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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?

Meet Cindy Lathan, founder of C Crest Property Management, a vacation rental management company based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After a career in social services and many years serving her community as a Coroner’s Investigator, Cindy stepped into vacation rentals after early retirement. What started with three homes and no prior experience has grown into a successful business built around her love of working with people and helping families find the perfect place for their vacation.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I am a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Criminal Justice. I always resided in the state, and this southern girl doesn't ever want to leave!

What is your background?

My early background was in social services and loss prevention/asset protection. I never thought about property management/real estate.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management? If a later career, what did you do before?

This is my 1st career after early retirement. I was previously a Coroner's Investigator in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. I investigated unattended, unnatural deaths. I truly was dedicated to this position; it humbled me to be able to serve a grieving family. From notification to issuance of a death certificate after the investigation was complete, I was honored to serve them at one of the most difficult times in their lives. Obviously, you see things that you never want to see, but I realize the decedent was a person too, and treat them with dignity and respect.

Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later?

I am originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. I have had a vacation home in Myrtle Beach since 2007 and moved here full-time in 2019. When I moved here, I was looking for something 'to do' (Vacation rental management never entered my mind!) After exploring the option, I found that a class on Real Estate Property Management just happened to be immediately available, so I took that as a sign. I completed the class in the late fall, worked hard to open the business, and actually got three homes to manage with zero experience! I got my first few reservations and was thrilled, only to have to cancel the VERY first one due to COVID-19 closures. I started 2020 with three homes, and now I will accept no more than 30 a year.

If later, is there something that drew you to that area?

Myrtle Beach had always been a family vacation destination, but we were only able to come for 2-3 nights, maybe once every 2-4 years. I always enjoyed the beach, as I became an adult with a car, I could come more often and found out there was more to the area than that one motel we always stayed at. Since living here full-time, I have realized that there is something to do all the time! The beach never closes, but even in the winter, there is excitement that abounds.

What do you love the most about the vacation rental business?

I enjoy meeting the homeowners, explaining to them the advantages/disadvantages of sharing their vacation property with others. I have met wonderful families from all over the US. I enjoy being able to assist families in choosing their vacation home and try to encourage them to get out and explore the other areas when they can. I love to hear when families are looking for multiple homes for a reunion or birthday celebration. I try to go the extra mile with information regarding things they may want/need during that stay (cakes, balloons, catering, etc).

What do you dislike the most about it?

I feel like I enter every ounce of information that I can onto the website and in correspondence. I am a person who wants details down to the tee when I receive instructions/directions/what to do, etc. My major dislike is guests who receive the information and then call and ask the exact same questions that has been covered 2 or 3 times with them over different mediums. My 2nd dislike is turnover day, when guests call and want an early check-in. Again, I basically beg them not to call or text me on a turnover day (it is crazy busy!) I inform them that as soon as the house is ready, I will let them know. Basically, a perfect guest would read the information that is sent to them; it isn't that difficult. Finally - I have to throw this in, guest who come, stay, you never hear a peep from them, and then they call their credit card company and say the card was used fraudulently. I provide signatures, license, video/pictures of the guests arriving/leaving, etc., only to have it approved by the processor and denied by the bank. Obviously, I can pursue further, but that is at my cost, and as a single business owner, it is cheaper to pay for their vacation than to fight it. That's the disheartening part.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez is my go-to for the entire business except for advertising. Website, inquiry, reservations, payments, reviews etc.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

To me, the payment options are the most helpful. I don't have to worry about handling cash or card payments; everything is processed, security deposits are returned, etc. It is the best feature for me. The ability to merge OwnerRez with other booking platforms is wonderful too; no double work is involved.

Cindy’s people first approach and genuine love for what she does continue to shape C Crest Property Management. With OwnerRez supporting her day to day operations, we look forward to seeing her continued success as she grows her business in Myrtle Beach.

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.

EP3 - Myths vs. Reality: What It Really Takes to Succeed in Vacation Rentals

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:

• Some of the biggest myths in vacation rentals versus the day-to-day reality
• Which early STR “cheat codes” went away as the industry became more professionalized
• The difference a hospitality mindset makes when running a vacation rental
• Lessons from running Shenrent and how OwnerRez continues to be shaped through personal experience
• Why saying no early, buying the right properties, and understanding the true costs matter
• How having the right systems in place makes all the difference
• The balance between caring deeply for your property and giving guests space
• What mindset makes a vacation rental owner a good long-term partner

It is an honest conversation about expectations versus reality, and the hard-earned lessons that separate operators who build something sustainable from those who burn out or become frustrated along the way.

Listen Now

Watch Now

Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

We’ve already started on the next episodes, and we can’t wait to share them with you.

A new year is here, making January the perfect time to revisit your vacation rental operations and take a fresh look at your OwnerRez setup. 🎆 As plans for the year ahead come together, we’ve put together a strong lineup of webinars to help you review, refine, and improve your day-to-day workflows.

This month’s webinar schedule includes live Demos, Q&A sessions, and Focus Sessions covering topics such as tags and tag automations, and the new Rezzy AI support features. Whether you are fine-tuning your existing operations or looking to learn something new, there is a session for you this January. Get signed up today!

Webinars:

 1/5/2026 PMv2: What’s New, What’s Improved & What’s Coming Next

PMv2 is the next evolution of Property Management in OwnerRez, rebuilt from the ground up to deliver clearer statements, more accurate payouts, flexible reporting, and a stronger foundation for future enhancements. In this webinar, we’ll walk through the major improvements introduced in PMv2, show how it streamlines your financial workflows, and provide a preview of the powerful features it unlocks moving forward.

Register now!

 1/8/2026 OwnerRez Demo

Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.

Register now!

 1/9/2026 OwnerRez Q&A

Join us for a live Q&A! Please write in questions prior to the webinar so we can start off by answering those right away.

Register now!

 1/13/2026 OwnerRez Demo

Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.

Register now!

 1/14/2026 Focus Session - Tags & Tag Automation

Join us for a live webinar on tags and tag automations inside OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, we will walk through how tags work, where they are used throughout the system, and how automation can be applied to streamline your vacation rental business. We will also highlight some of the exciting enhancements made to these features over the last year.

Register now!

 1/20/2026 OwnerRez Demo

Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.

Register now!

 1/23/2026 OwnerRez Q&A

Join us for a live Q&A! Please write in questions prior to the webinar so we can start off by answering those right away.

Register now!

 1/27/2026 Focus Session - Rezzy AI Support

Join us for a live webinar on the brand new Rezzy Support features inside OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, we will demonstrate how Rezzy AI can help troubleshoot common issues, provide step-by-step instructions, and direct you to detailed support documentation, all designed to help you quickly find the answers you need.

Register now!

 1/29/2026 OwnerRez Demo

Join us for a live demo of OwnerRez! Our client engagement team will give a high-level demonstration of how OwnerRez looks across all of its menus and features.

Register now!

Meet Ryan Gulesserian, founder of San Pedro Square Apartments. With a background in finance, tech, and real estate, Ryan has built a successful management business that includes short-term and long-term rentals, as well as commercial properties across California. His approach centers on maintaining high occupancy and delivering a superior product to his guests, using OwnerRez to streamline his daily operations.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I began my career as a real estate sales agent specializing in the residential market, assisting both buyers and sellers in finding their ideal homes. Over time, as my clients grew their portfolios and began exploring investment opportunities, I recognized the potential to expand my own professional path. This led me to establish my own real estate brokerage, where I successfully transitioned from residential sales to working as a commercial real estate broker.

What is your background?

I obtained a BS in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Straight out of college, I took a job with a financial brokerage company, where I was a stock options broker, facilitating financial asset trades on financial exchanges. Serving corporate clients and executives of high-tech companies, I quickly realized the greatest opportunities were in their sector. Therefore, roughly three years into my career, I pivoted and began working in sales for a software solutions company that provided secure authentication and encryption technologies, an imperative requirement as businesses transitioned from traditional “brick and mortar” to online. Fast forward another ten years in that field, where I worked my way into business development during the “.com” era, and I was able to build my own opportunities outside of work by buying property myself. This paved the way for me to pursue my real estate sales license, as I became increasingly involved with real estate investment opportunities.

Were you always in VR or property management, or is this a later career?

This is my 3rd career. My career path was never stagnant in any one particular field. I always left myself open to new opportunities. Looking back, taking on career changes so many times naturally entails risk; however, with risk there is reward. The rewards in my case were impactful because they were directly tied to my clients' gains. This was a recipe for success.

Now that I own a property management company, I can continue to serve my clients while also working on my own real estate portfolio. I strive to maintain high occupancy while delivering a superior product to my guests and tenants. I am responsible for vacation rentals, apartment rentals (both furnished and unfurnished), and I manage commercial tenants in the retail and office space.

Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later?

OwnerRez allows me to work in a hybrid environment. I could work entirely remotely; however, I choose to get one-on-one time with staff and tenants as much as possible. With the tools of OwnerRez at my disposal, I am pleased to say that I have the option of being entirely mobile if I choose. My work often leaves me in a position where I must be extremely flexible. My portfolio of real estate locations spans from vacation rentals in Lake Tahoe to Sacramento to the Bay Area and as far south as San Diego, California.

If later, what drew you to that area?

Nothing really drew me to any particular area, other than looking at the financial profile of a specific real estate opportunity. If the investment opportunity looks right, so long as the property is within a short flight or drive, I will pursue it.

What do you love the most about the vacation rental business?

Being able to serve our guests to near-perfect satisfaction is what drives me. Naturally, we can not get a 100% success rate, but the goal is there nonetheless. The common theme of all my jobs has been to serve the customer to the best of my ability. The product changes, but the service remains the same.

I love how the vacation rental business has evolved. I’ve tried about 3-4 other versions of vacation rental and property management software, and have found that OwnerRez not only solves the most pain points but also continues to evolve with me, addressing future challenges proactively. The hospitality space is an ever-changing and dynamic environment that relies on good property management/vacation rental software solutions. While I currently use roughly 3-4 different software platforms to accomplish my day-to-day tasks, I am encouraged by the verticalization that is taking place, which allows me to have one “go-to” platform for the universal management of my business services.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez manages about half of my bookings, and I use the OwnerRez plug-in to integrate with my WordPress website. I also use the payment systems, calendar functionality, universal inbox, automatic reviews, 3rd-party integrations with partners, and more. 

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

The most important feature is OwnerRez acting as the heart of the booking process.

Ryan Gulesserian has built a strong and diversified business that consistently delivers excellent stays. We are excited to continue supporting his day-to-day operations, giving him more time to focus on growing his business.

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.)

What you need to know

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. 

What the new PayPal upgrade offers

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

• PayPal, Venmo, and Pay Later
• Credit and debit card payments processed right on your site
• Coming soon, Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Local payment methods used around the world
• Funds credit immediately into your PayPal business account while payments process
• Easy to add or upgrade in just a few steps

Peace of Mind

• PayPal helps you handle the risk of fraudulent purchases
• AI-powered fraud detection monitors all transactions
• PayPal Seller Protection on eligible transactions safeguards PayPal Checkout
• PayPal solutions help you meet global compliance standards
• Additional security offers insights with Fraud Protection on eligible transactions
• Optional Chargeback Protection to help reduce fraud-related cost

Ready to Connect?

Get started with PayPal by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with PayPal.

THANK YOU!

Absolutely! Pocket Casts picked it up automatically since our podcast RSS feed is public. Follow the link below:

https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/walk-n-talk-the-business-behind-vacation-rentals/70442380-abd0-013e-812f-0eb214331a07

We hope you enjoy listening in!

Kick off the new year with more payment options and better control. 💪 Keep reading to learn more about our powerful December updates that rounded out 2025, including our new PayPal integration for easier and expanded payment options, the new Payment and Security Deposit guest forms, and the ability to ban problematic guests from booking direct.

• New Features
  • PayPal
  • Payment and Security Deposit Guest Forms
  • Banned Guests
• Enhancements
  • Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync
  • Airbnb & Vrbo Automatic Five-Star Host Reviews
  • Security Deposits
  • Channel Rate Tester for Airbnb
  • Unified Inbox Filter Results
• Design Progress
• Tweaks
  • December 3rd Release with 1 Tweak
  • December 10th Release with 2 Tweaks
  • December 17th Release with 1 Tweak
• Bug Fixes
  • December 3rd Release with 10 Bug Fixes
  • December 10th Release with 16 Bug Fixes
  • December 17th Release with 14 Bug Fixes

New Features

PayPal

In case you missed our December 17th blog post about our New PayPal Integration with Venmo & Pay Later, we announced our new integration with PayPal, bringing several significant improvements, including support for Venmo, Pay Later, and a new streamlined guest checkout experience.

Learn more by reading our PayPal support article.

Payment and Security Deposit Guest Forms

Following the October 8th release of the OwnerRez Confirm & Pay Guest Form, OwnerRez continues to improve other guest forms further to bring them up to parity with our Confirm & Pay guest form. These upgraded guest forms are available automatically for users of OwnerRez's new PayPal connections and Stripe payment processing, making it easier for guests to make payments and schedule security deposits as part of our December 17th release.

The Payment guest form was upgraded.

Additionally, the Security Deposit guest form was also updated.

The only time guests would see the "old" version of these two forms is if your OwnerRez account is still using the legacy PayPal connection.

Banned Guests

Banning problematic guests prevents repeat damage, rule violations, and negative experiences while protecting your property, reputation, and future guests from disruptive or destructive behavior. While you cannot ban guests from booking your property on listing channels, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, or Vrbo, with our December 17th release, you can ban guests from booking on your website.

If a banned guest attempts to book on your website via the Booking/Inquiry widget, they will receive a customizable message explaining why they are unable to proceed. To ban a guest, go to the Contacts grid, pick the guest you want to ban, and then choose Notes from the left menu. Add your notes about the guest's stay and check the 'Ban this guest from booking' checkbox at the bottom, then save.

Once banned, the Banned badge will appear on the Guest Information.

The Banned badge also appears on the specific Booking Overview > Guest section.

Additionally, the Banned badge appears in the Tags column on the Contacts grid.

For more information, read our Banned Guests support article.

Enhancements

Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync

Following our September 10th addition of the property filter to the Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync, we decided to add a bit more. With our December 3rd release, we added a Listing Site filter to the Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync, allowing users to refine their Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync based on specific listing sites, such as Airbnb and Booking.com.

Additionally, OwnerRez now populates Payment Reference Numbers to payments synced to QuickBooks with our December 3rd release.

Is it time to add an accounting tool to your tech stack? Explore OwnerRez's Accounting integration options.

Airbnb & Vrbo Automatic Five-Star Host Reviews

Both Airbnb and Vrbo encourage reviews, but many guests don't do so. The primary motivator is when hosts write a review first, prompting Airbnb or Vrbo to send messages like "Read what the host said about you" or "See your rating," which effectively encourages guests to write their own reviews. With our December 10th release, OwnerRez enabled Airbnb Automatic Five-Star Host Reviews (sent five days after departure) for all by default (& Vrbo automatic reviews for new users) to help strengthen your overall listing reputation and performance. This feature automatically posts a professional, positive guest review on your behalf after checkout, something many hosts already use to increase response rates and review quality.

Why did we make this change? Hosts who use Auto-Reviews consistently experience improved listing performance, including the following.

📈 Improved standing with Airbnb’s performance metrics

Remember that you always remain in control and can adjust or turn off Airbnb or Vrbo Automatic Five-Star Host Reviews or customize the review templates at any time by navigating to Reviews > Host Reviews tab > Automatic 5-Star Reviews dropdown list, and select either Configure Settings or Turn OFF.

Security Deposits

Security deposits protect property owners from damages, theft, or rule violations, while incentivizing guests to treat the rental property responsibly and follow the house rules. As a follow-up to our November 12th Property Rules design update, OwnerRez has added a dedicated section in the Property > General Info area that allows users to directly edit security deposit rules by clicking on the pencil icon, rather than just editing them in the Payments section only.

Channel Rate Tester for Airbnb 

The Channel Rate Tester enables you to run quotes with channel integration logic and compare them to OwnerRez details, ensuring your channel configurations align with expectations and support your fees and discounts. However, determining what Airbnb guests are truly paying was challenging, even when comparing OwnerRez and Airbnb quotes side by side.

With our December 10th release, OwnerRez has improved the Channel Rate Tester, specifically for Airbnb, to display separate guest and host totals clearly. The new Channel Rate Tester display layout features pass-through taxes, host subtotal, Airbnb remitted taxes, and a separate Host Payout section, providing a more transparent and easier-to-understand financial breakdown.

Access the Channel Rate Tester by navigating to the upper right Tools menu > Channel Rate Tester. You can select Airbnb from the middle dropdown list.

Unified Inbox Filter Results

Filtering for messages in the OwnerRez Unified Inbox can be frustrating when your results seem incomplete, or you know a message exists but can't find it. OwnerRez added a "Try searching all messages" link when Unified Inbox displays empty filter results, allowing users to locate guest messages that may exist in other folders as part of our December 10th release.

Explore all of the messaging options accessible to OwnerRez users.

Design Progress

As OwnerRez continues to progress with in-app design updates, we have updated the design of the following areas to enhance styling, with a reduced use of green to help draw your attention to the content of the rows and columns.

Contacts:

Account Files:

Developer/API Settings:

More design updates and changes are on their way soon!

Tweaks

December 3rd Release with 1 Tweak

Improve Google Analytics Performance. OwnerRez encountered Google Analytics performance problems because many widgets attempted to load Google Analytics data simultaneously. We've improved our Google Analytics performance by now allowing widgets to load data only once per tracker intelligently and send it only to the widgets that requested it, greatly reducing network traffic and improving page load times.

December 10th Release with 2 Tweaks

Enhance Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync Design. OwnerRez updated the Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync page to ensure it aligns with other in-app areas.

Enhance Display of Related Information in Communication History Messages. OwnerRez has enhanced the display of linked related information in the in-app Communication History area to now include links for various items, such as payments, reviews, tasks, and more.

December 17th Release with 1 Tweak

Display Airbnb message removed indicator in the Unified Inbox. OwnerRez has added support for displaying when Airbnb messages have been removed in Unified Inbox by displaying an indicator with the text, "Message removed." Removed Airbnb messages, including their content and attachments, will no longer be accessible.

Bug Fixes

December 3rd Release with 10 Bug Fixes

Correct Property Rules > Batch Apply Cancel Button. The cancel button on the Property Rules Batch Apply page was incorrectly redirecting users to the Property page instead of returning them to the correct Property Rules page. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that the Property Rules > Batch Apply Cancel button redirects users to the Property Rules page.

Ensure Vrbo Discounts and Promotional Dates Handling is Accurate. Due to how our system handled seasons, some Vrbo Discounts and Promotional dates were calculated incorrectly, causing sync errors. We have fixed this bug by ensuring consistent date handling, so that seasons and promo dates are correctly aligned.

Fix Confirm & Pay Guest Form Custom Payment Whitespace and Payment Icon Display. Custom payment whitespace and payment icon formatting were incorrect on the Confirm & Pay guest forms. OwnerRez corrected these glitches so that Confirm & Pay guest forms display correct custom payment whitespace and appropriate payment icons throughout the guest payment flow.

Fix Non-active Account Message Errors. OwnerRez was receiving message errors when sending messages to non-active account participants. We have resolved this issue by now only sending messages to accounts that are actively linked.

Prevent Airbnb Channel Bridge from Importing Duplicate Guest Records. The Airbnb Channel Bridge was inadvertently extracting incorrect guest IDs, resulting in duplicate guest records. OwnerRez fixed this bug so that the Airbnb Channel Bridge now retrieves guest ID information from a more reliable location within Airbnb's data structure.

Prevent Saving Empty Guest Quick Edit Forms after Encountering Errors. Sometimes, when errors occurred after a pop-up Guest Quick Edit form (e.g., Bookings, Inquiries, and Quotes) was saved, the system inadvertently saved the form as an empty form. We corrected this glitch by having the system detect if the Guest Quick Edit form is incomplete and display a helpful error message instructing you to refresh and try again.

Prevent Sending "Unpublished" Notifications to Booking.com Users. After users made changes to their Booking.com (BDC) channel integration, OwnerRez users with active BDC channel integrations received incorrect notifications stating that their BDC channel integration had been unpublished. OwnerRez resolved this issue to prevent sending "unpublished" notifications after users make changes to their Booking.com (BDC) channel integration.

Rezzy AI Improvements (Private Beta)

• Prevent Sensitive Pre-booking Messaging Content. This edge case occurred when Rezzy AI mistakenly included incorrect sensitive information in responses to pre-booking messages. We fixed this bug to ensure that Rezzy AI excludes sensitive information in pre-booking message responses.
• Ensure Property Filters Function Correctly. Even when the "All Properties" filter was chosen, Rezzy AI continued to incorrectly exclude properties based on earlier property filter exclusions. OwnerRez corrected this glitch so that Rezzy AI property filters function correctly.

Suppress Discount Code Input Field on the Confirm & Pay Guest Form if No Discounts are Applicable. Even if no discount codes were applicable for a booking, the discount code fields were still displayed on the Confirm & Pay guest forms. We resolved this issue by now properly checking if there are valid discount codes based on booking conditions before displaying the discount code input field on the Confirm & Pay guest forms.

December 10th Release with 16 Bug Fixes

Correct Add Property Page Text to Show That the Address is Required. The text on the Add Property page did not clearly indicate that a property address is required. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to indicate that property addresses are required.

Correct Booking Guest Assignments. Occasionally, guest assignment bookings were not corrected when users edited guest information using the Booking > Overview > Guest > Edit Contact Info popup. We resolved this issue, and the Booking > Overview > Guest > Edit Contact Info data is now properly preserved during the guest assignment process.

Ensure Owner Statement Label Sizes are Consistent. Some Owner Statement label sizes were inconsistent, so OwnerRez corrected them.

Ensure Surcharge Settings are Correct on Confirm & Pay Guest Forms. Surcharges configured to appear below tax line items were not appearing as intended for non-taxable surcharges on the Confirm & Pay guest booking form. We resolved this issue to ensure configured surcharges are displayed correctly on the Confirm & Pay guest booking form.

Ensure PM Lock is Automatically Applied to fully Remitted Bookings. Even when there were no open security deposits and the booking was fully remitted, PM Locks were not automatically applied after owner statements were created. OwnerRez corrected this glitch so that PM Locks are applied correctly.

Fix Airbnb Deposits Incorrectly Marked as Resolved When Still Pending. Despite still having pending resolutions, some Airbnb deposits were sometimes incorrectly marked as resolved. We resolved this issue by improving how we track the resolution status of deposits, ensuring they properly show as "Needs Attention" when they require manual handling of resolutions.

Fix Booking Cancellation Issues that could Make Bookings Uneditable. This edge case occurred when a canceled booking became uneditable due to an expense issue, rendering it impossible to add charges to the booking. OwnerRez fixed this bug to ensure that canceled bookings are editable.

Fix Invalid Length of Stay Discount Issues. Some Length of Stay discounts with invalid configurations were sent to Vrbo, causing synchronization errors. We corrected this glitch so that Length of Stay discounts are configured correctly when sent to Vrbo.

Fix Quick Quote Hidden Single Property Selector. When attempting to create a booking with the Quick Quote tool, the property selector dropdown list was obscured. OwnerRez fixed this bug, so properties are now properly displayed in the Quick Quote tool property selector dropdown list.

Fix Vrbo Promotion Comparison Errors. Some Vrbo OneKey discount tiers could not be compared accurately, resulting in unnecessary syncs and errors. We resolved this issue, and the comparison logic now correctly compares all Vrbo OneKey tiers.

Fix Vrbo Promotions Surcharge ID Format. Due to inconsistent surcharge ID detection, some Vrbo promotions or discounts were not applied correctly. OwnerRez fixed this bug by using standardized surcharge ID detection separators and backward compatibility for existing promotions and discounts.

Prevent Guests From Booking Travel Insurance for Destinations Outside the US. Although travel insurance was unavailable for these property locations, when users attempted to add travel insurance for properties located in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau (independent nations, not US states), they instead encountered unhelpful error messages. We resolved this issue by preventing the ability to add Travel Insurance for properties located in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.

Prevent Single Select Dropdown Lists from Displaying Incorrect Placeholder Text. Website property search widget single select dropdown lists incorrectly displayed the text "Select" rather than the correct placeholder text, such as "Any Guest" or "Any Bedroom." OwnerRez fixed this bug to ensure that website property search widget single select dropdown lists display the correct placeholder text.

Rezzy AI Improvements (Private Beta):

• Correct Rezzy AI Draft Border Styling Issue. The borders around the draft Rezzy AI in the Unified Inbox were inconsistent. We fixed this bug so that the borders around the draft Rezzy AI in the Unified Inbox are consistent.
• Ensure Booking Lead Times are Correct in Messages. Rezzy AI failed to accurately account for same-day booking lead times in guest messaging, incorrectly informing guests that they could not book the property past check-in time, despite configured Booking Lead Times allowing same-day bookings until midnight. OwnerRez resolved this issue so that Rezzy AI accurately accounts for same-day booking lead times in guest messaging.
• Handle Guest Conversation and Task Management More Effectively.
  • Rezzy AI now avoids promising outcomes and instead uses investigative language.
  • She creates research tasks immediately without asking for permission and no longer echoes guests' claims of urgency.
  • Pre-arrival special requests are handled more accurately.
  • Regular hyphens are used instead of em dashes.

December 17th Release with 14 Bug Fixes

Correct Property > Rules > Payment Rules > Offline Payments Typo. The word "checks" was misspelled in the in-app Property > Rules > Payment Rules > Offline Payments section, so we corrected this typo.

Fix Calendar Ribbon View Property Selection. Even though a property had already been selected, the calendar ribbon view still incorrectly displayed "Select a property." OwnerRez fixed this bug to ensure that the calendar ribbon view property selector functions correctly.

Fix Oregon Vrbo Surcharges Ingested as Rent Line Items. Some Vrbo Oregon surcharges were inadvertently sent with a rental fee type, causing them to be ingested as rent line items instead of surcharges. We resolved this issue by correctly identifying these surcharges by their external ID.

Ensure Airbnb Transaction Sync Populates Both First and Last Guest Names. When no guest name was included, the Airbnb transaction sync would sometimes only populate the guests' last names. OwnerRez fixed this bug so that the Airbnb transaction sync correctly populates both first and last guest names from transaction data when available.

Ensure Auto Reviews Use Public Property Name. Rather than using the {PDISPNAME} public property name, Airbnb and Vrbo auto reviews were using the incorrect {PNAME} internal property name. We resolved this issue, and Airbnb and Vrbo auto reviews will use the correct {PDISPNAME} public property name.

Ensure Billing Announcements are Displayed to Team Users with Billing Access. Team access members who had access to billing-related announcements (e.g., unpaid balance, expired credit card, etc.) did not receive those announcements as configured. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that team access members with access to billing-related announcements receive them. 

Ensure Cancellation Policies are Properly Applied to Google Vacation Rentals Bookings. Configured property cancellation policies weren't applied correctly to Google Vacation Rentals bookings, causing issues when calculating refunds during cancellations. We fixed this bug, and configured property cancellation policies are now applied correctly to Google Vacation Rentals bookings.

Ensure Quote creation Updates Associated Block Dates. When creating a quote from an existing block, the system failed to update the associated block's dates. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that creating a quote from an existing block updates the associated block's dates.

Fix Booking -> Messages > History Dropdown List Styling. The in-app Booking -> Messages > History dropdown list styling was incorrect. We resolved this issue so that the styling is consistent with other in-app dropdown lists.

Fix Incorrect Unsubmitted Host Review Counts. Host review counts incorrectly included expired and unsubmitted Expedia integrated booking reviews that could never be completed. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that expired and unsubmitted Expedia integrated booking reviews are excluded from host review counts.

Fix Vrbo Channel Bridge Tax Import. Imported Vrbo Channel Bridge tax amounts were not always imported or processed correctly for guest booking amounts. We fixed this bug so that imported Vrbo Channel Bridge tax amounts are correctly processed in guest amounts, allowing for proper handling of different tax collection scenarios.

Prevent Unified Inbox Draft Message Errors. Occasionally, Unified Inbox drafts encountered errors, causing the spinner to spin endlessly when sending draft messages. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure Unified Inbox drafts are sent correctly.

Prevent Channel Unlinking for Channel Hold Blocks Associated with Channel Quotes. A channel quote becomes uneditable when the channel connected to it is unlinked from an existing channel quote. We fixed this bug to hide the channel unlink button on channel quote holds, preventing users from attempting to unlink the channel integration in these situations.

Resolve Vrbo Property Import Failures. Some Vrbo property imports encountered failures. OwnerRez resolved this issue to make Vrbo property imports more reliable by improving error handling and enhancing the detection of complete property information.

This week’s roundup highlights Airbnb’s one-million-dollar investment ahead of the 2026 World Cup, new pool safety rules advancing in Florida, a North Carolina town saying no to short-term rental rules, and an important Arizona court decision defining the scope of local STR regulation. Let’s dive in.

Airbnb announced this week that it will be investing more than one million dollars into Houston, a 2026 World Cup host city, marking the company’s largest community commitment there to date. The funding will support the creation of a new Green Corridor, expanding walkable and sustainable infrastructure through central Houston. The investment also includes support for the Grow the Game initiative, which focuses on improving field access, equipment, and soccer opportunities for youth across the city. A Deloitte report tied to the announcement projects that more than 31,000 guests will stay in Houston using Airbnb during the World Cup, with their spending expected to generate roughly 372 million dollars in regional GDP. Local hosts are also projected to earn around 3,000 dollars in extra income during the event.

In response to more than 100 child drownings in the state so far in 2025, Florida is moving forward with three proposed Senate bills aimed at strengthening pool safety. Senate Bill 608, which focuses on vacation rentals, would require any vacation rental property with a pool to install an approved safety feature if the bill passes. The measure is written to take effect next July and would give the Department of Business and Professional Regulation the authority to suspend or revoke a license if a property is found to be out of compliance.

The planning board in Waynesville, North Carolina, voted this week to end its years-long discussion about potential short-term rental regulations, choosing not to move forward with any new rules. Several board members stated that additional oversight wasn’t necessary, noting that existing ordinances already address issues such as parking and public safety. Board member Dr John Mason said the proposal “smacks of over-reach in so many different ways” and added that the town should “abandon the effort and leave it alone,” underscoring the board’s unanimous decision not to pursue new regulations at this time.

The Arizona Court of Appeals voted unanimously this week to overturn Sedona’s decision to prohibit a mobile home park from renting out its units as short-term rentals. The ruling found that individual mobile homes qualify as "residential rental property" under state law and are therefore allowed to operate as vacation rentals. The court also noted that Sedona’s ban conflicted with Arizona’s statewide short-term rental statute, passed in 2016, which limits the extent to which local governments can restrict short-term rental activity. The decision clears the way for the park to operate short-term rentals and sets a strong precedent for how local governments can regulate short-term rentals across the state.

As new policies arise and communities continue to debate short-term rental regulations, expect continued movement across the vacation rental industry. Check back next week for the latest news.

We're excited to release the fourth episode of our new podcast, Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals.

Hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, co-founders of OwnerRez, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the real stories behind OwnerRez. Through candid walk-and-talk conversations, they share what it actually takes to build and operate a company in the vacation rental industry, including the decisions, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.

Whether you are a long-time vacation rental operator or just getting started, this show offers practical insight and honest perspective, one walk at a time.

🎙️ Episode 4 Now Live

EP4 – AI, Automation, and Continuous Improvement

In Episode Four, Paul and Chris dive into the topic of AI, automation, and why doing meaningful work with AI requires discipline and continuous improvement. They discuss how AI is often a marketing buzzword, but when applied effectively, can become a true force multiplier. The conversation explores the moment AI crossed from novelty to a powerful tool, why OwnerRez is uniquely positioned to build industry-leading AI tools like Rezzy, and how deep data access and execution make all the difference. They also speak candidly about the risks of copy-and-paste AI, the importance of preserving the human voice, and how AI is shaping the vacation rental industry as a whole.

You’ll hear about:

• Why AI is easy for simple tasks but hard for truly powerful ones
• How deep data access and tooling make AI agents effective
• Why stapled-on AI features fall short
• How Rezzy is changing the vacation rental space
• Using sentiment analysis to understand guest experience beyond reviews
• How AI changes jobs by amplifying people, not replacing them

It is a wide-ranging, honest discussion about where AI is headed, how it is already reshaping the vacation rental industry, and why the companies willing to rethink systems from the ground up, rather than chase trends, will be the ones that win.

 

Listen Now

Watch Now

Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

New episodes are already in the works, and we can’t wait for you to join us on the walk.

Interesting podcast guys, thanks for the insights! I got a little PTSD from the "hardest day" discussion, having been there myself in the past. But I think anyone doing big things should expect to have a day like that on occasion, unless you're just very, very lucky.

We’re excited to share the second episode of our new podcast, Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals. This show pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build, scale, and run a successful company in the vacation rental industry.

Hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, co-founders of OwnerRez, the podcast is inspired by a ritual the two have followed for years: weekly walks where they talk candidly about the business, debate ideas, unpack problems, and push each other toward clearer thinking.

Why We Created Walk ’n Talk

Behind every feature release, integration, or product decision at OwnerRez, there’s a story, sometimes messy, sometimes funny, sometimes stressful, but always rooted in the reality of building software for thousands of property managers. This podcast captures those stories. Whether you’re a host, manager, entrepreneur, or just curious how vacation-rental software gets made, this show gives you real conversations, real experience, and real insight one walk at a time.

🎙️ Episode 2 Now Live

EP2 - The Hardest Day, the Best Day & Avoiding Burnout as Founders

In Episode Two, Paul and Chris revisit some of the hardest and best days in OwnerRez history, from a server issue that nearly wiped out thousands of booking records to the day they both began working full-time on OwnerRez. They also talk openly about how they have handled burnout, family life, and share some of the hobbies that have helped them stay grounded over the years.

You’ll hear about:

• The software update that nearly wiped out thousands of booking records
• The emotional and operational impact of the outage
• The moment they realized OwnerRez was here to stay
• How transparency has guided OwnerRez through the years
• What burnout really looks like for founders and why it is not just about long hours
• How Paul and Chris balance work, family, routines, and hobbies through different seasons

It’s an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about fragility, resilience, and the genuine investment it takes to build something that thousands of people rely on every day.

Listen Now

Watch Now

Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

New episodes are already in the works, and we can’t wait for you to join us on the walk.

Add-ons are very useful, thank you. 

We really, really need/want a way of specifying a quantity, e.g. so that guests can choose how many bags of firewood they would like.

I have seen the comment saying that this is on the roadmap but I wondered if there's an ETA for it/whether or could be prioritized?

Many thanks.

After settling in Florida, Cecilia Ghilardotti turned her love for the coast and her diverse professional background into Maven Vacation Rentals. Starting with a single duplex and growing through word of mouth, she has built a small, curated portfolio focused on care and consistency.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I was born and raised in Argentina and came to the United States at 21 on a Rotary International scholarship to study at Brenau University in Georgia. After the scholarship year ended, I stayed on my own and worked my way through school until I completed my degree in Business Administration with a minor in Music, Opera Performance. Before settling in Florida, I lived in Argentina, Germany, Canada, and different parts of the U.S. Music was also a meaningful part of my early years. I trained in classical singing alongside my academic studies, but my professional career ultimately took a different direction.

What is your background?

Before entering vacation rentals, I spent about ten years in IT and software development as a business analyst. My work focused on understanding user needs, analyzing systems, simplifying workflows, and helping teams make their processes more effective. I worked with companies such as Intel, Alcatel-Lucent, Catalina Marketing, Aaron’s, and BlueGreen Vacations.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management, or is this a 2nd/3rd career?

Vacation rentals are my second career. My entry into the industry began after I purchased a duplex and decided to experiment with renting one of the units short-term while living in the other. I finally had the time to explore it. The response from guests was strong, and that early experience naturally grew into a small management business. The growth happened entirely through word of mouth. I’ve kept the portfolio intentionally small because I value the level of care and consistency that a boutique operation allows. For me, quality and attention matter more than scaling quickly.

Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later? If later, what drew you to that area?

No, I’m originally from Argentina. After living in the U.S. and abroad, I eventually chose to settle in Florida. I’ve always been drawn to the ocean in a way that feels less like a preference and more like something essential. The beach is where I reset, find calm, and feel most myself. The climate, the light, and the coastal atmosphere were a natural fit for me, and they continue to inspire the kind of environment I enjoy creating for guests.

What do you love the most about the vacation rental business?

There are two sides to the work that I enjoy equally. One is the creative side. I love shaping spaces that make people feel something, through design, comfort, service, and small touches that elevate the stay. It reminds me in some ways of performing: you craft an experience from start to finish, and the environment becomes a form of expression. Some of my best childhood memories are from family trips to beautiful resorts in Brazil, and that sense of magic and immersion stayed with me. Being able to recreate even a small piece of that for my guests is incredibly fulfilling.

The other side is the strategy. I like understanding how a short-term rental functions as an investment, pricing, patterns, opportunity, seasonality, guest behavior, and risk. There’s a quiet puzzle to it, almost like playing a chess game every day: adjusting the pieces, noticing patterns, and finding ways to optimize performance without compromising safety or guest experience. When those two elements, artistry and strategy, intersect, that’s where the business becomes truly enjoyable for me.

What do you dislike the most about it?

The most challenging aspect is that vacation rentals are still a relatively new industry, and the regulatory structure hasn’t fully matured. Hotels operate with clear and standardized safety requirements, while short-term rentals fall under rules that vary widely from one city to another. Because of that, managers often have to establish their own internal standards for safety, consistency, and risk prevention, things like fire preparedness, pool safety measures, and protocols that protect both the home and the people in it. A clearer, more unified framework would make things safer and more streamlined for everyone involved.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez is the central system I use for organizing my operations. I rely on it for reservation management, messaging workflows, owner statements, expense tracking, reporting, accounting, OTA integrations, and guest communication.

A feature I appreciate is the level of visibility it provides to owners. They can see activity, performance, statements, and revenue details directly in the system, which creates transparency without having to manage separate tools.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

The feature that stands out most to me is the reporting capability. It’s highly customizable and provides a wide range of data points that can be combined in different ways. The flexibility makes it easier to interpret patterns, evaluate performance from multiple angles, and make strategic decisions based on what the numbers reveal. I also value the customization of messaging templates and automations, which help maintain consistency in guest communication while still allowing for personal touches where needed.

With a focus on care, consistency, and thoughtful hospitality, Cecilia has built Maven Vacation Rentals into a standout boutique vacation rental business along Florida’s coast. We look forward to continuing to support her business and finding new ways to help her deliver consistent stays with a personal touch.

This week’s roundup covers AirDNA’s report on strong short-term rental demand leading up to the 2026 World Cup, rising wellness trends shaping Gen Z travel, New York City’s discussions on short-term rental policies, new insights into guest expectations, and a proposed insurance rate hike in Western North Carolina. Let’s dive in.

Several news outlets reported this week on new AirDNA data indicating that demand for short-term rentals for the 2026 World Cup is already surging. Demand in host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico is already outpacing what is typical for major events, with markets such as Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Mexico City, and Guadalajara showing some of the strongest year-over-year increases. The data indicates that fans are booking vacation rentals early to secure lodging and to get ahead of rising prices as availability tightens. This early momentum points to a potentially record-breaking summer for short-term rentals in World Cup host regions.

Awaze, a UK-based vacation rental company that manages over 100,000 properties across 20 countries, released new data this week showing a sharp rise in wellness-focused travel among Gen Z travelers. Matthew Price, CEO at Awaze, said that travelers are increasingly prioritizing well-being and relaxation, and that amenities like hot tubs and saunas are shifting from optional extras to features that consistently drive higher occupancy and stronger year-round returns. According to the report, physical and mental well-being is now Gen Z’s top discretionary spending priority, and 52 percent of those polled had taken a wellness-focused UK break in the past three years. Hot tubs have been a major factor in this demand, representing 55 percent of Awaze bookings and helping properties achieve 51 percent higher weekly rates and 45 percent higher occupancy compared to listings without hot tubs. For vacation rental operators, the trend signals a growing opportunity to market wellness-focused features as a way to increase bookings and revenue, especially among younger travelers.

New York City officials are reportedly considering a small, but meaningful change to Local Law 18, the short-term rental ban established in 2022. The proposal, if passed, would make three key adjustments. It would allow New York residents to offer their homes as short-term rentals while they are out of town, increase the current guest limit from two to four, and permit interior door locks to give both hosts and visitors added privacy. Supporters argue that the update would provide a welcome opportunity for residents to earn extra money and reduce lodging costs for visitors, all without affecting the long-term housing supply. At the same time, opponents continue to advocate for tight oversight. If approved, it would mark the first significant reconsideration of the city’s monumental restrictions since the law took effect.

VegOut Magazine published an article this week titled “I’ve stayed in Airbnbs across 25 countries – here are 5 red flags I now spot in listings instantly,” offering a seasoned traveler’s take on what can cause guests to scroll past a property. The article calls out issues like overly cropped or dimly lit photos, missing information about amenities, vague or restrictive house rules, and listings with no reviews or unclear location details. The author notes, “If a listing leaves me guessing, I take it as a sign to move on.” For vacation rental operators, the article underscores how important clarity and transparency are in securing bookings. Professional photos, detailed amenity lists, clear rules, and honest descriptions can help build trust and make a listing stand out to travelers who are trying to decide between several options.

Following last year’s devastating Hurricane Helene, North Carolina is considering a proposed 68 percent increase in dwelling insurance premiums for parts of Western North Carolina. Local officials and property owners say the hike could place significant financial pressure on vacation rental operators and may discourage investment in short-term rental properties. Some worry the higher costs could ripple into the region’s tourism economy, which relies heavily on rentals and seasonal visitors. The proposal is still under review and has sparked calls for more public input before any changes move forward.

As we look ahead to 2026, expect continued shifts in demand, traveler preferences, and regulation across the vacation rental industry. Check back next week for the latest updates.

We are excited to introduce our latest channel integration with Lake.com, the leading platform for near-the-water vacation rentals, giving OwnerRez users a seamless way to sync their listings, calendars, and reservations. This new integration provides OwnerRez users access to a highly targeted audience of travelers looking for lakehouses, cabins, cottages, and beach homes.

About Lake.com

Lake.com is the vacation rental platform offering 40,000 properties near the water across North America and Europe, where families experience the great outdoors. Using advanced tools and features, Lake is building the next-generation platform for outdoor travel.

Pricing

Lake.com operates on a pay-per-booking model, also known as a model of shared success. Hosts are charged a 10% commission fee on bookings they receive on Lake.com, with payment for the booking released via Stripe after the first night's stay. View more information about their payments here.

Ready to Connect?

Get started with Lake.com by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Lake.com.

Just launched our new guest guide and companion tablet for our first guests of the holidays. Beautiful! BetterSTR support was amazing, the tools user friendly. Can't wait to hear guest reviews. 

We are thrilled to share our newest integration with RevMax, expanding access to data-powered revenue optimization. With this connection, OwnerRez users can now activate RevMax’s pricing intelligence, performance analytics, and automated optimization engine directly within their existing workflows.

About RevMax

RevMax is a revenue optimization platform built specifically for vacation rental property managers. Powered by data science and industry expertise, RevMax delivers dynamic pricing, performance analytics, and automated revenue strategies that help managers improve occupancy, ADR, and total revenue with less manual work. RevMax is part of Inhabit’s short term rental portfolio, supporting property managers across a wide range of PMS environments. To learn more, visit here.

What This Integration Delivers

With the new connection in place, OwnerRez users can benefit from:

• Realtime pricing intelligence powered by RevMax
• Automated revenue adjustments based on demand and pacing
• Integrated reporting for clearer visibility across channels
• One unified workflow inside their OwnerRez account

Pricing

For a limited time, new RevMax users, including those operating on OwnerRez, are eligible for savings up to 60% on select RevMax plans. View additional pricing info here.

Ready to Connect?

Get started with RevMax by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with RevMax.

Thank you for adding the scheduled triggers feature. However it only allows scheduled for a specific amount of days and time of day. I think it would very useful to have the schedule based on minutes, hours in relation to the event trigger. For instance if I want to send an email to a property manager 5 minutes after a booking is created. Thank you!

Thanks, Randy! You may want to add your vote to this Trigger Action - Be able to set the occurring time to 30 minutes Feature Request, which appears to be on our roadmap as planned, or consider adding your own Feature Request. 

Thank you for adding the scheduled triggers feature. However it only allows scheduled for a specific amount of days and time of day. I think it would very useful to have the schedule based on minutes, hours in relation to the event trigger. For instance if I want to send an email to a property manager 5 minutes after a booking is created. Thank you!

With the updated confirm and Pay, something broke in the quotes 'change charges' area.  When I 'add charge' it no longer allows me to selected one of my predefined surcharges.  It only populates blank 'description' and 'rate' fields and doesn't allow an 'item' field at all.  Everything must be typed in manually.  Can you please fix this ASAP?  I can't send quotes with this broken and we send quotes daily!  Thanks!

Bradley, thanks for reporting this. Please submit this issue to the OwnerRez Helpdesk so they can review it. 

With the updated confirm and Pay, something broke in the quotes 'change charges' area.  When I 'add charge' it no longer allows me to selected one of my predefined surcharges.  It only populates blank 'description' and 'rate' fields and doesn't allow an 'item' field at all.  Everything must be typed in manually.  Can you please fix this ASAP?  I can't send quotes with this broken and we send quotes daily!  Thanks!

Meet the father and daughter duo behind AZ Vacation Home Concepts. Curtis and Allyson have combined their strengths in marketing and construction to build a purposeful portfolio that delivers exceptional stays across Phoenix, Arizona.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

My dad took over this business several years ago after working with a business partner on growing a vacation rental business in Phoenix, AZ. His target home could sleep the grandparents, their 4 kids, and the 10 grandkids, all under one roof with an elevated kitchen experience and resort-style pool. As time went on, we started expanding into more general homes (3 bed, 2 bath, some without a pool) and focused more on longer-term stays, displaced families, or “experience” based reservations. We are a father-daughter duo with a history of hospitality that were kind of made for this business.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management, or is this a 2nd/3rd career?

My dad, Curtis, is a General Contractor and Realtor/Property Manager. I was a freight broker and then a salesperson for a marketing agency. I am now a full-time Realtor/Property Manager. 

Are you from the geographical area where your properties are located, or did you move there later?

Yes, we are from the Phoenix area.

What do you love the most about the vacation rental business?

I love giving families a place to stay where they can build their own vacation, instead of being limited to the amenities of a resort with the constant awareness that you are sharing spaces with others.

What do you dislike the most about it?

I don’t love the 9 p.m. calls asking me how to turn the kitchen lights on. We have curated a property manual for each home in hopes of decreasing the frequency of these calls.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez hosts all of our reservations, properties, and connects to Airbnb/Google Rentals/Etc. We send Legal Agreements and house relevant documents to each reservation. We also send invoices and allow guests to pay through OwnerRez. The reporting gives me most of the info that I need.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

The ability to talk to guests on any platform through OwnerRez.

Curtis and Allyson have done an excellent job of building a vacation rental business that delivers exceptional, guest-focused stays across Phoenix, Arizona. We look forward to continuing to support their operations as they find new ways to innovate and grow in the vacation rental space.

Agreed Alece. Glad that your Feature Request has garnered some votes! 👍

@Anne -- Aside from me changing my internal lock names to what I would prefer they be listed as in the guest messaging, there's unfortunately no workarounds until this feature is added.