Latest Activity...
As we wrap up another big year, we’re excited to share a snapshot of what 2025 looked like at OwnerRez.
From conferences around the world and major engineering milestones to millions of Rezzy interactions and countless hours spent supporting our customers, 2025 was a year defined by growth, momentum, and impact. This infographic highlights just some of the numbers behind the work our team put in and the scale at which OwnerRez continues to operate.
None of this happens without the people behind it, our customers, partners, and the OwnerRez team who build, support, and improve the platform every day.
In 2026, we’re carrying this momentum forward with a continued focus on powerful product improvements, smarter automation, deeper integrations, and even better support. We’re grateful to everyone who was part of our journey in 2025, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
Here’s to another year of building better tools for professional vacation rental management.
10% plus the Stripe fee. I have beach properties, not sure I see my target market going to Lake.com
This week's roundup covers Key Data’s Q1 2026 short-term rental market report, Lake.com’s new integration with OwnerRez, ongoing tax debates in San Diego and Washington state, and new data on Airbnb’s economic impact in Kentucky. Let’s dive in.
Key Data released its Q1 2026 industry performance analysis for property managers, highlighting continued shifts across the U.S. short-term rental market. The report shows that RevPAR and average daily rate (ADR) trends remain on a positive trajectory, even as booking windows and average length of stay continue to tighten. Looking ahead, Key Data says success will depend on “flexibility and execution,” noting that operators who closely monitor booking trends, optimize last-minute pricing, and maintain strong visibility across the high-performing channels will be best positioned to succeed in 2026.
HospitalityNet released an article this week announcing OwnerRez’s recent partnership with Lake.com, a vacation rental booking platform offering more than 40,000 properties near the water across North America and Europe. The partnership gives OwnerRez users seamless access to Lake.com’s highly targeted audience of travelers searching for lakehouses, cabins, cottages, and beach homes. OwnerRez users can get started with Lake.com by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Lake.com.
The proposed San Diego short-term rental tax, previously reported in Industry News on October 10th, is making headlines again this week. The current proposal would impose an annual tax of $5,000 per bedroom on short-term rentals and vacation homes, with revenue directed toward affordable housing and homelessness programs in the city. Supporters say the measure would help address housing affordability, while opponents argue the tax would unfairly target hosts and could have significant impacts on the local vacation rental industry. In response, Airbnb issued a statement saying, “Airbnb supports meaningful solutions that help generate new local revenue, but a hefty tax that significantly raises costs for residents who occasionally share their home to make extra money is not the right approach,” and urged the city to work collaboratively on solutions to improve affordability.
It was announced this week that Washington state lawmakers are once again revisiting a proposal that would allow cities and counties to impose new taxes on short-term rentals. House Bill 2559 would give local governments the authority, starting in April 2027, to add a tax of up to 4 percent on short-term rentals, with the revenue directed toward affordable housing efforts. Over the past year, Airbnb has spent nearly $4 million backing a political action committee opposing the proposal in Washington, including a $1 million contribution made in late November. As of now, the committee reviewing the bill has not scheduled a vote to move the legislation forward.
According to a new economic impact report from Airbnb, Airbnb hosts welcomed more than one million guests to Kentucky in 2024, supporting an estimated 8,700 tourism-related jobs and generating roughly $354 million in income for local workers. Airbnb says guest activity also contributed approximately $146.5 million in state and local tax revenue tied to stays and off-platform spending. The report goes on to break down host demographics and highlights the role short-term rentals have played in smaller, bourbon industry-driven communities where traditional hotels are limited or nonexistent.
As early 2026 data emerges, and local governments continue to revisit short-term rental regulations, the vacation rental industry continues to evolve. Check back next week for the latest news.
A great idea. But 10% her Booking seems very high
We’re officially a month into the new year, which makes February a great time to pause, take a step back, and make sure you have everything in place to support your goals for 2026. ❄️
This month’s webinar schedule includes live demos, Q&A sessions, and Focus Sessions covering the PM module. You’ll hear from industry partners such as Happy Guest, Boostly, and American Snowbird, who will share practical strategies to help improve your business in 2026. We’re also hosting a special webinar focused on Rezzy AI, where we’ll cover how it works, how to train it, and how it fits into your workflow.
Plus, OwnerRez will be attending two in-person events this February. We’ll be at the MOVHA Hosting Crash Course in Kansas City on February 6th and 7th, and later in Phoenix on February 26th for the VRNation Roadshow. Stop by the OwnerRez booth to meet the team, ask questions, and grab some swag!
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.
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.
If your revenue strategy feels like déjà vu, it’s time to break the loop. This session covers five practical revenue management strategies to deploy this year, built for shorter booking windows, erratic pacing, and less predictable demand. Walk away with clear adjustments you can make now to stop relying on last year’s playbook and start pricing for how the market actually behaves today.
In this live webinar, we’ll walk through how Rezzy AI works, how to train it with FAQs and Directives, how Tasks and Sentiment Analysis fit into your workflow, real world examples from live accounts, what’s coming later, plus a live Q&A to help answer any questions you have.
Discover how to boost your direct bookings in this live OwnerRez webinar with Mark Simpson, Founder of Boostly. During the webinar, OwnerRez attendees will have the opportunity to submit their OTA listings live, and Mark will audit a selection in real time. He will highlight quick, practical improvements you can make to strengthen your listing and increase direct bookings.
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.
Join us for a live webinar focused on the PM (Property Management) module inside OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, we’ll walk through how to configure owners for properties, as well as how to set up surcharges, discounts, and taxes. We’ll also highlight batch update tools to help you apply these settings efficiently across multiple properties.
In this live webinar, we’ll walk through a practical four-part strategy to make monthly bookings a real engine in 2026, not just a backup plan. We’ll cover flexible, tiered pricing for 30+ night stays, useful lessons from the top long-stay markets, and the listing updates that actually sell “daily living” to month-long guests, think workspace, laundry, and crystal-clear policies.
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.
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.
Join us for a live webinar on Owner Statements and Custom Statement Views in the PM (Property Management) module of OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, we’ll walk through how to generate owner statements and how to customize statement views so the right information is presented clearly and consistently.
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.
The MOVHA Hosting Crash Course is education-focused on building a solid foundation for hosting guests. Sessions will center on safety, Good Neighbor policies, guest experience and communications, the art of cleaning, and all the practical applications. Register here!
When: February 6-7, 2026
Where: Kansas City, MO
Join us for a one-day event designed to elevate your vacation rental business with market-specific insights, hands-on education, and meaningful connections. You’ll network with 100+ local industry professionals, hear directly from VRNation’s Executive Board on emerging trends, stay ahead of local STR regulations, and explore the benefits of VRNation membership. The agenda features interactive roundtables and peer-led discussions, a specialized education and certification track including safety training with Justin Ford and a cleaning certification with Durk Johnson, and a Local Market Pulse track covering market data and performance sponsored by BEYOND, along with advocacy updates focused on local short-term rental regulations. Register here!
When: February 26, 2026
Where: Phoenix, Arizona
This week’s roundup covers Airbnb.org’s new disaster response partnership, Hilton’s latest apartment-style brand aimed at vacation rentals, social media-driven travel trends, Airbnb’s continued push into AI, and a major milestone for Lake.com. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb.org announced a new disaster response partnership this week with 211 LA, a nonprofit that serves as Los Angeles County’s 24/7 non-emergency information and referral service provider. The partnership is aimed at helping connect people displaced by disasters with free, temporary housing through Airbnb.org, while relying on 211 LA’s local call center and coordination support. The agreement builds on a year of collaboration that provided housing to nearly 24,000 people affected by the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, and includes a $100,000 credit commitment from Airbnb.org to help 211 LA place guests in emergency housing throughout 2026.
Hilton announced the launch of Apartment Collection by Hilton, a new brand designed to compete more directly with short-term and mid-term rentals while attempting to bring a standardized, hotel-style experience. The collection will include roughly 10,000 apartment-style units, with up to 3,000 new units added through a partnership with Placemakr, and reservations expected to open in the coming months. Hilton says the collection will feature furnished apartments paired with hotel services, including dedicated on-site team members available 24/7. The move marks the latest attempt by a major hotel brand to professionalize short-term rentals at scale and appeal to travelers seeking the flexibility of an apartment with the consistency and support of a traditional hotel.
Airbnb released its list of the most loved Airbnbs on social media in 2025, highlighting Guest Favorite listings that generated the most likes, comments, shares, and impressions across TikTok and Instagram. Airbnb says social media continues to play a growing role in how guests discover places to stay, especially among Gen Z travelers. Common themes among the most engaging listings include nature-focused properties and distinctive spaces that allow guests to disconnect and feel inspired. The highlighted stays range from a riverfront cabin in Washington to a converted DC-6 airplane in Alaska to a tropical treehouse in Hawaii, pointing to how experience-driven properties are increasingly shaping traveler interest and booking behavior on social media.
As part of its continued push into artificial intelligence, Airbnb has announced the addition of Ahmad Al-Dahle as its new Chief Technology Officer. Al-Dahle previously led generative AI efforts at Meta and will oversee Airbnb’s technology and AI strategy as the company continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence. Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said Al-Dahle “connects big ideas with technical depth” and emphasized that the hire reflects Airbnb’s belief that AI will play a central role in shaping how guests discover stays and how hosts operate on the platform in the near future.
Lake.com announced this week that it has surpassed 40,000 vacation rental listings across 36 countries, marking a major milestone for the listing site focused on lakefront, riverfront, and waterfront stays. The company says demand for water-based travel remains strong across North America and Europe, as travelers increasingly seek quieter, nature-focused destinations. For vacation rental operators, Lake.com continues to show strong growth and provides property managers access to a highly targeted audience of travelers looking for lakehouses, cabins, cottages, and beach homes. And for OwnerRez users, stay tuned for a Lake.com channel integration coming soon.
As new listing platforms gain traction and new brands emerge, the vacation rental landscape continues to evolve. Check back next week for the latest news.
Hi Katie.
It seems it's already a popular feature request (63 upvotes and counting) so I don't think me opening a new one is going to be helpful.
Sad to see that the fairly popular feature request has been open for 5 years without any dev attention yet.
https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests/optional-addon-items
Hello!
Although we don't have a way for the guests to specify a quantity for an optional surcharge (such as the number of bags of firewood they'd like), you should write this up as a feature request so other clients can upvote your ideas for new and improved features in OwnerRez: https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests
Feel free to share your request with like-minded users who would be willing to give it an upvote! Voting in the forum allows our Engineering and Product teams to evaluate where our sights should be set for future roadmap enhancements.
Episode five of Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is live!
Hosted by OwnerRez co-founders Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, the podcast was inspired by their weekly walks and candid conversations about the business. Those talks have shaped key product decisions and strategy shifts at OwnerRez over the years, and now you’re invited to listen in. Whether you’re a host, manager, or simply curious how vacation rental software is built, the podcast delivers practical insights you can apply to your own business journey.
In Episode Five, Paul and Chris reflect on the 2025 OwnerRez company retreat at Tanque Verde Ranch and the deeper conversations it sparked about growth, culture, and what it means to truly level up. They discuss how a fully remote team builds a shared voice, why maturity requires intentional systems, and how AI is reshaping not just how we work, but the pride we take in our work, creativity, and what it means to be authentically human.
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.
Is there a way to Ban certain guests in bulk, based on criteria - for example, guests that hosts have given a 1-star review to, or guests that have given hosts 1-star reviews? Or alternatively, is there a way to automatically ban future guests based on similar conditions (vs manually having to go back through past reservations and individually banning guests)?
Not at this time, Alma. Feel free to add your request to the OwnerRez Feature Request forum.
Is there a way to Ban certain guests in bulk, based on criteria - for example, guests that hosts have given a 1-star review to, or guests that have given hosts 1-star reviews? Or alternatively, is there a way to automatically ban future guests based on similar conditions (vs manually having to go back through past reservations and individually banning guests)?
I currently allow guests to pay via Paypal friends and family so there are no fees involved. I assume with this new change that I have to upgrade to a business account - which I don't want to do. Can I keep my account configured the same way and make no changes?
New year, new OwnerRez features - including the wide releases of Rezzy AI, Tasks, and PMv2; also, the addition of Rate Change History, the Template & Trigger Library, two new Nightly Rent Field Codes, and so much more!
In case you missed our January 16th 'Rezzy AI - Available to Everyone on January 28th!' email blast, Rezzy AI is now available to everyone. You may have already heard a little about Rezzy, our new intelligent assistant for guest messaging, task automation, and sentiment analysis. As of the 28th, she's available throughout the entire month of February for free to everyone!
(That’s right, Rezzy is a she :-))
We want to express our sincere thanks to the 1,000+ OwnerRez users who participated in the beta program. Your feedback, real-world testing, and suggestions have been instrumental in shaping Rezzy into what she is today. 
Here are the key dates:
📅 On Wednesday, January 28, Rezzy became available to all OwnerRez accounts!
📅 On Friday, February 6, we are hosting a live demo webinar (Hear from Paul Waldschmidt, Co-Founder and CEO of OwnerRez)
📅 Starting March 1st, billing will be $9/property per month and charged on your regular monthly billing day.
That’s right, Rezzy will be completely free for the entire month of February (and into March depending on your billing day)! That makes it easy to turn on and use for the month of February to see how it works and become comfortable with her.
Using a task management tool for your vacation rental business helps prevent forgotten requests, assign accountability, track maintenance, and ensure a consistent guest experience across multiple properties. With our January 28th release, OwnerRez has added our own in-app Tasks area that centralizes your to-dos, guest requests, and maintenance needs in one place. Assign tasks to team members and set urgent priorities when needed to ensure nothing is forgotten, keeping your rental operations organized and accountable.
NOTE: Rezzy supercharges the tasks area by auto-creating tasks based on guest needs and requests, but if you don't use Rezzy, you can still use the new Tasks area for manual task management.
The main menu includes the Tasks item, which displays the number of unresolved tasks, so you can stay on top of them.
Create a new task by selecting Tasks from the left navigation menu and clicking + New Task.
Enter the Task Category, Description, Status, Property, Booking, whether this task is a Priority, attach any files if necessary, and Save.
You can update your task details at any time, and each task can be assigned to your team members and marked as complete when finished.
Tracking your nightly rate history reveals pricing patterns, helps optimize future pricing, identify high-demand periods, and maximize revenue while staying competitive. With our January 7th release, OwnerRez added the Rate Change History, allowing you to view the history of nightly rate and rule changes made directly from the Rate Calendar. This new Rate Change History includes the name of the person who made the nightly rate or rule change, the date it was changed, and features a convenient sparkline visualization that displays rate trends over time.
On the Rate Change History fly-out, the nightly rate and rules changes are displayed, along with the following details.
To see the Rate Change History, navigate to Tools > Rate Calendar, select a date, and click on the upper-right circle arrow icon.
On the Rate Change History fly-out, you can select individual dates by clicking the calendar icon or move forward or backward a night by clicking the left and right arrows.
This Rate Change History identifies when the rate and minimum nights were added on July 28, 2025, by Fancy Rental, the account owner, as well as a subsequent rule change made by Fancy on January 7, 2026.
If nightly rates or rules are changed by dynamic pricing tools, the Rate Change History includes the following.
If your Team Access member added the initial nightly rate or made changes to the nightly rates or rules, their name is displayed with the Impersonated label on the right side of the Rate Change History.
If changes to the nightly rate or rules were made by a Team Access member or the dynamic pricing tool, the date may be a clickable link that opens a log of those changes.
Using OwnerRez email, channel, and SMS templates with triggers to automatically send them streamlines your guest communication, makes guests feel welcome, builds trust, and improves their experience, increasing your rental's success. OwnerRez added the ability to add prepopulated email, channel, and SMS templates and triggers directly to your account from our Template and Trigger Library, both in-app and in some of our support articles, with our January 14th release.
Users can add templates directly into their account by navigating to Settings > Messaging > Templates, selecting the message type (e.g., Email, SMS, or Channel) tab, and clicking on the Copy from Library button.
Click on any of the templates in the Template Library to add them to your account.
When the template opens, you can edit or customize it to your liking.
Then head over to the Trigger section by navigating to Settings > Messaging > Triggers, and click the Copy from Library button to find the associated trigger.
When the trigger opens, you can edit or customize it to your business needs.
Additionally, you can also add templates directly from some support articles, if available, by clicking on the +Add Template to My Account.
Similarly, you can add triggers directly from some support articles, if available, by clicking on the +Add Trigger to My Account.
Over the past year, OwnerRez has rebuilt our Property Management (PM) system from the ground up. With our January 14th release, all PM users can opt into the PMv2 upgrade. The upgrade is not yet automatic, but it is available to everyone. What’s new in PMv2? PMv2 was built on a new statement and remittance foundation that fixes long-standing limitations of the old PM system and unlocks more powerful tools, a future-proof PM foundation with quicker updates, including the following improvements.
💰 Accurate expense tracking for Commission, Taxes, and Damage Protection
📊 Summary statement report for assisting with year-end owner reporting
⚙️ Fully customizable Statement Views
🎯 Better fee & expense controls
🔄 Cleaner Proration & Historical Corrections
✅ Clear, intuitive remittance totals
Are you starting to manage properties for others? Check out our Property Management premium feature.
There may be times when hosts may be required to produce a detailed nightly rate receipt for guests, particularly if those guests are traveling for work. Providing a table or list of nightly rent by date ensures compliance with specific governmental billing requirements, demonstrates pricing transparency, and simplifies the purchase order process. There wasn't an easy way to do this until now. OwnerRez added two new field codes to offer more flexibility in your guest messaging with our January 14th release.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| {BNRENTT} | A table showing the nightly rent breakdown by date |
| {BNRENTL} | A list showing the nightly rent breakdown by date |
Here's an example using the {BNRENTT} field code, which shows the nightly rent breakdown by date in a table format.
Alternatively, if you only need a list that displays the nightly rent breakdown by date, use the {BNRENTL} field code.
With our January 7th release, OwnerRez added KicBac as a new integrated payment method partner. Kicbac's approach is simple: what you see is exactly what you pay. Kicbac simplifies the fee structure and removes hidden markups, helping you keep more of your earnings within your business.
Considering adding a new payment processor? Check out all of OwnerRez's payment processor options.
Cancellation policies help protect your business while setting clear expectations with guests. With our January 21st release, OwnerRez improved the Cancellation Policies area by changing the language from "It's complicated" to "Tiered policy," properly hiding options when "None" is selected, and generally enhancing this in-app section layout, all while dynamically updating your cancellation policy at the bottom.
Identifying and recording non-English Booking.com charges and taxes ensures accurate financial reporting, tax compliance, and prevents costly errors when managing international properties or serving global guests. OwnerRez added support for correctly identifying and syncing Booking.com charges and taxes in non-English languages with our January 21st release.
Previously, charges and taxes in languages other than English couldn't be properly matched to the correct charge types, but now they'll be correctly identified and synced to the appropriate OwnerRez surcharges and taxes.
Reviewing Airbnb guests helps future hosts make informed decisions, promotes accountability, builds your credibility as a host, and creates a two-way feedback system that improves the overall Airbnb community. As part of our January 21st release, OwnerRez added the ability for hosts to now add optional text comments (50 characters maximum) when rating guests with 1 to 5 stars across three categories: Cleanliness, Communication, and House rules.
Users can leave a host review for their Airbnb guests by navigating to the Booking > Review tab and clicking on the + Record New Review button. If fewer than 5 stars are given, hosts must select at least one descriptive tag.
Airbnb guest profile photos help hosts put a face to names, personalize communication, quickly reference guests, and maintain enhanced communication throughout the guest's stay. With our January 28th release, when available, OwnerRez will download and display Airbnb guest profile photos in the guest information area once the booking is confirmed.
Having the right discount strategy can give you a competitive edge without sacrificing profitability. And with our January 7th release, discounts can now be organized into specific charge categories, rather than being grouped solely under "Discounts." PM Statement views and associated statements now support displaying discounts by category, making it easier to track discounts for rent and other charges. This change provides greater flexibility in statement view design and enables more accurate tax calculations.
You can add these new Discount Categories to your Statement Views (PM > Settings > Statement Views > and either edit an existing Statement View or + Create View), and + Add Column > Discount Categories.
After your Statement View is saved and selected for your Owner Statement (PM > Statements & Payouts > Owner Statements), the new Discount Categories will be displayed on your Owner Statement.
Strategic discounts can significantly boost your vacation rental's performance, while surcharges help cover operational costs and services for maintaining and managing your short-term vacation rental property. Following the August 27th, 2025, release of our Discounts & Surcharges, we decided to remove all unsupported criteria from standard surcharges and discounts to ensure they are passed correctly to Airbnb and Vrbo. Those unsupported conditions include the following.
Tags let you easily filter, locate, and organize guests using your own labels, turning static data into valuable insights. Adding guest tags to the Activity Timeline on mobile was not functioning as expected until our January 28th release, when OwnerRez enhanced mobile guest tag functionality and improved the header menu.
Generating PM Owner Statement Expense reports regularly can enhance expense tracking and provide valuable insights for informed operational and pricing decisions within your property management company. OwnerRez has expanded our PM Owner Statement Expenses report to include a new booking expenses filter and an "Included in Booking" column, providing property managers with clear expense data for informed business decisions, as of our January 14th release.
Navigate to PM > Reports > Owner Statement Expense Remittance to see our expanded PM Owner Statement Expenses report that now includes a new booking expenses filter option.
After you run the PM Owner Statement Expenses report, you'll see the new "Included in Booking" column displayed on the far right.
The Owner Statement Summary shows total income and expenses, grouped by category, based on owner remittances during a period of time. Resembling a classic P&L type of layout, it summarizes the owners' revenues, expenses, and net profit or loss over a specific period, making it useful for end-of-year reporting. With our January 14th release, we enhanced the PM Owner Statement Summary report by implementing the following improvements.
High-quality photos help potential guests envision their stay, highlight your property's best features, set accurate expectations, and boost booking rates by creating emotional appeal and reducing uncertainty. OwnerRez improved the design and user experience of the in-app Property Photos area with our January 7th release.
Now, when adding property photos (Properties > specific Property > Listing Content > Photos > Upload Photos), you can add photo captions (descriptions), assign the photo to a specific room or accessibility amenity, or add a video during the upload process.
Accurate property accommodations (e.g., year built, square footage, etc.) build credibility, help guests find the right fit for their needs, improve search visibility, set proper expectations, and justify nightly rates. With our January 7th release, we improved and reorganized the in-app Property Accommodations (Properties > specific Property > Listing Content > Accommodations) area layout for enhanced usability.
Strategic discounts boost your Vrbo listing by attracting guests, encouraging longer stays, and filling booking gaps. With our January 21st release, OwnerRez improved Vrbo in-app discount tiles by making titles more consistent, enhancing mobile responsiveness, adding the Vrbo "Promos" label, and creating a uniform layout across discount types.
Add dynamic character counter for hosted website CSS editor. Instead of only updating the character count after saving, OwnerRez added a dynamic text character counter to the hosted website CSS editor, which updates in real-time as you type.
Add English (UK) calendar culture support. OwnerRez added English (UK) to the Display Culture dropdown on calendar widgets to support Monday as the first day of the week and to display the GBP currency. We also renamed "Default (English)" to "English (United States)" for clarity.
Display company names in Rezzy AI FAQs and Directives "Created By" filter and row displays. We updated the "Created By" filter and row display in Rezzy AI FAQs and Directives to display account company names when available.
Improve {QPROPAVAILOTHER} field code display. OwnerRez updated the "Other Available Properties" {QPROPAVAILOTHER} field code to display property Public Names by default, falling back to the internal Name only when the Public Name isn't set.
Increase channel thread attachment URL length limit to 1024 characters. OwnerRez has increased the channel message attachment URL length limit from 256 to 1024 characters, allowing for longer attachment URLs in thread messages.
Restore OwnerRez app installation suggestion pop-up on Android devices. OwnerRez restored the ability for Android users to install the OwnerRez app on their home screen via a friendly in-app announcement banner. The prompt appears when the browser indicates that the app can be installed, allowing users to easily add OwnerRez to their device's home screen.
Update channel map display terminology. OwnerRez changed the channel map display options from "Map pin" and "General area" to "Exact location" and "Approximate location" to better align with recent location display changes.
Update Length of Stay discount interface. We updated the Length of Stay discount interface by removing the information icon from "Discount Amount" and adding a help link that opens the Length of Stay Discount support article in a new tab.
Add billing address to Billing Info section. For easier reference, OwnerRez added account billing addresses to the in-app Billing Info section.
Improve failed payment display on transaction screen. We improved the payment display for failed booking transactions by changing the text color and label from red to gray when the issue has been resolved, when the booking is paid in full, or when the security deposit has been collected.
Improve review listing site labels. We changed the label from "Posted On" to "Listing Site" for channel booking reviews submitted directly by guests in OwnerRez.
Improve standard discounts and surcharges interface and validation. OwnerRez enhanced the Standard Discounts and Surcharges interface by updating the visuals for the conditions selector and adding default descriptions and explanatory text for pet fees, length-of-stay discounts, and early-bird discounts. Additionally, we added duplicate surcharge detection with warning messages.
Rename Airbnb "Transit" property description field to "Getting Around." Since Airbnb renamed their “Transit” description field to “Getting Around,” OwnerRez now syncs this using your property’s “Getting Around” description instead of the older “Getting There” field. All existing Airbnb description overrides have been automatically migrated.
Rename bed type "Sleep Sofa" to "Sleeper Sofa." For consistency and clarity, we renamed the bed type "Sleep Sofa" to "Sleeper Sofa."
Set "Vrbo" as vendor for PM expenses generated during Vrbo Commission CSV import. OwnerRez enhanced the Vrbo Commission CSV import process by automatically designating "Vrbo" as the vendor for PM expenses generated during the import.
Standardize check-in/check-out time descriptions. We standardized the language displayed for check-in and check-out time descriptions to consistently use "is" instead of "at" or other variations.
Improve rate calendar accessibility and mobile experience. OwnerRez improved the accessibility of the rate calendar for visually impaired users and enhanced the mobile experience. Changes include larger calendar dates, with a more centered layout with improved history button visibility, compressed search fields on mobile, and better visibility of calendar days when scrolling.
Improve Review Template Removal Process. We improved the in-app host review template interface by changing the "Save Templates" button text to "Save Changes" and making the template removal process more intuitive by adding explicit "Remove" and "Restore" text on the buttons instead of just icons.
Update Airbnb revenue categorization for Avalara tax calculations. OwnerRez updated how Airbnb bookings are categorized when sending data to Avalara for tax calculations. Revenue is now properly categorized based on the property's tax collection mode: "Ineligible" or "Stacked" modes are sent as Airbnb revenue, while "None" is sent as direct booking revenue, and "Override" mode sends revenue based on how Airbnb-specific taxes are defined for the listing.
Add property photo minimum height requirement to ensure proper layout. OwnerRez added a minimum height requirement for property images to ensure proper layout even when images are missing or fail to load, preventing layout shifts and maintaining a consistent user experience across different devices.
As of 2026, Bug Fixes will no longer be included in OwnerRez's monthly Product Updates blog posts. Instead, keep an eye on our Changelog for a list of bug fixes each time.
how do you access the new airbnb channel rate tester? i see the link: https://app.ownerrez.com/ratetester but i don't see the option to choose Airbnb in the Listing Site dropdown.
Alex, you can 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.
Keep your personal account and create a business account using a different email address, and use that business account for taking business payments.
how do you access the new airbnb channel rate tester? i see the link: https://app.ownerrez.com/ratetester but i don't see the option to choose Airbnb in the Listing Site dropdown.
We’re pleased to announce our new integration with Aruvo, providing OwnerRez users seamless access to a plug-and-play hospitality TV solution that delivers branded, personalized in-room TV experiences for guests.
Aruvo is a plug-and-play hospitality TV software for boutique destination stays. It helps you reach every guest on their in-room TVs. It brings their room alive with a branded, personalized welcome, as soon as they walk in. Tells your story, first-hand, in all its life and colors. And helps your guests self-discover various things your stay has to offer, in an undistracted environment.
Unlike other hospitality TV solutions or tablets, Aruvo is designed keeping in mind the needs of boutique destination stays. It requires no big purchases, complicated setups, or tech tinkering. It works on your existing in-room TVs, comes pre-loaded with great-looking designs and professionally crafted content that you can personalize to your liking. And lets you control your branding and the guest experience across rooms and properties, on the fly, from a single login.
With Aruvo, you can now bring the warmth and comfort of your hospitality closer to every guest, effortlessly!
Aruvo TV is available on Google TV, Apple TV, Roku TV, and Fire TV.
Enjoy a one-month free trial on the Enterprise plan. No credit card required. View more pricing info here.
Get started with Aruvo by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Aruvo.
I have just connected paypal business account to my payment methods and received a confirmation email from OwnerRez for each of the properties that is attached to the paypal account. However, when I went to my website to test it, I don't see paypal or venmo or paylater as an option. I only see the credit card option on the invoice after signing the rental agreement. DOes it take a day or so to kick in or do I need to configure something within the widgets themselves? Other ideas?
This week’s roundup covers temporary short-term rental changes tied to the 2026 World Cup, a major vacation rental ban in California, ongoing legal challenges in Georgia and Nevada, and new data examining how regulated markets are performing worldwide. Let’s dive in.
On Tuesday, Lawrence City approved a temporary change to the city’s short-term rental rules in preparation for the 2026 World Cup matches in nearby Kansas City. Under the current ordinance, owners and individuals are limited to three short-term rental licenses within city limits, but that cap will be lifted beginning May 25 and reinstated in July. City officials say the temporary adjustment is intended to expand available and more affordable lodging options as Kansas City hosts six World Cup matches. Jeff Crick, director of Lawrence’s Planning and Development Services, said the city is responding to limited hotel capacity and wants to ensure visitors have “at least options” during this surge in demand.
Monterey County voted this week to ban short-term rentals in unincorporated residential areas, while continuing to allow them in commercial zones and as part of agricultural operations. The ban includes popular tourist destinations such as Pebble Beach and Big Sur. County officials said the move is intended to protect long-term housing supply, but it follows an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Monterey County Vacation Rental Association challenging rules the county established in 2024. The abrupt change in course has left many local hosts frustrated and surprised after years of working to meet strict requirements.
Tybee Island’s long-running legal fight over short-term rental regulations saw new movement this week, though a final ruling is still pending. Tybee Alliance, a group of property managers and rental owners, sued the city in January 2023, challenging ordinances that require annual permit renewals, submission of detailed booking data showing rentals are booked at full market value, occupational tax certificates, and allow city inspections following complaints. On Wednesday, a county judge heard arguments from both sides but withheld a decision, saying a ruling will be based on the arguments and briefs presented. The case centers on whether short term rentals should be treated as residential properties, as argued by Tybee Alliance, or as commercial properties subject to licensing and regulation under Georgia law, as argued by the City of Tybee Island.
Clark County decided this week to move forward with an appeal after a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the county’s short-term rental regulations. Commissioners authorized the District Attorney’s Office to seek review by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals following a preliminary injunction that halted fines, citations, and licensing enforcement for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. The injunction, issued last month in a lawsuit brought by the Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association and individual homeowners, found that the county’s licensing system likely raises constitutional due process concerns tied to delays and enforcement practices. While the appeal moves forward, Clark County is unable to require short-term rental licenses, issue fines, declare rentals a nuisance, or record liens related to enforcement actions.
HospitalityNet published an article this week examining how short-term rental regulations have shaped performance in some of the world’s highest-performing vacation rental markets. Using Lighthouse data, the article looks at cities where short-term rental rules have already been implemented and breaks down how rentals are performing despite restrictions such as licensing requirements, activity caps, and primary residence rules. The article also considers broader factors influencing performance, including travel demand, economic conditions, seasonality, airline capacity, and major events. Markets examined include New York City, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Istanbul, Florence, and others.
As governments revisit regulations and major events influence demand, the vacation rental market continues to adapt. Check back next week for the latest news.
Thanks for the great information.
We’re excited to announce our new integration with CIBO, a smart operations platform built with real-world STR experience to help vacation rental operators automate and streamline property care.
CIBO is a smart operations platform that helps OwnerRez users automate and streamline property care. From cleanings and inspections to maintenance and guest services, CIBO turns each reservation into a coordinated workflow, automatically scheduling tasks, assigning them to the right team members, and tracking progress in real-time. Mobile checklists, customizable automations, and clear visibility across all properties make it easy to keep every stay perfectly prepared with less manual effort. Built with real-world STR experience, CIBO includes flexible task assignment options, including both opt-in and auto-accept modes, so teams can work the way that fits them best.
Learn more about CIBO’s Cleaning & Task Automation platform here.
CIBO pricing starts at $8 per property per month, with volume discounts available for larger portfolios. Every plan includes all core features: automated task scheduling, custom task types, custom checklists, team management, and flexible automations, with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. OwnerRez users get their first 30 days free.
Get started with CIBO by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with CIBO.
so i am deleting my business paypal account and re establishing it again? the instructions are not clear there is no place to actually upgrade
Happy New Year! This is our first Industry News of 2026. We publish new posts every Friday to keep you informed on the most important developments in the vacation rental industry. We look forward to keeping you informed throughout this next year! This week’s roundup covers international short-term rental markets showing strong returns, Hawaii’s new “Green Fee,” the state of U.S. travel in 2025, Fort Myers Beach utilizing new software to enforce vacation rental rules, and Birmingham moving toward short-term rental regulations. Let’s dive in.
Realtor.com released its list of the top ten global markets for short-term rentals, highlighting destinations with the strongest demand and revenue potential. Citing AirDNA data, the article notes that affordability is playing a growing role in where investors are purchasing, as high prices in many U.S. markets push buyers to consider international options with lower entry costs and often higher returns. According to AirDNA’s chief economist, Jamie Lane, "We’ve seen more people think about it as U.S. home values soared in the (COVID-19) pandemic and afterward. Since it’s tough to find cash flow, investors have been more open to investing outside the United States." The top ten includes destinations such as Saint Barthélemy, Mykonos, Greece, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Hawaii’s new “Green Fee” went into effect January 1st, adding an additional 0.75 percent tax to vacation rental stays across the state. First passed as Act 96 and signed into law in May 2025, the measure allocates funding toward environmental initiatives, including water conservation, ecosystem restoration, and climate change mitigation. The tax also affects the hotel and cruise industries, as Hawaii continues to look for new ways to foster sustainable tourism. The move follows a related development reported in Industry News on December 19th, when Maui officials officially signed into law a decision to phase out thousands of vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts.
Skift released an article this week examining the state of U.S. international travel in 2025. Using federal arrival data, the report found that international travel to the U.S. softened overall this year, with declines from key markets, including Canada and parts of Europe. However, some destinations outperformed the national trend, including Florida and Hawaii, which both saw modest growth in international visitors. Puerto Rico stood out as the strongest performer, with overseas visitors listing the island as their first stop, up 22.5 percent year over year. Skift notes that affordability, along with political polarization, played key roles in shaping international travel patterns to the U.S. in 2025.
Fort Myers Beach is ramping up enforcement against illegal short-term rentals after launching new software to scan Airbnb and Vrbo. The tool identified more than 500 active listings that were either not registered with the town or had not passed a required fire safety inspection, far exceeding initial expectations. The town’s public information officer stated, “We thought it was going to be 20, 30, maybe 40 rentals. It’s a very big problem, bigger than we anticipated. More than anything, this is a safety concern.” Town officials say noncompliant property owners will be notified and given a limited window to register and complete inspections before facing potential fines.
According to a recent report from BirminghamWatch, Birmingham, Alabama's City Council is expected to make key decisions on short-term rental regulations during the first part of 2026. Council President Wardine Alexander said she anticipates the council will begin considering proposed rules during the first quarter. Birmingham currently has no formal short-term rental regulations in place, and city leaders say public discussion will be an important part of the process as officials weigh potential zoning, safety, and enforcement measures. Vacation rental operators in the area should look for opportunities to engage and "speak up" during the early parts of this decision process.
As international travel demand, investment trends, and local regulations continue to shift, the vacation rental market is off to an exciting start in 2026. Check back next week for the latest industry news.
Hopefully ok to ask this here of other hosts. What's the drawback to converting a personal PayPal to business.
It's it just you can't to fee free transfers to friends to split a meal outing or wherever
Or did business PayPal actually change how much PayPal costs and operates for general purchasing?
I have Stripe for payment processing. So should I connect Paypal thru Stripe or thru OR or both?
Connect PayPal directly to OR, not through Stripe. Then, OR will use both payment methods side by side but prefer the Stripe one for CC stuff.
I have Stripe for payment processing. So should I connect Paypal thru Stripe or thru OR or both?
This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s New Year’s Eve anti-party measures, Expedia’s move to deepen its experiences business, rising World Cup-driven demand in Los Angeles, and a key legal ruling in Nevada that could reshape local short-term rental enforcement. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb is activating heightened anti-party technology in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the UK, France, Spain, and Australia to help reduce the risk of disruptive parties during New Year’s Eve this year. The company says the system is designed to identify and block higher-risk bookings while steering guests toward lower-risk accommodations, such as private rooms or hotel rooms. Airbnb says that last New Year’s Eve, similar measures prevented over 20,000 people in the U.S. and more than 3,000 people in Canada from booking an entire home listing. The continued rollout of this technology during holiday weekends is designed to support positive stays and help vacation rental operators protect their homes and surrounding communities during peak travel periods.
Expedia announced an agreement to acquire Tiqets, an Amsterdam-based platform for museum and attraction tickets, following an extended sales process that drew interest from multiple travel companies, including Airbnb. The deal gives Expedia more direct access to major European attractions and reduces its reliance on third-party partners as it continues to expand its experiences business. In announcing the acquisition, Expedia said the move supports its broader travel strategy. “The Tiqets integration is a key step toward our vision to build the most comprehensive, global travel solution,” said Alfonso Paredes, President of B2B at Expedia Group. For vacation rental operators, the deal signals continued investment across the travel industry in experiences as a growing part of how guests plan and book trips.
The Los Angeles Times released an article highlighting the increased pricing and demand for short-term rentals in Los Angeles ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The article spotlights one Airbnb host near SoFi Stadium who raised their rates from $1,000 to $10,000 for a two-night stay. The article notes that currently more than 70 percent of short-term rentals in the Inglewood area are already booked for June 12th, the night of the opening match, representing a 58 percent increase compared to typical reservation rates. The World Cup is also being viewed as an early test case for the 2028 Olympics, which are expected to bring an estimated 15 million visitors to the region. This surge in demand is great news for vacation rental operators in the area, presenting an excellent opportunity to maximize revenue during the global event through seasonal rates or dynamic pricing.
In a recent ruling, Nevada District Court Judge Miranda Du paused fines, penalties, and liens against Clark County homeowners for short-term rental activity, signaling that the Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association and its co-plaintiff, Airbnb, are likely to succeed in a legal battle that dates back to 2021. Judge Du ruled that prohibiting property owners from renting their homes likely violates due process protections under the 14th Amendment. Under the injunction, Clark County is temporarily barred from requiring short-term rental licenses, issuing fines or liens, and declaring short-term rentals a public nuisance. For vacation rental operators, the ruling represents a significant win amid the ongoing efforts of local governments to regulate short-term rentals.
With upcoming global events and ongoing regulatory discussions shaping the vacation rental market, expect continued changes across the rental landscape as we near the end of 2025. Check back next week for the latest news.
Some additional points of clarification:
What the "upgrade" langage means
The "upgrade" language simply means to upgrade the connection, not the PayPal account itself. You can use the same PayPal account you already connected with before. You only need to re-connect it. Nothing different is needed on the PayPal side.
Using your existing credit card processor side by side with PayPal
To repeat what Bri said - your existing other credit card processor (Stripe, Lynnbrook, Authorize.Net) will continue to work side by side with PayPal and will be the top preferred option, if you have both. PayPal and Venmo will work beside it, and the internal PayPal credit card fields will not be an option if you have your own. So no worries on that.
Security deposits (RDD and holds)
Yes, these both work with the new PayPal. It was one of the final pieces of work we did in recent weeks to be able to release this. There are new guest forms for taking payments and security deposits/holds that are both out and working. So you are good to go on that end. If you have a standalone credit card option, it will offer that as an option as well, or just use the CC one for cards that are already on file, just like before.
What about security deposits? Can PayPal do these? If we disconnect stripe?
I'd be interested in how others have solved an upcoming and growing dilemma. How do you handle a deposit (or Hold)? Using these non-traditional gateways means we do not get the cc info to do a hold. Or we burden the guest with an added step or submitted more than one real payment method in the process. Have most moved away from deposit holds? Moved to an actual deposit and refund? or none?
