Latest Activity...
"Please be aware that all accounts using the current PayPal connection must upgrade to gain access to the new PayPal. The upgrade is easy! All you need to do is connect your PayPal account again if you connected previously, and if you've never used PayPal, it's never been easier. More details on how to get connected here."
This language is confusing to me. I currently have a Paypal account. It says all I need to do is to "connect to my Paypal account again". I just need to open the account? The blog post says I must upgrade my current account. Upgrade to what? I already have a business account and I don't see any button or link that says "upgrade". Can you be more specific about what I need to do and how to do it?
Thank you for clarifying
This is a great podcast for folks thinking about joining the short term rental business, already in the business or a veteran of the business such as me and husband since 2011. It is a validation of my experience....the ups and downs....and can be quite successful IF you know what it takes. I appreciate having the point of view from the creators of the OwnerRez and knowing that one of you (something about 'dogging it'...I got it with the explanation!) has their own short term rentals/management. I am a big fan of OwnerRez; it literally changed my work life for the better!
Hi everyone! Wanted to jump in here and answer what questions I could.
PayPal accepts businesses with a business address and bank location in the following locations.
They offer short-term, interest-free payments that allow guests to buy now and pay later, while hosts receive payment upfront. You can read more on that topic here.
As for credit card processing, if you have a processor configured we will prefer that over PayPal during the checkout process. This is to say that if your guest chooses to pay by card and you have (let's say) Stripe configured as well as PayPal, Stripe should be the credit card processor in use at the time of checkout. If no credit card processor is configured, we fall back to PayPal.
We use Lynnbrook for CC processing. They offer Venmo, Paypal pay later, apple pay, etc. Can OwnerRez please enable their wallet function so we can use these payment methods? Lynnbrook already offer it to PMs on Streamline and other PMS software providers. We have friends on Streamline and they've been using it for months. Please enable "wallets" for Lynnbrook. Thank you! :)
THIS!!!!! Please enable wallets for your preferred partner, Lynnbrook!
https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests/mobile-pay-w-digital-wallet-apple-pay-venmo-zelle-crypto
This week’s roundup covers Lisbon reversing course on short-term rental restrictions, the Spanish government fining Airbnb, Maui finalizing its vacation rental phase-out after months of debate, and Anchorage voting down a proposed vacation rental tax. Let’s dive in.
Lisbon has recently rolled back tightened short-term rental restrictions after city officials determined that the rules failed to reduce housing costs or improve overall affordability. Airbnb welcomed the decision this week, saying the policies limited hosting opportunities for residents without addressing the city’s underlying housing challenges. According to Airbnb, since Lisbon began imposing restrictions in 2019, the annual growth rate of home prices in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area has nearly doubled, while annual rent increases accelerated from 5.7 percent to 9.2 percent. Over the same period, hotel prices climbed sharply, rising by 30 percent between 2022 and 2024 alone. Under the revised policy, short-term rentals will be allowed to increase from 5 percent to 10 percent of the local housing supply as the city looks to better balance housing needs with tourism demand.
The Spanish government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros, or about $75 million, after regulators said the platform advertised a large number of short-term rentals without valid licenses or accurate registration information. Officials said some of the affected listings also included properties in popular tourist destinations that were banned from being rented altogether. An Airbnb spokesperson said the company has been working in collaboration with the Spanish government since new short-term rental rules took effect in July and plans to challenge the decision in court, despite the Consumer Affairs Ministry stating that the fine cannot be appealed.
In continued coverage of Maui County’s vacation rental phase-out, previously reported in Industry News on June 6th, June 13th, July 4th, August 1st, August 29th, and October 17th, Bill 9 has now been officially signed into law by Mayor Richard Bissen following final approval by the Maui County Council. This hotly debated decision will phase out thousands of vacation rentals in apartment-zoned districts, starting in West Maui in 2028 and expanding countywide by 2030. Supporters argue that the law will reintroduce housing units to the long-term market, making things more affordable. At the same time, opponents continue to raise concerns about property rights, real economic impacts, and potential legal challenges. With implementation still several years away, uncertainty remains around how the law will ultimately reshape Maui’s vacation rental market.
The Anchorage Assembly in Alaska voted this week not to advance a vacation rental-specific tax to voters as a ballot measure. The proposed five percent tax on short-term rentals was introduced in September and would have been added to the existing 12 percent room tax that already applies to hotels and short-term rentals. A majority of Assembly members said it was not the right time to pursue an additional tax. While the proposal was rejected, the Assembly approved a separate ordinance requiring short-term rental owners to register their properties with the city, which officials say will improve tracking and help inform future policy decisions.
As governments continue to revisit and refine short-term rental restrictions, the vacation rental landscape continues to evolve. Check back next week for the latest news.
What is the adoption rate they are seeing with those other payment methods?
We use Lynnbrook for CC processing. They offer Venmo, Paypal pay later, apple pay, etc. Can OwnerRez please enable their wallet function so we can use these payment methods? Lynnbrook already offer it to PMs on Streamline and other PMS software providers. We have friends on Streamline and they've been using it for months. Please enable "wallets" for Lynnbrook. Thank you! :)
We need the option to direct standard CC payments to our primary processor and use PayPal to only process PayPal and Venmo.
I don't see the option to configure it that way. Our primary credit card processor is way cheaper than PayPal for standard cards, but offering the Venmo/PayPal option would be great.
This is key.
Prefer default stripe processing to reduce fees. PayPal is 1.4% + 10p more expensive for a GBP payment & 2.64% + 10p more expensive for an international payment.
Will we get funds right away if guest selects PayPal pay later?
Can PayPal do security deposits? Stripe is failing for scheduled security holds right now.
Is it available in UK?
How will Apple and Google pay stack up against other options!
We need the option to direct standard CC payments to our primary processor and use PayPal to only process PayPal and Venmo.
I don't see the option to configure it that way. Our primary credit card processor is way cheaper than PayPal for standard cards, but offering the Venmo/PayPal option would be great.
Exactly 3% is pricey but Venmo would be great
We need the option to direct standard CC payments to our primary processor and use PayPal to only process PayPal and Venmo.
I don't see the option to configure it that way. Our primary credit card processor is way cheaper than PayPal for standard cards, but offering the Venmo/PayPal option would be great.
if we don't want to upgrade or personal PayPal to a biz account (therefore I will delete my PayPal payment option) will that effect our ability to keep taking Venmo?
I believe the old/existing PayPal connection also required business PayPal accounts, so nothing should have changed on that front. It will work with the same PayPal account you had in place already, just have to connect it again.
Venmo is only available with this new PayPal connection. There is no Venmo-only type of connection unfortunately. Generally speaking, Venmo does not connect with merchants directly outside of PayPal except for native mobile apps.
Can the new Paypal be used for security deposit holds?
Also, is it available to UK customers?
if we don't want to upgrade or personal PayPal to a biz account (therefore I will delete my PayPal payment option) will that effect our ability to keep taking Venmo?
Should be the standard paypal and venmo for business rates which are roughly 3%
And what's the charge on the transaction? I think I missed that in the lengthy blog post
Really interesting
it is true...harder to make money now
i've been doing that for 5 years and now i get the help of my two daugthers
my cottage rental site is www.3forestlodge.ca
i think there should be a owner of short term rental association or group exchange of idea. There is not anough community feel in the business
thank you for your help. Ownerez reallt helps my business!
I don't follow... we use this feature, and upon the checkout date the guest selects, it logs out of all the apps that were downloaded and logged into and returns the screen back to the "select checkout date" page for the next guest to add their date, apps, and login.
We have not had an issue with the feature completely logging out of the ROKU account and requiring us to log back in.
Is yours completely wiping the account clean, requiring you to log back into a new ROKU account for verification?
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.
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!
My early background was in social services and loss prevention/asset protection. I never thought about property management/real estate.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
OwnerRez is my go-to for the entire business except for advertising. Website, inquiry, reservations, payments, reviews etc.
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.
In Episode Three, Paul and Chris take a look at some of the biggest myths versus realities in the vacation rental industry. They talk through how the industry has shifted over the years from a hobbyist side gig into a competitive, professionalized market where standing out requires true hospitality, well-run operations, and a long-term mindset.
Drawing on Paul’s experience running Shenrent with his wife, along with years of watching thousands of OwnerRez users grow, they share what new owners often misunderstand, why a genuine interest in hospitality matters more than most people expect, and how having the right systems in place plays a major role in long-term success.
You’ll hear about:
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:
We’ve already started on the next episodes, and we can’t wait to share them with you.
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!
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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
Please be aware that all accounts using the current PayPal connection must upgrade to gain access to the new PayPal. The upgrade is easy! All you need to do is connect your PayPal account again if you connected previously, and if you've never used PayPal, it's never been easier. More details on how to get connected here.
PayPal has stated that you must upgrade your connection by December 31st to continue processing payments. If you don't do this by the cutoff date, the payment will error out for the guest.
If you're currently using PayPal PayFlow Pro or PayPal Payments Pro, your existing connection will be labeled as deprecated on December 31st. You can continue using that until PayPal cuts you off. It's unclear how long you'll be able to continue using those connections after that date.
Our updated PayPal integration now offers significant new improvements, including Venmo, Pay Later and more! Better transaction visibility, ongoing compliance with PayPal’s latest API standards, and a brand new, modernized, and streamlined checkout experience for your guests!
Take a look below and see all the great things you can now do with PayPal:
More Payment Methods Options
Peace of Mind
Get started with PayPal by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with PayPal.
THANK YOU!
Absolutely! Pocket Casts picked it up automatically since our podcast RSS feed is public. Follow the link below:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
More design updates and changes are on their way soon!
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.
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.
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.
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)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.
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 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.
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:
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.
