply. Reached out again this week and no reply. Someone from Wander sent me an email asking if I was looking to book a property so I replied stating I was on the site to connect as a host, and they didn't reply, even though the initiated the conversation. Not sure if they are overwhelmed with new sync requests, but from the host and the end user side, not a great experience thus far. Can't see how they attract "better" guests with worse customer service than the main channels.
We’re excited to share that OwnerRez has earned Booking.com Premier Partner status for 2026!
“We’re delighted to see OwnerRez earn this designation for the first time ever this year. They delivered excellence in the software solutions they provide for our customers and mutual accommodation partners, and they’re working towards a seamless experience that meets their properties’ needs and supports their success." - Eddy Veldhuizen, Senior Director Connectivity Partnerships at Booking.com
The Booking.com Premier Partner status recognizes connectivity partners for their excellent performance and quality of service. Each year, Booking.com evaluates all of its connected partners and chooses only a select group as "Premier Partners." To achieve this status, connectivity providers must deliver excellence across these three categories:
Over the past year, we’ve made significant advancements to our Booking.com integration, bringing it in line with the full-featured channel connections OwnerRez is known for. Enhancements include:
These improvements mean less manual work, fewer opportunities for discrepancies, and a more streamlined, reliable connection between OwnerRez and Booking.com.
We’re grateful for our partnership with Booking.com and their outstanding team. Together, we’re committed to delivering the very best product solutions for vacation rental operators and to raising the bar for reliability and performance. And a big thank you to our users for trusting us with your business, especially the 87 OwnerRez users who helped test and shape the new Booking.com integration along the way. Here’s to another year of "continuous improvement" and to setting the standard for reliability and performance.
This week’s roundup covers surging World Cup demand, ongoing restrictions in New York City, and broader trends shaping the short-term rental market. Let’s dive in.
Short-term rental demand is already ramping up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with bookings in U.S. host cities up significantly year over year. Some markets are seeing increases as high as 58%, with major spikes around match dates. Cities like Miami, Fort Worth, and Kansas City are leading the way, and nearby markets are benefiting as travelers look for alternative accommodations. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest demand drivers the industry has seen. At the same time, rising airfare driven by higher jet fuel costs could begin to impact international travel.
In New York City, strict short-term rental rules remain firmly in place, even with the World Cup approaching. Local officials have declined to loosen restrictions, continuing to prioritize housing availability over short-term rental expansion. As a result, demand is spilling into nearby markets like Jersey City and Newark, where occupancy is surging well beyond typical levels.
Other nearby markets are preparing accordingly. Cities in New Jersey are actively evaluating and enforcing their own rules, with requirements around primary residence, registration, and rental limits becoming more standardized. This reflects a broader trend we’re seeing across the U.S., where regulations continue to evolve toward clearer frameworks, even as approaches vary by market.
In Florida, Navarre Beach is seeing pushback from short-term rental owners over a proposal to significantly increase fire assessment fees specifically for STR properties. The plan would effectively double certain fees, with officials citing increased demand on emergency services from vacation rentals. Property owners argue the change unfairly targets STRs and adds to an already growing list of costs and compliance requirements, highlighting ongoing tension between local infrastructure needs and rental operators.
As we head deeper into 2026, the mix of global events, regulation, and changing traveler behavior continues to reshape the short-term rental landscape. Check back next week for the latest updates.
Congrats, OR team!!! 🎉🎉🎉 I appreciate y'all and your excellent work!
Love OR and congratulations for the well deserved recognition.
CONGRATS! This is well deserved.
They are constantly improving and listening to the needs/wants of their customers. Makes my life easier!
Proud to be a subscriber!
I’m very happy with ownerrez but am frustrated that I have zero bookings on Airbnb. We’re doing very well on other platforms but not sure how we can have zero bookings on ABB. I followed all the suggestions and even called them. I’ve run discounts on their platform as well.
Congratulations to all the hard working people at Owner Rez ! Great product and glad AirBB recognizes that 😊😊🏆
Congratulations!! Great software and amazing customer support.
We’re very impressed so far—the connection has been excellent.
Your Airbnb API Rocks. Love it!
OwnerRez has once again been recognized as an Airbnb Preferred+ Software Partner! 🎉
We’re honored to be one of the select few to receive the Preferred+ Software Partner status and to meet Airbnb’s highest standards for integration quality, performance, and reliability. This recognition reflects the strong, ongoing collaboration between OwnerRez and Airbnb over the years and is a result of our shared vision to create a seamless, high-quality experience for short-term rental hosts and property managers.
Reaching Airbnb Preferred+ status means we've not only met, but we've exceeded Airbnb’s technical and performance benchmarks. It’s awarded to only a small group of partners who consistently deliver a high-quality connection and continue to invest in strong collaboration with Airbnb. You can learn more about the program and what it means for OwnerRez users here.
Over the years, we’ve worked closely with the Airbnb team to continuously improve our integration and to deliver a more seamless experience for OwnerRez users. That strong collaboration continues to drive behind-the-scenes improvements and new features, like the brand-new Quality Center, which seamlessly brings Airbnb listing health insights, reservation issues, and review category analytics directly into OwnerRez.
We’re grateful for our partnership with the Airbnb team, and most of all, for our users who make this possible!
We are proud to receive the Airbnb Preferred+ badge for 2026, and look forward to continuing to push the boundaries for what's possible this year! Our focus remains on delivering a reliable, lightning-fast connection so you can focus on growing your business.
Thanks for being part of the journey. Lots of exciting things ahead!
Interesting discussion. One thing I've come to learn over the years I've been doing this is I really don't like taking people's money without providing something of value. It makes me feel a little sleazy, and makes the guest hate my business forever. You might get some money in the transaction, but you can guarantee they will NEVER book your place again, and they'll bad-mouth it to all their friends.
We have a cancellation policy of providing a full refund up to 5 days prior to arrival, no refund after that point. However, I take each cancellation on a case-by-case basis. If the guest has a plausible reason for cancelling that's not just for convenience I will generally provide a credit that can be used for a future stay. 10 out of 10 times, that guest will book with us in the future, and many times this policy will result in multiple bookings from that person.
Treat others how you would like to be treated yourself is always good business practice.
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We’re happy to share our integration with Booklogica, giving OwnerRez users a simple and secure way to sync reservations with Google Calendar.
Booklogica builds automated, privacy‑first tools for short‑term rental operators and property managers. Their focus is on creating reliable, secure, and intuitive integrations that simplify daily operations without adding complexity. Their flagship service, Booklogica Calendar Sync, gives hosts a clean, real‑time view of their reservations inside Google Calendar, powered by a secure Google‑verified OAuth connection and EU‑based cloud infrastructure.
Booklogica Calendar Sync is available for $9.99 / €9.99 per month, with no setup fees and no long‑term commitment.
The subscription includes real‑time Google Calendar syncing, unified and per‑property calendars, automatic repair jobs, and full email support. A free trial is included; no payment is required to get started. This is an early access price.
View more pricing info here.
Get started with Booklogica by visiting here, and check out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Booklogica.
This week’s roundup covers new statewide safety requirements in Maryland, Airbnb’s 2025 economic impact report, fresh market data from AirDNA, and ongoing tax and enforcement efforts in South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Let’s dive in.
The state of Maryland signed into law on Tuesday new fire safety requirements for short-term rentals, along with an annual inspection program. Under House Bill 1221, all vacation rental properties must now include fire prevention and detection equipment, including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and gives local jurisdictions until July 1, 2028, to implement annual inspections. Officials say the new law will strengthen safety standards and improve oversight across the state’s short-term rental market, continuing the trend we’ve seen this year of states, not just local jurisdictions, working to establish a framework for safety and regulation across the vacation rental industry.
Airbnb released a report this week showing that short-term rental hosts and guests contributed a record $93 billion to the U.S. economy in 2025, highlighting the continued impact and growth of the vacation rental industry. The report focuses on the role short-term rentals play in supporting small communities, with guest spending flowing into nearby restaurants, shops, and attractions. Airbnb notes that guests spent an average of $200 per day on their trips in 2025 outside of lodging. Airbnb also estimates the industry supported more than 1.1 million jobs and generated over $26 billion in total tax revenue across the United States.
AirDNA released its February 2026 U.S. Market Review this week, reporting a slight softening in demand amid rising supply. The report notes that while occupancy is trending down, average daily rates (ADR) have remained relatively stable, helping offset some of the impact on overall revenue. AirDNA also points to a shift away from year-round travel patterns and back toward more seasonal demand, with bookings becoming more concentrated around peak and shoulder periods. As the market continues to rebalance post Covid, the report emphasizes the importance of maximizing high-demand seasons and staying responsive to shifting travel patterns.
The South Carolina Senate is considering House Bill 3876, a bill that could have a significant impact on the state's vacation rental market. The proposal focuses on standardizing how accommodation taxes are collected by clearly defining who is responsible for collecting and remitting those taxes, including booking platforms and property managers acting as the merchant of record. Supporters say the bill is an effort to create a more consistent and trackable tax collection process across the state, while critics argue it will add complexity and increase the burden on smaller operators and property managers. The legislative session is set to adjourn on May 7th. Now is a good time for South Carolina vacation rental operators to familiarize themselves with the bill and make their voice known.
In an effort to improve compliance with Pennsylvania’s 6 percent hotel occupancy tax, Washington County is implementing new software to identify short-term rental properties that are not currently remitting the tax. County officials estimate the software will uncover more than 200 properties that are not submitting the tax and generate between $300,000 and $500,000 in new revenue for the county. Similar systems have been implemented in markets like Fort Myers Beach, as reported in Industry News on January 2nd, where software is used to scan booking platforms and flag non-compliant or unregistered rentals. The move reflects a growing trend of local governments using technology to improve enforcement.
As new regulations take shape and we reflect on the industry’s impact in 2025, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2026. Check back next week for the latest news.
Alece, hosts using the default renter agreement who have guests booking after March 11th on mobile will see this updated title font size and improved line-height styling on the default renter agreement section of the Confirm & Pay guest booking form. The new renter agreement guest form is still in development, if that is what you are asking about.
Anne -- Not totally tracking... Can you clarify for me which bookings currently receive/see this new renter agreement design update?
Alece, your screenshot is actually the old renter agreement form. This renter agreement design update was just a stepping stone toward an improved renter agreement process. Stay tuned!
Email sent. Thanks, Rex!
