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Is there any update yet on the streamlining of Booking.com with OR so the connection of new listings uploads smoothly?
I am interested in the concierge service, and would love to be able to utilize but I only have 2 properties. Quite a few of these new services are only available for 5 or more properties. I hope OwnerRez can negotiate to be able to bring the smaller owners onboard.
I was also looking for some reviews and couldn't find any. All these services promise the world but for some reason want to tie you into a subscription where they get paid regardless of results, and the results often don't follow. Was interested in trying, but even this blog post already has 1x false advertising claim: concierge starting at 9.80 for a monthly subscription, but that price is only if you pay for the year, so that is what I would call a yearly subscription. Rethinking signing up if they can't even be upfront with their pricing.
Hi - I did a broad search on Google and could not find any reviews. There was one suggestion to use chatgpt the writeups instead. This probably would work if you first seed chatgpt with the desired emphasis. All for free.
Would be interested to know this too? I've searched but can't find any outstanding reviews.
Has anyone here in the OR community got experience in collaborating with Autorank? What was your experience?
We’re excited to announce our new integration with Reva, helping OwnerRez users automate their guest review strategy, gain actionable insights, and boost direct bookings.
Reva’s review and reputation platform helps vacation rental managers automate their guest review strategy to save time, drive valuable business insights, and boost direct bookings. Reva aggregates your reviews into one centralized channel, giving you the visibility and control needed to drive actionable insights and improvements across your business.
Boutique ($69/month)
Professional ($99/month)
Enterprise ($.99/property per month)
View additional pricing info here.
Get started with Reva by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Reva..
This week’s roundup covers Booking.com’s partnership with ChatGPT, a proposed short-term rental tax in San Diego, reports on Airbnb’s potential business profiles, and smart TV liability risks in vacation rentals. Let’s dive in.
Booking.com has been selected as one of the first partners to launch an app inside ChatGPT, joining a small group that includes Spotify, Expedia, and Zillow. The integration lets guests explore destinations, search for stays, view photos and amenities, and compare options directly within ChatGPT. Once a stay is selected, guests are directed to Booking.com to complete their booking. This exciting partnership between Booking.com and OpenAI aims to make trip planning more seamless and conversational, potentially leading to added visibility for vacation rental operators.
San Diego officials are turning their attention to short-term rentals as they look for new ways to close a year-long budget deficit. A proposal introduced this week would establish a new tax on vacation rentals, with the funds allocated toward affordable housing and homelessness programs. If approved, the measure could introduce new costs and reporting requirements for short-term rental operators, making it crucial for hosts in the San Diego area to stay informed and act quickly as the proposal takes shape.
In the wake of Airbnb’s first-ever North American Host Summit, Skift reported that property managers were introduced to Airbnb’s new concept for business profiles. The feature reportedly would allow hosts to group multiple listings under a single profile, showcase their vacation rental brand, and access enhanced performance insights. These exciting reports seem to point towards Airbnb wanting to help professional hosts manage their portfolios more effectively and draw a line between professional and individual hosts on the platform. No official announcements have been made, but these reports share a potentially interesting path forward for Airbnb.
Short Term Rentalz released an article this week discussing the liability of smart TVs in vacation rental properties. The article highlights the importance of credential clearing, which ensures that previous guests’ streaming accounts and personal information are removed during the turnover and before new guests check in. Failing to clear logins can expose hosts to potential legal issues. An easy solution for removing this potential liability is to utilize Roku Guest Mode. For vacation rental operators already using Roku TVs in their properties, check out our guide on How to Use Roku Guest Mode in Your Vacation Rental here.
With exciting new partnerships and evolving regulations, the vacation rental market continues to undergo rapid changes. Check back next week for the latest news!
Excellent work! keep cranking them out!. Thanks
Thanks, Johnny P! 😁
Excellent work! keep cranking them out!. Thanks
This week, we look at Marriott’s outdoor-focused loyalty expansion, Airbnb’s 2026 World Cup efforts, Oregon’s strengthened guest privacy rules, and what’s next for Airbnb’s rewards program. Let’s dive in.
Marriott is expanding its Bonvoy program with a new outdoor platform that includes both stays and curated activities like hiking, biking, skiing, and water sports across North America. Members can now earn and redeem points not just on hotel rooms, but also on outdoor-focused lodging and experiences through partner resorts and outfitters. The move signals the strong demand for travel that goes beyond a place to sleep, as more guests seek trips built around wellness, adventure, and the outdoors. For short-term rental operators, this trend opens the door to highlight your property’s proximity to outdoor activities and even consider partnering with local outfitters to offer guests a more complete travel experience.
A recent report commissioned by Airbnb warns that Vancouver could face a shortfall of 70,000 overnight stays during the FIFA World Cup 2026, with hotel prices expected to soar by more than 200%. Airbnb is calling for temporary special event hosting rules, also known as event exemptions, to ease short-term rental restrictions during the tournament. Similar measures have been used successfully in the UK and Japan, allowing residents to host visitors for major events without affecting long-term housing supply. Airbnb says a time-limited exemption would help Vancouver close the lodging gap, keep prices more affordable for fans, and fully capture the economic benefits of hosting the World Cup. If approved, the exemption could create significant opportunities for hosts during the tournament and potentially set a precedent for future global events, such as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The state of Oregon has passed a new law strengthening privacy protections for guests in short-term rentals and hotels. Guests now have the right to take legal action and recover monetary damages if they are recorded through photos, video, or audio in spaces where they would reasonably expect privacy. The law expands protections beyond what was previously in place. For short-term rental operators, it’s a good opportunity to review your listings and ensure everything is fully compliant.
Airbnb is investing $5 million in communities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America, with $1 million specifically allocated to New York and New Jersey. The funding will support the creation of five new soccer mini-pitches in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and New Jersey in collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Airbnb will also sponsor community events, including the Queens Community Day festival and a celebration in the Bronx during the tournament. The company says the initiative aims to build a lasting community legacy while supporting local engagement ahead of the World Cup.
Skift released an interesting article this week speculating on a long-awaited rewards program from Airbnb. Sources say the company is currently evaluating loyalty options and may favor a membership style program over a traditional points system, offering perks like discounts, early check-ins, or waived fees. CEO Brian Chesky has described a loyalty or membership program as “a very, very compelling thing” and said “something big is coming” while development is underway. Analysts suggest a membership model could help Airbnb compete with hotel loyalty programs while staying true to its lifestyle and community driven brand. No launch date has been announced, but the discussion highlights Airbnb’s focus on deepening customer engagement as it expands further into hotels.
As the industry gears up for major events like the World Cup, expect more updates across the vacation rental landscape this fall. Check back next week for the latest news!
Once again, an amazing batch of updates. Can't wait to try the review triggers and field codes. New design looking good, too. Thanks team!
Thanks so much, Mar Bella! 😁 Check out our new support articles with ideas for using these new review triggers and field codes.
Once again, an amazing batch of updates. Can't wait to try the review triggers and field codes. New design looking good, too. Thanks team!
Cameras that detect facial recognition are already being used in public places whether we are aware of it or not. Banks, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, etc. I don’t have an issue with it. I think if we drafted a message for guests to explain why this necessary (to keep everyone safe, honest, and validating that the primary guest is who they say they are) is good for due diligence and preventing chargebacks. Stripe has established a similar process.
I am in favor of facial recognition and authentication of guests ID in an effort to prevent chargebacks and the reassurance that the primary guest staying in my property is who they say they are. We are in an era of people creating fake IDs. Currently I use Cognito Forms for guest ID however it’s not authenticated, nor is the link created by OR to add to the Rental Agreement. I don’t understand the objection to facial recognition. I would like to onboard but first would like to see a tutorial because as it stands I don’t see how to embed a link for Authenticate into my RA.
For any other OR users who have a surcharge that should calculate a percentage on rent+surcharges (such as a credit card processing fee), unfortunately we have to keep all our surcharges in the old system (called "custom" now).
Received this back from OR Support: "This appears to be a design limitation rather than a bug. The new Standard Surcharges system prioritizes simplicity over granular positioning control. For your specific use case where you need the CC processing fee to calculate on rent + surcharges, you may indeed need to revert to custom surcharges for full positioning control."
I agree--I think this (Facial Recognition) will be off-putting to many guests. I personally decline facial recognition when flying within the USA. Unfortunately, this will become mandatory (along with finger-printing) for most travel overseas/through the EU this fall.
@Anne - Before I spend more time reverting back to my old custom Surcharges away from your newest versions, is it possible for you to confirm with the engineers that this is the intended way this should be working? (That the new setup does not allow for setting the CC processing fee percentage to rent+surcharges.)
I apologize for the delay in responding, Alece. As OwnerRez continues to refine its surcharges, this area is continually evolving. At this point, I think you would be best served by contacting our Helpdesk team with your question. Best of luck!
Just did the "TEST" on the Authenticate website, on myself. It appears that what Authenticate does is send an link to the guest to upload a drivers license or passport or their personal information, then at that point the vetting begins. Is this correct?
Your post would be more helpful to people (me) if you could elaborate and explain why. Thanks!
Big NO! to facial recognition.
Fall is here, and October is packed with opportunities to dial in your operations and grow your business with OwnerRez. 🍁 We’ve lined up a full schedule of live webinars and two in-person events you won’t want to miss.
This month’s webinar lineup includes Demos, Q&A Sessions, and Focus Sessions on listing descriptions, guest instructions, health and safety, photos, and rooms. You’ll also hear from our friends at PetScreening about pet-friendly rental strategies that boost bookings, help manage risks, and improve guest reviews.
Additionally, the VRMA International Conference will be taking place October 12th-15th in Las Vegas, and OwnerRez will be there as a proud sponsor! At the conference, we’re also hosting a Free Hangout event on October 13th alongside some of our amazing integrated partners: PriceLabs, StayFi, Lynnbrook, Rental Guardian, RemoteLock, LG, Avalara, HostBuddy AI, PetScreening, TouchStay, and TechTape. Come enjoy free drinks and food on us as you converse with some of the biggest names in the vacation rental industry. Reserve your free ticket today using code OWNERREZ!
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.
Learn how to boost bookings with pet-inclusive policies, manage assistance animal requests, reduce risks, and increase revenue.
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 an in-depth focus session on the Descriptions, Guest Instructions, and Health & Safety pages inside of OwnerRez. We’ll walk through the updated layout, share best practices, and provide practical tips to ensure your listings are fully optimized across all your connected channels.
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 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 deep dive into the Photos and Rooms pages inside OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, we'll share the step-by-step process for uploading and arranging property photos, creating rooms, and making accessibility features clear for guests. This focus session will help you get the most out of these critical listing sections.
The VRMA International Conference is the ultimate destination for short-term vacation rental professionals eager to expand their knowledge, explore innovative solutions, and connect with peers. With a diverse range of educational sessions and an extensive exhibit hall, the conference provides unparalleled opportunities to learn, collaborate, and grow. Use code MEETMEINLV for $100 off registration rates!
When: October 12-15, 2025
Where: Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, NV
At this year's VRMA International Conference in Vegas, OwnerRez is hosting a Hangout event! The event will be held across the street from the convention center at Yard House on Monday, 10/13, from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. OwnerRez is co-hosting this event with a select group of our amazing integrated partners: PriceLabs, StayFi, Lynnbrook, Rental Guardian, RemoteLock, LG, Avalara, HostBuddy AI, PetScreening, TouchStay, and TechTape.
Up to 200 people can fit in the space, so be sure to reserve your free ticket ahead of time using code OWNERREZ! Enjoy free drinks and food as you converse with some of the biggest names in the vacation rental industry.
When: October 13, 2025, 7-9 PM
Where: Yard House in Las Vegas, NV
@Anne - Before I spend more time reverting back to my old custom Surcharges away from your newest versions, is it possible for you to confirm with the engineers that this is the intended way this should be working? (That the new setup does not allow for setting the CC processing fee percentage to rent+surcharges.)
We are happy to announce our partnership with Inhaven, giving OwnerRez users a simple way to manage operations, streamline inventory, and maintain consistent quality across every property.
Inhaven is a leading supply and operations platform built specifically for professional vacation rental property managers. Through one easy-to-use platform, managers can source hospitality-grade bedding, bath, kitchen, and cleaning supplies at wholesale pricing. Beyond purchasing, Inhaven provides inventory management, quoting, and invoicing tools that help managers maintain brand standards, simplify operations, and keep every property guest-ready.
Inhaven also makes it simple to create and manage linen programs, ensuring consistent quality across every property. With tools like linen calculators, managers can easily determine par levels, plan replenishment, and eliminate the guesswork around linen costs. The Inhaven team also partners closely with property managers to develop owner pricing strategies, helping turn supply costs into revenue generators while maintaining transparency and consistency.
And with hands-on customer service, managers gain one point of contact for all purchasing and inventory needs, saving valuable time and resources.
Integrating with Inhaven’s B2B platform enables property managers to streamline purchasing, inventory control, owner quoting, and invoicing. Through the OwnerRez integration, Inhaven can:
Connecting your OwnerRez account with Inhaven and purchasing through the platform is completely free. For those who want to use Inhaven’s inventory management and quoting tools, pricing starts after a free 3-month trial at as low as $2 per property per month, based on portfolio size.
Get started with Inhaven by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Inhaven.
@Anne -- DONE! Feature request for adding check-in status trigger conditions to inquiries in addition to bookings: https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests/add-checkin-status-trigger-condition-to-inquiries-as-well
This week’s Industry News highlights the Ryder Cup’s impact on short-term rentals in New York, new rental regulations in Monterey and Austin, and what’s driving France’s record tourism season. Let’s dive in.
The 2025 Ryder Cup kicks off this weekend at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, with local officials estimating $160 million in economic impact across Long Island, New York. For the week of the tournament, over $2.1 million in short-term rental revenue has been booked. According to AirDNA, average daily rates in Farmingdale and Babylon are up 145% compared to the same week last year. The three most expensive properties booked in Farmingdale were all marketed specifically to Ryder Cup visitors. These staggering numbers highlight the value of tracking and adjusting nightly rates for local events. Marketing your listing to attract event attendees can also help maximize occupancy and boost revenue during those peak demand periods.
Previously reported in Industry News on August 22, Monterey County has officially passed its new vacation rental ordinance. The Board of Supervisors approved ordinances banning commercial vacation rentals in Big Sur and Carmel Highlands, and limiting short-term rentals to only 4% of single-family homes in unincorporated areas. This change will force 37 rentals in Big Sur and many others in Carmel and Pebble Beach to shut down. Exceptions include hosted stays where the owner is present during the booking period and rentals that happen three times a year or less. The new permit requirements and regulations are set to take effect in October. Vacation rental owners operating in these areas should review these changes carefully to ensure they comply with the stricter regulations.
Skift reported this week on France’s record-breaking summer tourism season, driven by four key factors. Among the factors behind the surge were fewer overtourism headlines, as officials worked to promote regions beyond Paris and the Riviera, and a rise in American travelers, who now spend more than double the average domestic tourist at €140 ($164) per day. While final numbers are still being counted, French tourism is projected to contribute $312 billion to GDP, up 3% over last year and 10% above pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council and Oxford Economics.
The City of Austin, Texas, is bringing a number of updates to its short-term rental regulations starting October 1st. Short-term rental licenses will now last two years instead of one, and owners must list a local contact who can quickly respond to any issues or complaints. The city will also send more license notifications to surrounding residents and is working to improve how it handles complaints. Other changes include new spacing rules between short-term rentals, limits on how many units can operate in multifamily buildings, and stricter platform requirements. Starting July 2026, listings must display license numbers, and listing platforms like Airbnb will be required to remove unregistered properties upon request by the city. City officials expect these changes to improve oversight and generate more tax revenue.
With big events and new rules shaping the market, expect continued changes across the vacation rental industry this fall. Check back next week for the latest news!
That’s good news, thanks for the update, Paul. PayPal state they support Antigua and Barbuda (where our property is) and they obviously support the UK (where we live) so fingers crossed if Stripe cut us off again for the property being in Antigua, it’s a good Plan B! 🤞
We are in the middle of working on an integration with Pagadito which is entirely based in Central America. That will serve countries like Panama and Costa Rica with native local processing.
The new PayPal stuff is finished and mere days away from release. It was a huge update and took a couple extra months to polish it after building and verifying the original integration with PayPal. I'm not sure if that will help you or not in Antigua. Just FYI.
I'll let StretchBill respond about their options for Panama and Antigua if that is something they support.
We have similar issues for Antigua. OR told me that they are working on a new advanced integration with PayPal which was meant to be ready by the end of June…. But no sign of it yet 🤔
Is stretchbill with authorize.net an option for those of us outside of the US and Canada? (Specifically Panama)I need to find a permanent (reasonable) solution for taking payments…..
Is stretchbill with authorize.net an option for those of us outside of the US and Canada? (Specifically Panama)
I need to find a permanent (reasonable) solution for taking payments…..
