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OwnerRez has once again been recognized as an Airbnb Preferred+ Software Partner! 🎉

We’re honored to be one of the select few to receive the Preferred+ Software Partner status and to meet Airbnb’s highest standards for integration quality, performance, and reliability. This recognition reflects the strong, ongoing collaboration between OwnerRez and Airbnb over the years and is a result of our shared vision to create a seamless, high-quality experience for short-term rental hosts and property managers. 

Why This Matters

Reaching Airbnb Preferred+ status means we've not only met, but we've exceeded Airbnb’s technical and performance benchmarks. It’s awarded to only a small group of partners who consistently deliver a high-quality connection and continue to invest in strong collaboration with Airbnb. You can learn more about the program and what it means for OwnerRez users here.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

Over the years, we’ve worked closely with the Airbnb team to continuously improve our integration and to deliver a more seamless experience for OwnerRez users. That strong collaboration continues to drive behind-the-scenes improvements and new features, like the brand-new Quality Center, which seamlessly brings Airbnb listing health insights, reservation issues, and review category analytics directly into OwnerRez.

We’re grateful for our partnership with the Airbnb team, and most of all, for our users who make this possible!

What's Next

We are proud to receive the Airbnb Preferred+ badge for 2026, and look forward to continuing to push the boundaries for what's possible this year! Our focus remains on delivering a reliable, lightning-fast connection so you can focus on growing your business.

Thanks for being part of the journey. Lots of exciting things ahead!

Interesting discussion. One thing I've come to learn over the years I've been doing this is I really don't like taking people's money without providing something of value. It makes me feel a little sleazy, and makes the guest hate my business forever. You might get some money in the transaction, but you can guarantee they will NEVER book your place again, and they'll bad-mouth it to all their friends.

We have a cancellation policy of providing a full refund up to 5 days prior to arrival, no refund after that point. However, I take each cancellation on a case-by-case basis. If the guest has a plausible reason for cancelling that's not just for convenience I will generally provide a credit that can be used for a future stay. 10 out of 10 times, that guest will book with us in the future, and many times this policy will result in multiple bookings from that person.

Treat others how you would like to be treated yourself is always good business practice.

Meet Bianca Han, co-founder of Sapphire Vacations, a collection of luxury beachfront rentals in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. After falling in love with the island in 2010, Bianca and her husband, Paul, built a thriving business by designing beautiful spaces and building efficient systems that allow them to manage everything remotely.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

At Sapphire Vacations, my husband Paul and I own and manage multiple luxury beachfront vacation rentals in the East End of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Our journey began in 2010 while we were vacationing at a beachfront condo on Sapphire Beach. We completely fell in love with the island, especially the breathtaking, ‘to-die-for’ views from our balcony. That experience inspired us to turn our passion into a business.

We started by purchasing and renovating our first Caribbean property, blending modern New York-style interiors with the natural beauty of the oceanfront setting. Our goal was to create a space where guests could enjoy both comfort and elevated design while still feeling fully immersed in the Caribbean experience. From there, we’ve grown into managing multiple luxury properties, all focused on delivering seamless and memorable stays.

What is your background?

My background combines business ownership and design, while my husband brings an engineering mindset and a spirit of adventure. Together, we’ve traveled extensively, and those experiences have deeply influenced how we think about hospitality and guest experience. Through experiencing different places and levels of service around the world, we developed a clear vision of what makes a stay truly special.

That perspective naturally shaped how we built our business. As co-owners of a luxury vacation rental company, we’ve focused on blending thoughtful design, efficient systems, and seamless remote management. My role has been centered on creating a cohesive, elevated experience for our guests, where every detail feels intentional, comfortable, and effortless.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management? If not, what did you do before?

My entrepreneurial career in the U.S. began in the 1990s with a textile design and manufacturing company. I spent over 25 years building and running that business in New York City, focusing on product design, quality, and brand development.

Alongside that, I co-founded an e-commerce technology company, where I spent about a decade gaining experience in digital systems, operations, and scaling a business. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in both design and technology, which I now bring into our vacation rental business, combining aesthetics, functionality, and seamless operations to create an elevated guest experience.

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

No, we’re not originally from the area; we’ve been based in New York City since the 1990s. We discovered St. Thomas through travel, and what began as a vacation quickly turned into a long-term connection and business.

What do you love most about the vacation rental business?

What I love most about the vacation rental business is the ability to create meaningful, memorable experiences for our guests. Hospitality, at its core, is about how people feel, and we have the opportunity to shape that, from the moment they arrive to the memories they take home with them.

I also really enjoy the blend of creativity and strategy, designing beautiful spaces, building efficient systems, and managing everything seamlessly behind the scenes. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that something we’ve created becomes part of someone’s special trip or celebration.

What do you dislike the most about it?

One of the more challenging aspects is that hospitality is truly 24/7; guests expect a seamless experience at all times, and that requires constant attention and responsiveness. There are also factors outside of our control, like weather or travel disruptions, that can impact a guest’s stay. The key is how you respond, staying proactive, solution-oriented, and always putting the guest first.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

We use OwnerRez as the backbone of our operations. It allows us to manage reservations, guest communication, payments, and reporting all in one place. Because we operate remotely, having a centralized system is essential. OwnerRez helps us stay organized and responsive, while also automating many of the behind-the-scenes processes. That efficiency allows us to focus more on delivering a seamless, high-end guest experience.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

The automation features in OwnerRez are incredibly valuable to us, especially for guest communication and booking workflows. They allow us to maintain a high level of consistency and responsiveness without having to manage every detail manually. That’s essential for running a remote business and ensures our guests always have a smooth, well-coordinated experience.

Bianca and her husband, Paul, have built a strong remote business by staying proactive, solution-oriented, and always putting the guest first. We look forward to seeing Sapphire Vacations continue to grow in 2026!

This week, we are excited to feature Cedric D’Hue, founder of Happy Stay WL and an OwnerRez user for the past four years. Cedric has built a successful vacation rental business that delivers memorable stays for Purdue families while giving his children the opportunity to learn hospitality and entrepreneurship firsthand.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

My wife, Zandra, and I have been married since 2000 after meeting in college. We lived in Indianapolis from 2000 to 2010 and then moved to the Greater Lafayette area (near Purdue University) where we live now. We have four children, currently 14, 14, 11, and 10 years old.

We read The Family Board Meeting and realized that we only have 18 summers with our kids. One of our 14-year-old twins has a God-given talent for hospitality, and our 11-year-old daughter is a natural entrepreneur. We already had a long-term rental, but our children were not involved. They had never seen it, and there was nothing for them to do to make it better or make it part of their lives. We were looking for opportunities to incorporate our rental businesses with teaching our children new talents. Similar to the book Cleaning House, we sought to cultivate our children's gifts and talents in entrepreneurship.

After staying in several short-term vacation rentals, we became inspired to incorporate those experiences into teaching our children the values and principles we want them to carry through life. Running each short-term rental provides our family a number of opportunities for our children to get involved in our short-term rental business. Our children have been involved in opening boxes, putting away house supplies, building furniture, and making up beds. They have also assisted with parking cars during home Purdue football games and selling lemonade, chips, Cub Scout popcorn, etc.

We purchased our first West Lafayette short-term rental, Historic Blue House, in 2021. We purchased our second West Lafayette short-term rental, Destination Station, in 2022. Both are walking distance to Purdue’s football stadium, Ross-Ade Stadium, and Purdue’s basketball arena, Mackey Arena.

I started co-hosting for other local short-term rental hosts in 2025. In 2026, two other local short-term rental hosts asked us if we wanted to purchase their grandfathered short-term rentals, and we jumped at the opportunity. In 2026, we also purchased an eight-unit multifamily building that is a McDonald’s parking lot away from the Purdue campus. The building is currently being used for long-term student housing, and we are planning to transition each unit to short-term rentals.

What is your background?

I have multiple degrees in chemistry, specifically analytical chemistry. I worked as a dissolution chemist, an environmental chemist, and an analytical chemist before going to law school to become a patent attorney. I have been working as a patent attorney since 2005. I see a lot of very early innovations. I translate those intangible personal property rights into patent applications and hopefully issued patents. 

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

We have not always been in vacation rentals. This work has been more of a second career. We became accidental landlords during the Great Financial Crisis (GFC). We moved for my wife’s job in 2010 and we would have lost a lot of money if we sold our primary residence in Indianapolis at that time.

We rented it out instead and learned about depreciation along the way. Learning about depreciation led to understanding the short-term rental loophole. We used our understanding of the short-term rental loophole to acquire a short-term rental property and use the tax credit as the down payment for the next short-term rental. We still own our initial long-term rental in addition to our short-term and mid-term rental holdings.

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

We live within 10 minutes of where our short-term and mid-term rentals are located. We still own our initial long-term rental outside of Indianapolis, but we purchase property locally in West Lafayette, Indiana.

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

We were drawn to West Lafayette due to its nationally ranked high school. We purchased all of our short-term and mid-term rentals in the West Lafayette Community School Corporation school district. Our property taxes support the school system.

What do you love most about the vacation rental business?

As Christians, we value hospitality. We primarily serve parents of Purdue students who come for graduation, football, and basketball games. We enjoy the opportunity to serve others and share in some of their most memorable life experiences. We seek to provide convenient housing options to parents and grandparents of Purdue students to facilitate quality interactions.

What do you dislike the most about it?

Our local market is opposed to vacation rentals. In 2023, the City of West Lafayette passed an “Anti-Airbnb” ordinance requiring short-term rentals to petition for a variance, and in 2025, the City of West Lafayette passed an ordinance banning short-term rentals in R1 zones. But there are more vacant housing units in my market than short-term rentals in my market year-round. We hear from parents of Purdue students that there is no housing available within 25 miles of Purdue during Spring Purdue commencement.

Think about it. Your child is having one of their most important life experiences, probably one of the last experiences shared with you as parents before leaving home for good. You are from far away, and you have only been to campus a few times over the past four years. Now you are having to drive from 30 minutes away to your child’s graduation due to a lack of short-term rental housing in the area. But there are more houses for sale each summer than there are short-term rentals in my market year-round. I dislike that the City of West Lafayette banned short-term rentals based on fear, not facts.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

I love all of the functionality of OwnerRez. OwnerRez allows us to expand our communications, our operations, and our financial reporting far beyond what we would be able to do on our own. We provide a lot of hyperlocal information to guests.

We can direct messages using Rezzy AI to follow crafted answers to frequently asked questions, to provide directives that align with our hospitality goals, and ensure a consistent messaging style that highlights our desire to facilitate serving our guests. The more personalized the message, the better, and Rezzy AI’s suggestions greatly speed up our personalized responses. Adding additional units, even a boutique hotel, is a breeze with OwnerRez.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

Rezzy AI has been wonderful to use. It has been very helpful to get detailed instructions on how to accomplish tasks within OwnerRez. It is learning my style with each draft response.

Cedric has done an outstanding job building a business that delivers exceptional stays while giving his kids the opportunity to learn. We look forward to seeing Happy Stay WL continue to grow with the addition of their upcoming boutique hotel.

There is no volume for this video. 

We’re happy to share our integration with Booklogica, giving OwnerRez users a simple and secure way to sync reservations with Google Calendar.

About Booklogica

Booklogica builds automated, privacy‑first tools for short‑term rental operators and property managers. Their focus is on creating reliable, secure, and intuitive integrations that simplify daily operations without adding complexity. Their flagship service, Booklogica Calendar Sync, gives hosts a clean, real‑time view of their reservations inside Google Calendar, powered by a secure Google‑verified OAuth connection and EU‑based cloud infrastructure.

Security & Privacy

• Google‑verified OAuth
• Calendar‑only access (no Gmail, Drive, or Contacts)
• No personal guest data stored
• Access can be revoked anytime in Google settings

Pricing

Booklogica Calendar Sync is available for $9.99 / €9.99 per month, with no setup fees and no long‑term commitment.

The subscription includes real‑time Google Calendar syncing, unified and per‑property calendars, automatic repair jobs, and full email support. A free trial is included; no payment is required to get started. This is an early access price.

View more pricing info here.

Ready to Connect?

Get started with Booklogica by visiting here, and check out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Booklogica.

This week, we are featuring Tom May, founder of Fade Away Vacations. Tom has been partnering his business with OwnerRez since 2022, and what started as a small personal investment has grown into a portfolio of thoughtfully designed homes focused on helping guests “fade away” and create meaningful stays.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

Fade Away Vacations started from a simple idea: create places where people can truly disconnect from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with what matters most. What began as a personal investment in a few properties quickly turned into something more meaningful, designing experiences for families, couples, and groups looking to “fade away” for a while. Over time, we’ve focused on building a small portfolio of high-quality homes that prioritize comfort, location, and memorable stays.

What is your background?

My professional background is rooted in technology and consulting, specifically working with organizations to design and implement resilient infrastructure and disaster recovery strategies. That experience translated well into the vacation rental space; systems thinking, process optimization, and attention to detail all play a big role in running a successful operation.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management? If not, what did you do before?

This is definitely a second career. Vacation rentals started as a side venture and passion project, and over time, evolved into a business. Before launching Fade Away Vacations, I spent years in IT consulting and professional services, helping businesses solve complex infrastructure challenges. That work required a strong focus on reliability, customer experience, and delivering consistent outcomes, skills that directly carry over into hosting and property management.

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

I’m not originally from all the areas where our properties are located, which gives me a guest-first perspective when selecting and designing each location. Each location was chosen intentionally. We look for areas that offer a unique combination of relaxation, recreation, and accessibility, places we’d personally want to visit, but also areas that tend to create lasting memories for guests. Whether it’s proximity to nature, water, or local attractions, the goal is always the same: help people truly unwind.

What do you love most about the vacation rental business?

The ability to create memorable experiences for people. There’s something incredibly rewarding about knowing a family celebrated a milestone, reconnected, or simply relaxed in one of our homes. It’s not just about providing a place to stay, it’s about being part of someone’s story, even in a small way.

What do you dislike the most about it?

Like any hospitality-driven business, it’s 24/7. Issues don’t always happen during business hours, and there’s always an expectation of responsiveness. Managing that while maintaining consistency across properties can be challenging, but it also pushes us to build better systems and processes.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez is the operational backbone of our business. We use it to centralize bookings, manage guest communications, automate workflows, and keep everything organized across platforms. It allows us to run a streamlined operation without sacrificing the personal touch guests expect.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

Automation and integrations are the most valuable. The ability to automate messaging, scheduling, and operational tasks ensures consistency while saving time. It allows us to focus more on the guest experience rather than getting buried in manual processes.

Tom has done an impressive job of building strong systems that allow him to deliver consistent, memorable stays for his guests. We look forward to seeing Fade Away Vacations continue to grow in 2026!

This week’s roundup covers new statewide safety requirements in Maryland, Airbnb’s 2025 economic impact report, fresh market data from AirDNA, and ongoing tax and enforcement efforts in South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Let’s dive in.

The state of Maryland signed into law on Tuesday new fire safety requirements for short-term rentals, along with an annual inspection program. Under House Bill 1221, all vacation rental properties must now include fire prevention and detection equipment, including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and gives local jurisdictions until July 1, 2028, to implement annual inspections. Officials say the new law will strengthen safety standards and improve oversight across the state’s short-term rental market, continuing the trend we’ve seen this year of states, not just local jurisdictions, working to establish a framework for safety and regulation across the vacation rental industry.

Airbnb released a report this week showing that short-term rental hosts and guests contributed a record $93 billion to the U.S. economy in 2025, highlighting the continued impact and growth of the vacation rental industry. The report focuses on the role short-term rentals play in supporting small communities, with guest spending flowing into nearby restaurants, shops, and attractions. Airbnb notes that guests spent an average of $200 per day on their trips in 2025 outside of lodging. Airbnb also estimates the industry supported more than 1.1 million jobs and generated over $26 billion in total tax revenue across the United States.

AirDNA released its February 2026 U.S. Market Review this week, reporting a slight softening in demand amid rising supply. The report notes that while occupancy is trending down, average daily rates (ADR) have remained relatively stable, helping offset some of the impact on overall revenue. AirDNA also points to a shift away from year-round travel patterns and back toward more seasonal demand, with bookings becoming more concentrated around peak and shoulder periods. As the market continues to rebalance post Covid, the report emphasizes the importance of maximizing high-demand seasons and staying responsive to shifting travel patterns.

The South Carolina Senate is considering House Bill 3876, a bill that could have a significant impact on the state's vacation rental market. The proposal focuses on standardizing how accommodation taxes are collected by clearly defining who is responsible for collecting and remitting those taxes, including booking platforms and property managers acting as the merchant of record. Supporters say the bill is an effort to create a more consistent and trackable tax collection process across the state, while critics argue it will add complexity and increase the burden on smaller operators and property managers. The legislative session is set to adjourn on May 7th. Now is a good time for South Carolina vacation rental operators to familiarize themselves with the bill and make their voice known.

In an effort to improve compliance with Pennsylvania’s 6 percent hotel occupancy tax, Washington County is implementing new software to identify short-term rental properties that are not currently remitting the tax. County officials estimate the software will uncover more than 200 properties that are not submitting the tax and generate between $300,000 and $500,000 in new revenue for the county. Similar systems have been implemented in markets like Fort Myers Beach, as reported in Industry News on January 2nd, where software is used to scan booking platforms and flag non-compliant or unregistered rentals. The move reflects a growing trend of local governments using technology to improve enforcement.

As new regulations take shape and we reflect on the industry’s impact in 2025, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2026. Check back next week for the latest news.

Alece, hosts using the default renter agreement who have guests booking after March 11th on mobile will see this updated title font size and improved line-height styling on the default renter agreement section of the Confirm & Pay guest booking form. The new renter agreement guest form is still in development, if that is what you are asking about.

Anne -- Not totally tracking... Can you clarify for me which bookings currently receive/see this new renter agreement design update? 

Alece, your screenshot is actually the old renter agreement form. This renter agreement design update was just a stepping stone toward an improved renter agreement process. Stay tuned!

Email sent. Thanks, Rex!

I'm looking for more information about this, but in the meantime can you write in to help@ownerrez.com about it, including the ORB## for the booking you're looking at as an example?

Meet Tanya Lee, owner of Vivaro Roatan, a collection of luxury villas in the Caribbean. Inspired by her love for travel and a desire for consistent quality, she’s built a strong hospitality brand focused on delivering five-star service and thoughtful amenities.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I grew up in California as part of a family that was always on the move, which sparked my love for travel at an early age. After meeting my husband, we started a family of our own and had three daughters. It became a priority for us to continue that tradition of travel, introducing our girls to the world and sharing those global experiences together. Today, we split our time between Nashville, California, Roatan, and Italy.

What is your background?

My background is a blend of academic passion, entrepreneurship, and personal adventure. I hold a Master’s in Art History, and while I spent many years as a stay-at-home mom raising our three daughters, I was also involved in helping my husband launch and grow a telecommunications company. I am also a certified yoga instructor and a private pilot.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management? If not, what did you do before?

This was very much an accidental career that grew out of a personal project. When I designed our first home, I drew directly from our family's years of travel. We had stayed in so many vacation rentals where the bedroom quality was wildly inconsistent or the kitchens were poorly provisioned, and I wanted to fix that.

I designed the home specifically to ensure every guest had a high-quality experience, but it started renting so often that we realized we had something special. We quickly understood that scaling was the only way to consistently provide the five-star service and thoughtful amenities we felt were missing in the industry, turning that initial personal vacation home into a professional hospitality business.

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

While I’m not originally from Roatan, my family chose to build here after our very first visit as tourists. Over the years, the island has become a true home to us, filled with wonderful friends. It is incredibly special to see our family and friends, and now our granddaughter, enjoying the island. Seeing her splash on the tanning ledge makes all the design work worth it, as it’s exactly the kind of multi-generational connection I hoped to create when we first built here.

What do you love most about the vacation rental business?

What I love most is the opportunity to share our homes with others, especially multi-generational families and guests celebrating a special event who are looking for a place to truly connect.

There is nothing more gratifying than reading reviews that praise my fantastic island team for their hard work, or receiving a personal note from a guest saying it was the best family vacation they’ve ever had. Knowing that the spaces I designed helped facilitate those lifelong memories makes the 'accidental' start of this career completely worth it.

What do you dislike the most about it?

If you are in this industry, you already know where to start! The most challenging part is definitely navigating the unexpected costs of upkeep on a tiny Caribbean island; everything from salt-air wear to logistics is just more complicated.

Beyond the physical maintenance, OTAs can be a major hurdle. They often stand in the middle of great communication, which is frustrating because, with large-format properties in a unique location like Honduras, guests naturally have extensive pre-booking questions. It’s much harder to build that initial trust and provide the detailed answers they need when you're restricted by a platform's interface. And of course, there are the challenging guests who don't always realize the amount of heart and effort my team and I put into making everything perfect.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez is truly the heart of my backend operations. It is the engine that allows me to manage the business seamlessly from anywhere in the world, whether I am at home or traveling.

The platform’s greatest value is how it enables me to communicate effectively and in a timely manner with every guest. From the first inquiry to the post-stay follow-up, it ensures that no detail falls through the cracks. For large-format properties where guests often have extensive questions, having that centralized hub is the only way to maintain the high level of service and responsiveness that our guests expect.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

The most indispensable feature of OwnerRez is how it handles the integration of booking platforms and payments; it is the engine that keeps our global operations synced and secure. We also rely on their hosted website to maintain a professional direct-booking presence.

Having this infrastructure in place is a massive relief as we begin a major remodel of a villa in the Barolo wine region, a structure that hasn't been updated since roughly 1740. While I know we’ll face plenty of historic hurdles during the renovation, I have total confidence that once the work is done, adding Vivaro Monforte to our portfolio and beginning to market it will be a seamless process, thanks to OwnerRez.

Tanya has built a standout hospitality brand by focusing on thoughtful design and creating spaces where families can truly connect. We look forward to seeing Vivaro Roatan continue to grow as she expands into new destinations.

This week, we are excited to feature Justus Smith, an OwnerRez user for over five years and the person behind Ozark Stays. With strong systems in place, Justus has built a portfolio of 15 listings in the Ozarks, driven by his passion for bringing tourism to a beautiful, lesser-known part of the region.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

Ozark Stays was born from just a couple of hosts who operated in the same area, brainstorming about how we could bring additional tourism to our area. The Spring River region of the Ozarks posed good investment potential for people starting out in the STR industry, with lower-cost vacation homes and great proximity to a popular spot for rainbow trout fishing and rafting.

What is your background?

I am a data engineer and software integration specialist by trade. This aligned nicely with my ability to self-teach OwnerRez.

Were you always in vacation rentals or property management? If not, what did you do before?

I have several pursuits, including VR management. One of my pursuits actually involves OwnerRez, as I am one of the OwnerRez Certified Advisors and consult with new OwnerRez users to help them get integrated and connected to useful 3rd-party applications. So it is a happy marriage between my career as a data engineer and hospitality.

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

My business partner is a born-and-bred local, whereas I am a regional neighbor. But we both have a love and passion for bringing tourism to our corner of the Ozarks.

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

I was drawn to the area by its wonderful natural beauty and outdoor pursuits such as fishing and whitewater kayaking.

What do you love most about the vacation rental business?

I love getting to be a part of people's family trips and their memories. Guests so often share great, heartwarming stories about why they're visiting and how much fun they had. And that is so rewarding to me: getting to help shape positive, memorable experiences.

What do you dislike the most about it?

Sometimes there can be difficult customers that cause a good bit of stress, but that's with any industry. You just have to dust yourself off and move on.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

I use OwnerRez to automate my logistical processes as much as possible. This frees up my time for higher-level business pursuits and prevents having to hire an admin assistant at a lower scale. I also utilize the PM module to keep track of earnings for Owners and to send them polished Owner Statements.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

I'd say above all, it is the Channel Management. Being able to have a central calendar that you can tie other technology into and broadcast across nearly unlimited channels is an absolute game-changer.

Justus has built a strong, efficient business in the Ozarks by combining his technical background with a passion for hospitality. We look forward to seeing Ozark Stays continue to grow.

I was thrilled to see the "Scroll to read entire agreement" text and a modern mobile-friendly aesthetic on the revised Rental Agreement mobile view image you included in the font size update! However, when I went to test it for an upcoming guest who has not yet completed hers, it still shows up the old way. No scroll-explainer text, and not the mobile-stylized version shown in your picture above either.

Is that new view only available for direct bookings when the Confirm & Pay screen comes up? Or only for those who use the default OR rental agreement? I'm perplexed...

My str’s are in Port Aransas,TX. We already pay the same tax as hotels (currently 9%), have an annual registration fee of $500 per property which requires an annual inspection. This seems to be the standard for other tourist heavy towns in TX. 

Hi all,

I appreciate the comments! I'm one of the developers working on Baileys Analytics. We're looking to make the best use of the OR API and expose as much information as we can to you all. All of this feedback is super helpful as we look at and draft future updates. Keep it coming. Thanks!

P.S., I did not use Lovable. But I looked it up, and it seems interesting :)

Both of these would be super interesting. Seeing days people search for but don't complete the booking would be very valuable for example.

I have been asking for years data that nobody provides that would be helpful:

• Photo Performance, which photos do people spend the most time with their eyeballs actually on, which are skipped
• Future dates people are searching for right now

Maybe we we can build it with lovable.

People are pumping out those lovable apps! Keep it coming.

This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s most wishlisted listings across the U.S., a new tax proposal in Victoria, Texas, PriceLabs’ major platform update, and Airbnb’s $150K donation to local nonprofits in New York. Let’s dive in.

Airbnb released on Wednesday its most wishlisted listings across the U.S., pointing to continued demand for unique, experience-driven properties. According to Airbnb, more than half of surveyed travelers in early 2026 said a unique listing would inspire them to visit a destination they had not previously considered, and 86 percent said they are interested in remote or rural destinations. The report highlights an ongoing trend, especially among younger travelers, where the stay itself is playing a bigger role in the overall trip and even influencing the overall destination.

The City of Victoria, Texas, is considering a proposal that would require short-term rentals in the area to pay the same tax as hotels. While the state of Texas already taxes short-term rentals, the city currently does not impose its own local tax. Officials say the goal is to create a more level playing field between STRs and hotels while also generating additional revenue for the city. The proposal, still in its early stages, would also create a registry of short-term rentals and require inspections. Local officials point to a steady rise in short-term rentals in the area since 2017 as a key driver behind the proposal. The measure is under review, making this a good time for local operators to stay informed and make their voice known.

PriceLabs announced on Wednesday the release of its 2026 Revenue Accelerator, a significant update that expands the software beyond setting the daily rate through dynamic pricing to a more complete revenue management tool. The update adds more than 30 new features for vacation rental operators, including: a market-driven base price helper, a safety minimum price setting, a listing optimizer, new forecasting tools, and more. PriceLabs says this release is "designed to transform PriceLabs into your end-to-end revenue growth platform."

Airbnb shared this week that New York hosts have helped direct $150,000 to three local nonprofits focused on preventing homelessness, supporting first-time homeownership, and helping low-income individuals build long-term careers. As part of the initiative, local hosts will also volunteer with each organization, including a “build a bed” event in Albany and a homebuilding day in New York City this summer. The donation builds on more than $3 million Airbnb has contributed to nonprofits across New York in 2025, and is part of Airbnb's goal to distribute $100M to communities through 2030.

As the vacation rental community looks to give back and tools like PriceLabs expand their capabilities, there is a lot already happening in 2026. Check back next week for the latest news.

May kicks off the busy season in many markets, making it a great time to tighten up your operations and learn a few new tips and tricks.🌴

This month’s webinar lineup includes live demos, Q&A sessions, and Focus Sessions covering brand-new and refreshed OwnerRez features, including in-app Tasks and the newly designed Bookings overview page. We’ll also be hosting several partner webinars focused on practical, high-impact topics like choosing the right amenities, driving more bookings, and improving safety. Sign up today and learn something new you can apply to your operations this summer.

We’ll also be attending the 2026 Michigan STR Conference in Grand Rapids, MI. If you’re planning to be there, stop by our booth to meet the team and grab some swag.

Webinars:

 5/5/2026 The Host Co/OwnerRez - How to Increase Occupancy with the Right Amenities

In this webinar, we'll share which amenities are consistently selling, how to position them to influence booking decisions, and how to easily implement these strategies into your OwnerRez workflows.

Register now!

 5/6/2026 Focus Session - Tasks

Join us for a live webinar on the brand-new Tasks feature inside OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, we’ll walk through how to use the new in-app Tasks area to manage to-dos, guest requests, and maintenance all in one place.

Register now!

 5/7/2026 OwnerRez Demo

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

Register now!

 5/12/2026 Airbnb/OwnerRez - Improve Quality, Reviews, and Drive More Bookings

Join us for a live webinar where we’ll walk through how Airbnb evaluates listings, what impacts your visibility, and how you can use OwnerRez to improve performance across the board.

Register now!

 5/14/2026 OwnerRez Demo

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

Register now!

 5/15/2026 OwnerRez Q&A

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

Register now!

 5/26/2026 OwnerRez Demo

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

Register now!

 5/27/2026 Focus Session - Bookings

Join us for a live webinar on Bookings inside OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, Adrielle from our Onboarding Team will give an in-depth tutorial on how to view and manage bookings inside the system. She’ll cover all the key parts of a booking, including rules, charges, messages, and the recently redesigned booking overview page, built to make it faster and easier to scan a booking and take action.

Register now!

 5/28/2026 Breezeway/OwnerRez - Don’t Wait for Something to Go Wrong: STR Safety Best Practices

Join us for a live webinar with Justin Ford, Breezeway’s Director of Safety & Certification Programs, to learn how to proactively identify common STR hazards, implement high-impact fixes, and make safety a standard part of how you operate.

Register now!

 5/29/2026 OwnerRez Q&A

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

Register now!

In-Person Event:

2026 Michigan STR Conference

Michigan Short Term Rentals is your go-to resource for buying and investing in vacation rentals in the state of Michigan. Whether it’s learning more about township ordinances or learning how to evaluate a short-term property, they've got you covered. Register here!

When: May 7-8, 2026

Where: Grand Rapids, MI

We are excited to announce our new integration with AllStay.ai, giving OwnerRez users a new way to manage cleaning coordination, scheduling, and day-to-day operations.

About AllStay.ai

AllStay.ai is an operations platform for short-term rental hosts, helping automate cleaning coordination, scheduling, and day-to-day workflows. Built to work seamlessly with PMS systems like OwnerRez, AllStay.ai streamlines everything after a booking is made, so you can run your operations with less manual work.

Features

• Dashboard: Every booking across all listings on a single timeline. Auto-syncs with Airbnb and Vrbo.
• Scheduling: Every crew member's schedule side-by-side. Assign jobs visually and avoid double-bookings.
• Communication: No app needed. Job details sent by text, replies handled automatically. Crew confirm jobs, send photos, and report issues, all over SMS.
• Crew Portal: Crew see their schedule, chat with you, and track payment history; all in the browser, no download needed.
• AI Assistant: The AI reads conversation context and suggests polished responses. Send with one click or edit first.
• Properties: Import via iCal from any platform. Each card shows cleaning fees, connected platforms, and crew at a glance.
• Financials: Break down costs by crew member, view monthly trends, and track unpaid balances.
• Task Management: Issues reported by crew via SMS automatically become to-dos. Categorized with due dates so nothing slips.
• Mobile Apps: The full AllStay.ai experience on your phone. Calendar, crew chat, and job management; everywhere.

Pricing

Transparent Pricing. No hidden fees. No long-term contracts. Pay only for the units you manage. 

• Pro (1-20 units): $4.99/unit/month. 
• Enterprise (20+ units): Contact for pricing
• Early Adopter Offer: The first 100 customers get free access for a limited time, up to 5 units. No credit card required.

View more pricing info here.

Ready to Connect?

Get started with AllStay.ai by visiting here, and check out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with AllStay.ai.

Episode Thirteen of Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals podcast is now available!

Welcome to the Walk ’n Talk podcast, hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, co-founders of OwnerRez. Inspired by their weekly walks, the podcast captures the conversations where they’ve spent years talking through ideas, challenges, and real decisions behind the business. These discussions have shaped product direction, strategy, and countless day-to-day decisions at OwnerRez. Each episode pulls from more than a decade of building, real customer challenges, and the realities of running a tech company. Listen in and walk away with ideas you can apply to your own vacation rental business.

🎙️ Episode 13 Now Live

EP13 - The Power of Saying No & When to Say Yes

In Episode Thirteen, Paul and Chris break down the undervalued power of saying no and how that clears the way for the right yes. They talk through recent investment decisions, how their thinking has shifted over time, and how to recognize a property with the right “feeling.”

You’ll hear about:

• Why saying no matters just as much as saying yes
• Time in the market vs timing the market
• What makes a property stand out beyond the numbers
• Why “feeling” is hard to scale
• Where smaller operators have an edge
• Balancing cost decisions with guest experience

It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Paul and Chris make investment decisions and where they’re finding value in today’s market.

Listen Now

Watch Now

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

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

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

Episode eleven of Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals podcast is live!

Hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, CEO and CTO of OwnerRez, the Walk ’n Talk podcast is inspired by their weekly walks, where they’ve spent years talking through ideas, challenges, and product decisions. Now, those conversations are recorded for you to listen in and walk away with something you can apply to your own business.

🎙️ Episode 11 Now Live

EP11 - Why Cancellation Policies Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All

In Episode Eleven, Paul and Chris dive into the frequently debated topic of cancellation policies and share what the data is actually showing. They walk through why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, and how property type, price point, and booking volume all play a role in choosing the right policy for a vacation rental. They also discuss how cancellation policies tie into the guest experience and the overall feel of a stay, beyond just the numbers.

You’ll hear about:

• What the data is actually saying about cancellation policies
• Why flexibility works in some cases, but not all
• How property type, price, and booking patterns influence the right policy
• How cancellation policies impact guest experience and goodwill

It’s an honest conversation about cancellation policies, what the data actually shows, and how Paul and Chris approach finding the right balance between performance and guest experience.

Listen Now

Watch Now

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

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

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

This week, we are highlighting Jacqui Parkhill, owner of Ozark Mountain Shay Getaways and an OwnerRez user since 2019. With a background in real estate and over 15 years in the industry, Jacqui manages all six of her properties on her own using strong systems and automation to keep everything running smoothly.

Can you tell us a little bit about your history?

I have been running my own vacation rental business for about 15 years. Real estate has always been a part of my life. My father and family began investing in rental homes nearly 10 years before I was born, and grew that business to over 150 rental properties across three different states. So in many ways, I grew up around this industry. Vacation rentals, of course, are a very different world compared to traditional long-term rentals, which is how my family started. What I’ve built has evolved into a full-time business, and I truly love the flexibility it provides, allowing me to be home, travel, and create a lifestyle I enjoy.

What is your background?

My background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Marketing from Missouri State University.

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

I live right in Branson, Missouri, where my properties are located, which makes it much easier to stay hands-on and be available for guests when needed.

What do you love most about the vacation rental business?

One of my favorite parts of this business is the interaction with such a wide variety of guests, along with the creative side of designing and setting up each unit when it’s purchased.

What do you dislike the most about it?

The most challenging part has been managing everything on my own. I don’t have employees, so I personally handle the day-to-day operations and coordinate out any maintenance or additional needs as they arise.

How do you use OwnerRez to manage your business?

OwnerRez has truly been a game-changer for me. It keeps everything organized and in one place, making it simple to manage reservations, payments, and guest communication.

What is the most useful feature OwnerRez offers?

I especially appreciate how seamlessly it integrates with platforms like Vrbo, Airbnb, and my own direct booking website. Having those systems automated has saved me an incredible amount of time and allows me to run my business much more efficiently.

Jacqui has done an impressive job growing her business while still managing the day-to-day operations on her own. Her story is a great example of how, with the right tools in place, you can manage vacation rentals at scale without a large staff. We look forward to seeing Ozark Mountain Shay Getaways continue to grow.

We’re excited to share our latest integration with Wander, a luxury OTA channel focused on connecting quality properties with quality guests.

About Wander

Wander.com is a luxury OTA channel focused on the top 10% of short-term rental inventory, where nightly rates consistently outperform Airbnb and Vrbo. Think higher occupancy, better guests, and a brand that commands trust from day one. Wander drives massive demand, with over 750,000 high-intent users in the network and six figures in monthly ad spend fueling growth. That includes differentiated distribution channels most operators can’t access, like influencer partnerships and Comcast TV, where Wander achieves ~100,000 placements daily.

Features

• Earn more from every property: Increase revenue with smarter pricing, broader distribution, and performance tools built to scale across your portfolio.
• Attract more high-quality guests: They connect top-quality properties with top-quality guests, so you can focus on operations and guest experience without headaches.

Getting Started

• Wander reviews all inventory before going live and selects only top "Wander-worthy" homes to list on Wander.com.
• After signing up and connecting your account, you will receive an email listing the homes eligible to go live.

Pricing

Wander charges 8% + a CC processing fee whenever a booking is completed. Wander is the merchant of record, and payouts are sent 24 hours after guest checkout. No commitment. Sign up and test the Wander channel anytime you'd like.

Ready to Connect?

Get started with Wander by visiting here, and check out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Wander.

Okay thanks for letting me know Michael, so do we (OwnerRez hosts) decide which system to use since I assume there is no way for both systems to be used at the same time, correct? Does HelloHost, Rezzy AI or any other OwnerRez integration incorporate AI mediated phone conversations?

Hi Cedric,

I'll let Rezzy summarize the features of each for you!

HelloHost vs. Rezzy AI — Key Differences🤖 Rezzy AI (Built into OwnerRez)

Rezzy AI is OwnerRez's own native AI assistant, included directly within the platform. Its guest communication features include:

• Reads every guest message in the Unified Inbox (Airbnb, Vrbo, SMS, etc.)
• Operates in Suggest Manually, Create Draft, or fully automatic modes
• Responds in the guest's language (if configured)
• Answers questions about payments, security deposits, rental agreements, check-in/out instructions, Wi-Fi, etc.
• Provides accurate pricing quotes for new and modified reservations
• Automatically creates Tasks from guest messages for actionable follow-up
• Includes guardrails — it won't create or modify bookings without your review
• Also powers AI-driven guest sentiment analysis in the Quality Center

Rezzy AI Guest Communication > Unified Inbox > Messaging Mode > Booking Transaction Information > Quotes > Pause Responses

🏠 HelloHost (Third-Party Integration)

HelloHost is a purpose-built, third-party AI guest communication platform that connects to OwnerRez via an integration. Key features include:

• Autopilot Messaging — fully automated, 24/7 responses with no templates or editing required
• Full customization of tone, rules, delays, and workflows
• Multilingual support for all languages
• Smart Human Handoff — escalates complex issues via SMS, WhatsApp, or Slack
• Syncs property and booking data from OwnerRez in real time via webhooks
• Requires a 30-day free trial signup and a mandatory 30-minute onboarding call to get started

HelloHost > Steps for Integration > What Data is Transmitted