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August is a great time to revisit your setup, fine-tune your workflows, and make sure you're getting the most out of OwnerRez. This month, we’re keeping things focused with a lineup of live webinars designed to help you build confidence in the tools you use every day.
Join us for high-level product demos, open Q&A sessions, and a Focus Session on account setup best practices. Whether you're just getting started or want to take a closer look at specific features, we've got a session for you. Get signed up today!
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 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 tips and tricks for setting up your OwnerRez account in this live webinar, including recommended Property Rules settings, House Rules, and other helpful setup details.
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.
Looking for ways to help your listings stand out? Join us on August 26th for an in-depth webinar where you’ll learn strategies to help your listings get noticed and booked.
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.
This week’s roundup highlights a pivotal vote on Maui’s proposed vacation rental phase-out, evolving policy debates in Evanston, IL, and late summer beach travel trends. Let's dive in.
In continued coverage of Maui County’s proposed vacation rental phase-out, previously reported in Industry News on June 6, June 13, and July 4, the Housing and Land Use Committee has voted 6 to 3 to recommend passage of Bill 9. Introduced by Mayor Richard Bissen, the bill would phase out around 7,000 vacation rentals in apartment-zoned areas as part of the county’s effort to address its ongoing housing crisis. As amended, the phase-out would begin in 2028 in West Maui, which lost thousands of homes in the August 2023 wildfires, and in 2030 for the rest of the county. Legal concerns over property rights and economic impacts continue to surround the bill. After weeks of stalled action, long meetings, and divided testimony, the committee advanced the bill to the full Council, where a final vote will determine whether Maui’s vacation market is reshaped for years to come.
According to a recent consumer poll by Panterra, nearly half of all travelers named the beach as their next getaway. In line with this survey, Airbnb has released its list of the top ten trending beach destinations worldwide for late summer travel. In the number two spot is New Shoreham, Rhode Island, where searches have surged nearly 160 percent compared to last summer, making Block Island a standout destination in the Northeast. The list also features popular coastal spots like Port Aransas, TX, Portland, ME, and international favorites such as Saquarema, Brazil, and Palermo, Italy.
Skift recently reported on an Airbnb job listing that signals plans for a major upgrade to its search engine using generative AI. Although this change is likely a way off, the job description hints at a new search system that lets travelers search with natural language queries. For example, a guest could search for “a pet-friendly place on the coast with fast WiFi and a peaceful setting,” moving beyond traditional filters. This development could eventually change how travelers search and book on Airbnb.
Evanston’s City Council is continuing to weigh how vacation rentals fit into the city’s long-term housing plans. Four license applications are currently under review, including one previously delayed after pushback from neighbors. The Planning and Development Committee has faced criticism in recent weeks over inconsistent rulings, and city council members are now considering a broader pause on new applications. A possible moratorium will be discussed at the committee’s August 25th meeting, as the city works to balance tourism demand with concerns about housing availability, a theme seen worldwide this summer.
In an interesting opinion piece this week, Matthew Yglesias argues that cities should tax tourists more heavily to ease housing pressure and support local services. He recommends raising occupancy and sales taxes on tourists, including the idea of seasonally varying sales taxes, to reduce demand and generate revenue in tourism-heavy areas. Yglesias stresses that the ultimate goal is not just to shift the tax burden onto visitors but to ensure that spending by non-residents drives a coherent growth strategy for each state. He also calls for stronger state-level action on housing as well as regulating hotels and cruise ship tourism, which place a burden on communities without contributing to long-term affordability.
As the vacation rental landscape continues to shift, expect more updates on policy debates, travel trends, and housing pressures. Check back next week for the latest industry news!
We’re excited to introduce StretchBill as our latest integrated partner. This new integration gives OwnerRez users a flexible, property-manager-friendly payment solution that goes beyond standard credit card processing. With features like no cash reserve requirements, StretchBill helps streamline payment collection while giving guests more ways to pay.
StretchBill is the most complete payments partner for vacation rental property managers. Unlike other payment companies, StretchBill has NO CASH RESERVE requirements for property managers, as they are only focused on serving the property management industry.
If you are currently processing card payments with Stripe in particular, the no cash reserve requirement and easier and responsive customer service may be a reason to switch over. StretchBill works through our existing integration with Authorize.net, so you can seamlessly start processing payments.
Features
Subscription Fee
Get started with StretchBill by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with StretchBill.
We’re thrilled to announce Right to Rent as a new integrated partner! This integration makes it effortless to support smart, effective advocacy that protects hosts and managers like you, automatically, every time you get a booking, through the Right to Rent Collaborative.
The ability to operate vacation rentals is being challenged in cities and communities across the country. As restrictions tighten, your business could face serious roadblocks, or worse, be shut down entirely.
That’s why OwnerRez has partnered with the Right to Rent Collaborative, a national advocacy fund dedicated to defending the future of vacation rentals.
Now, you can easily sign up to support this effort right from within your OwnerRez integration.
It’s hands-free. It’s affordable. And it’s your chance to stand up for your business.
To capture the $2/reservation on your bookings, we recommend rolling this into your existing fees. However, you can also collect this as a separate line item and set the fee name as VR Stewardship Fund.
It’s easy, impactful, and automatic.
Get started today and stand up for your right to rent with every reservation. Follow the steps below to start:
OwnerRez is proud to accept the 2025 accolades from the Gartner Digital Markets brands: Capterra, Software Advice, and GetApp. Our industry-leading product was once again recognized in several top-rated Vacation Rental and Property Management Software reports. We were also honored in 2023 and 2024, and we're proud to maintain that same high standard in 2025. These awards highlight our consistency and commitment to delivering Elite Software to our incredible users.
This chart shows the top Vacation Rental Software companies. Capterra uses exclusive data and reviews from people like you to build their software shortlist. You'll see the popularity score on the left side, and the rating score at the bottom. Every year, the goal is to reach the upper right corner of this chart, and we’ve proudly done so year after year.
This chart by Capterra displays an overview of the top Property Management Software companies. Following the same format as the first Capterra chart, the popularity score appears on the left while the rating score is along the bottom. Our goal remains to reach the upper right of the chart annually, and once again, we have succeeded.
This chart from Software Advice shows OwnerRez delivering superior customer satisfaction and usability, ranking us among the top vacation rental software companies.
Just like the first Software Advice chart, OwnerRez also stands out as a leading property management software known for excellent customer satisfaction and usability. We continue to hold our place in the upper right corner.
GetApp evaluates software with a unique system compared to most review sites. Each score is based on 5 key criteria, worth up to 20 points. The maximum total score is 100. For 2025, OwnerRez scored 95, ranking us among the highest-rated vacation rental software in the industry.
Similar to the previous chart, OwnerRez has been given a rating score of 93, once again, making us one of the highest-rated property management softwares by GetApp.
Capterra Shortlist is an independent assessment that evaluates user reviews and online search activity to generate a list of market leaders in the software space that offer the most popular solutions. Have a look at the Capterra Shortlist methodology here.
Software Advice is the leading online service for businesses of all sizes navigating the software selection process, providing free, personalized software recommendations that meet their business needs. Software Advice features objective research by industry experts and reviews from validated users, saving buyers time and resources. Software Advice is a Gartner company. Learn more about their methodology here.
GetApp serves as an ecosystem of user-generated and editorial reviews of software and apps for businesses. GetApp lists all vendors in their comprehensive directory so users can compare, sort and filter results to make the most informed decision possible. See GetApp’s Methodology here.
We’re honored to receive these accolades once again in 2025, and it’s all thanks to the honest feedback from our valued users. Your reviews play a crucial role in helping us maintain our high standards and continue delivering Elite Software. If you’d like to share your experience with OwnerRez and help others make informed vacation rental software choices, we invite you to do so here. Thank you for being part of the OwnerRez community.
Meet Peter Brimhall, owner and operator of Mt Shasta Vacation Rentals. With a background in maintenance, contracting, and aviation, Peter brings a unique perspective that helps him effectively manage 30 homes in Northern California’s beautiful mountain region. Using OwnerRez to stay organized, he works to exceed expectations and help create lasting memories for his guests.
Mt Shasta Vacation Rentals was founded over 20 years ago by Linda Williamson, a broker with Century 21 Advantage in Mt. Shasta, California. I took over full-time management of the business in 2022 and became the new owner in June 2025. We currently manage 30 homes for 26 different property owners.
My background is in maintenance and contracting, with some experience in sales and customer service mixed in. I began my career in the U.S. Air Force as a C-130 Crew Chief. From there, I worked at Peterson Tractor, a Caterpillar dealership, followed by a role with UpWind Solutions, a wind turbine service company. I also ran my own remodeling business.
I originally had the maintenance contract with Mt Shasta Vacation Rentals when they approached me to take over operations. Managing vacation rental properties isn't all that different from prepping aircraft for missions or fleets of vehicles for daily work; you’re coordinating people with varying personalities and expectations. The goal is always to meet or exceed those expectations.
I grew up just a few ridges over in Trinity County and moved to Mt. Shasta about ten years ago. This part of Northern California is a mountain paradise, with dense forests, pristine lakes, and rivers in every direction. It's one of the last places you can still truly get lost. Mt. Shasta itself stands at 14,162 feet, a striking presence that draws in adventurers and spiritual wanderers alike. I've traveled a bit, but it's hard to imagine living anywhere else.
I love that this business allows me to live comfortably in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. It’s rewarding to help guests experience this area and create lasting memories.
My frustrations are mostly with things beyond my control. For example, negotiating with third-party platforms like Airbnb can be challenging. They often don’t support hosts as much as they should.The review process can also be flawed. Guests can leave damaging reviews over things like mosquitoes in a forest. I'd love to see a review system that allows honest feedback without directly impacting a host’s standing.
OwnerRez is the heartbeat of our operation. We use it for everything.
I really appreciate the automated SMS and email features. The tag automations are incredibly helpful for staying organized. Our owners especially love how clear and easy-to-read the financial statements are.
With deep roots in the region and a genuine passion for hospitality, Peter Brimhall is thoughtfully building on Mt Shasta Vacation Rentals’ rich legacy to create memorable stays in Northern California. We look forward to supporting and watching Mt Shasta Vacation Rentals’ continued success.
We’re excited to introduce our new integration with Hostvana, a powerful and hyper-customizable AI platform built for short-term rental professionals.
Hostvana transforms hospitality operations by managing guest communication, smart locks, cleaning schedules and flagging problematic guests; all with a mobile-first interface that supports key tasks like quote generation and booking management.
Founded before the AI boom by seasoned property managers, Hostvana proves you can deliver exceptional guest service without sacrificing quality of life by using AI among other tools to power a configurable, human‑like responder that ends late‑night calls, inbox overload, and missed cleanings.
Base Package (required):
AI Package (add-on):
Other Add-ons:
The first 100 OwnerRez users get 25% off Hostvana’s Core plan, already reflected in the prices below. Add-ons are optional, so you only pay for what you use.
| Tier | 🏠1-50 | 🏠51-150 | 🏠151+ |
| Core (with 25% discount) | $2.24 / listing | $1.87 / listing | $1.49 / listing |
| AI Messaging ($89 min) | $8.99 / listing | $7.49 / listing | $6.99 / listing |
| Smart Lock | $5 / lock | ||
| Google Calendar | $2 / listing |
Get started with Hostvana here and read our integration support guide for detailed setup instructions.
We’re excited to announce our new integration with Clearview, a leader in transparent payment processing tailored for the hospitality industry. This partnership brings Clearview’s reliable, cost-saving payment solutions to property managers and owners using OwnerRez, helping you streamline transactions, reduce fees, and stay in complete control of your business.
At Clearview, they believe that payment processing should never be a headache. They’re redefining how businesses handle payments by delivering transparent, reliable, and efficient solutions that eliminate hidden fees and unpredictable costs. Their tailor-made payment programs are designed to fit the unique needs of businesses in the outdoor hospitality and property management sectors, including short-term rentals, long-term property managers, boutique hotels, resorts, RV campgrounds, and more.
Traditional Model:
Reverse My Fees Model:
Get started with Clearview by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Clearview.
I'd like to see a version of the ribbon calendar widget that works on mobile phones. The current one is not responsive at all.
I have two properties that id like to show on an integrated availability calendar on my website. The booking calendar in the monthly view is exactly what I'm looking for but there is no iCal export for it.
Hi,
Please write our Helpdesk at help@ownerrez.com, providing them links to the pages and / or widgets you're concerned with. We'd like to take a closer look to see what's going on given that you've said it is not responsive on mobile!
Our calendar widgets do not have an iCal association other than reflecting availability in OwnerRez (which can sometimes come from iCal syncs), but each property does have its own iCal export available. I'm afraid I'm not quite understanding your question. Our Helpdesk team should be able to assist if supporting details are provided.
Thanks!
Sheila Dickinson’s vacation rental journey began with a single home in Bremerton, Washington, and quickly expanded to include properties in Panama City Beach, Vancouver, and Whitefish. With a focus on thoughtful design and guest connection, she now manages a growing portfolio of short-term rentals through her business Escapes By Sheila, all powered by OwnerRez at the "heart" of her operations.
My first short-term rental was in Bremerton, Washington, and it was because I moved to Vancouver to marry my husband, Scott. I loved my house and didn't want to sell it, and I also wanted to use it occasionally. My second was in Panama City Beach in 2017, because I knew and loved the area, and believed that my son would settle there; so it was a snowbird/close to family investment. It did so well that we kept buying there. We also own in Whitefish, Montana, and even owned in Puerto Rico for a while. Panama City Beach is where we spend winters and rent out our Vancouver, WA, house while we are gone.
I am an accountant, and had a career in federal civil service in Panama City Beach, FL, Bremerton, WA, and Vancouver, WA. I retired in 2021. I started my first STR in 2016, and grew that to four by my retirement, and then added 5 more since then. I also co-host for a few clients and have a wallpaper installation business!
I lived in Panama City Beach from 1989-2013, moved to Bremerton in 2013 (for a promotion and to be near my parents) and Vancouver WA in 2016 (that's where I graduated from high school so it wasn't new to me).
I love connecting with guests, learning why they chose my properties, and creating memorable experiences through thoughtful decor and amenities that make their vacations special with family and friends.
I dislike the bookkeeping (and I'm an accountant!) and other admin paperwork (LLC renewals, city/state licensing, insurance policies, etc).
I use lots of software, but OwnerRez is the heart. I couldn't live without it! I use it constantly, to check daily bookings, to block out time when needed, check rates and payments, damage protection, reports for my KPIs and taxes, and more!
Being able to see all of my bookings at a glance, and the reports.
Sheila’s journey from a single home to a multi-market portfolio is a testament to her eye for detail and commitment to hospitality. We’re excited to see Escapes by Sheila continue to grow while creating thoughtful, memorable stays for guests across every destination.
This sounds awesome and can't wait to try it out!!
This week’s roundup covers Skift’s optimistic short-term rental outlook, rising last-minute bookings, and a lawsuit against Airbnb in Los Angeles. Plus, Booking.com’s removal of illegal listings in Spain. Let’s dive in.
Skift’s State of Travel 2025 report predicts strong growth for short-term rentals, with bookings expected to surpass hotels in key markets. Social commerce is booming, with Skift Research estimating $7 billion in bookings originating from social media for hotels, airlines, and rentals. Other notable insights from the report include Airbnb maintaining dominance with 44% of the global vacation rental market as of 2024. However, increased regulation, including new licensing and occupancy caps in high-demand areas, could pose challenges to continued growth.
Ocean City’s new 3% short-term rental occupancy tax has sparked controversy. Airbnb argues the tax, which requires hosts to pay a levy on rental bookings, is illegal and unconstitutional. The platform claims the tax disproportionately targets short-term rentals, while excluding hotels and other lodging types. Local officials argue the tax will generate much-needed revenue for the city, though the dispute is expected to lead to legal challenges.
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office has filed a lawsuit against Airbnb, accusing the platform of allowing price gouging and unverified listings at more than 2,000 rentals following the January firestorm in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The lawsuit claims some hosts inflated prices, taking advantage of displaced residents and emergency workers. Airbnb is also accused of permitting properties to be listed under fake identities, complicating efforts to provide safe housing. While Airbnb disputes the allegations, the case is expected to lead to further legal challenges.
AirDNA reports a significant rise in last-minute bookings in 2025. When looking at reservation lead times, booking behavior has clearly shifted. Travelers are increasingly waiting until the last minute to book. In August 2023, just 16% of U.S. reservations were made within five days of check-in. By January 2025, that share had nearly doubled to 31%, and sits at 24% in May. Experts speculate that travelers are catching on to pricing trends and waiting for property managers to lower prices to fill inventory, with economic uncertainty also driving more spontaneous bookings across all markets.
In continued news regarding Spain's court ruling against short-term rentals, previously reported on May 23, June 20, and July 18, Booking.com has removed 4,000 vacation rental listings in Spain to comply with new consumer protection laws. These listings violated one of three infractions: lack of required licences, failure to specify the legal status of landlords, or displaying incorrect licence numbers. Spain is intensifying its efforts against short-term rentals amid a housing crisis, with the government having already ordered Airbnb to remove over 65,000 illegal listings.
As regulatory changes, shifting booking trends, and legal challenges continue to shape the vacation rental industry, stay tuned for more updates. Check back next week for the latest news!
Can Rezzy create tasks from a review? We sometime hear about critical issues in reviews and in private comments in reviews. That would be helpful! Looking forward to trying Rezzy! Thanks
That's a great question, Donna! No, Rezzy AI cannot currently create tasks based on reviews. But we encourage you to submit that idea as a Feature Request.
Can Rezzy create tasks from a review? We sometime hear about critical issues in reviews and in private comments in reviews. That would be helpful! Looking forward to trying Rezzy! Thanks
Any timeline on roll out? We are hoping to put our 35 properties to the test.
thanks,
VWM
We don't have an ETA on the Rezzy AI public release at this time, but request access to the Rezzy AI Private Beta so you can put Rezzy through her paces.
So far, well, ok I guess. Rezzy has proposed responses to a bunch of guest emails. I’ve had to throw them all away.
I tried to change the settings, specifying that the tone of the AI should be “terse, no wasted words, polite but to the point, zero fluff” but it’s still breezy, verbose, and relentlessly cheery. Unusable, unfortunately, for now.
I’m perfectly capable of writing emails; I suspect most people here are, I don’t need AI for that, I rarely write anything anyway because everything is canned. I also don’t need a list of tasks, especially when they are generated from guests who complain that something “doesn’t work” when in fact it just needs to be turned on.The areas that AI could help me (and OwnerRez) with are (1) report generation so that I can produce reports that are useful for me (2) do things like “send an email to all current guests” or “send a message to any guest who will be staying over on Wednesday,” or otherwise bypasses current OwnerRez limitations.
I expected it to make mistakes, but I didn’t count on annoying. I’m hoping for improvements because there’s a lot of potential here.
Thank you for the feedback, Undercard_Wonder! I suggest that you continue to add more suggestions for your Conversation Tone. Those are some intriguing ideas surrounding reports, and they would make good Feature Requests.
So far, well, ok I guess. Rezzy has proposed responses to a bunch of guest emails. I’ve had to throw them all away.
I tried to change the settings, specifying that the tone of the AI should be “terse, no wasted words, polite but to the point, zero fluff” but it’s still breezy, verbose, and relentlessly cheery. Unusable, unfortunately, for now.
I’m perfectly capable of writing emails; I suspect most people here are, I don’t need AI for that, I rarely write anything anyway because everything is canned. I also don’t need a list of tasks, especially when they are generated from guests who complain that something “doesn’t work” when in fact it just needs to be turned on.
The areas that AI could help me (and OwnerRez) with are (1) report generation so that I can produce reports that are useful for me (2) do things like “send an email to all current guests” or “send a message to any guest who will be staying over on Wednesday,” or otherwise bypasses current OwnerRez limitations.
I expected it to make mistakes, but I didn’t count on annoying. I’m hoping for improvements because there’s a lot of potential here.
Any timeline on roll out? We are hoping to put our 35 properties to the test.
thanks,
VWM
Can/will the Task area be available for everyone? I don't know how helpful AI will be for me but the Task Area would be a huge asset.
Thank you
Kimberly, this Tasks area is only available as part of the Rezzy AI private beta, but feel free to upvote the Task Management feature request. We take Feature Requests seriously at OwnerRez.
Thank you for replying.
AirBnB does a good job translating messages. Booking.com does not and direct booking via website has same problem. I send out messages in English, but they cannot read them. So requiring the guest to select a language will not work for me. Needs to be based on the language they use to ask a question or the address they use. Best would be English and the local language based on the address they use, until a language can be determined. They cannot figure out how to sign the lease or pay the deposit. Can you determine the language setting on the device they are using? Like AirBnB. Then translate everything automatically?
John, some of our guest forms can be translated by the guest to their preferred language. For more information, see our International Guests and Guest Culture support articles. But I suggest you also contact our Helpdesk directly for other suggestions.
Can/will the Task area be available for everyone? I don't know how helpful AI will be for me but the Task Area would be a huge asset.
Thank you
Thank you for replying.
AirBnB does a good job translating messages. Booking.com does not and direct booking via website has same problem. I send out messages in English, but they cannot read them. So requiring the guest to select a language will not work for me. Needs to be based on the language they use to ask a question or the address they use. Best would be English and the local language based on the address they use, until a language can be determined. They cannot figure out how to sign the lease or pay the deposit. Can you determine the language setting on the device they are using? Like AirBnB. Then translate everything automatically?
Will this be able to translate from other languages? Translate messages sent and received.
How will this work with direct booking from the website? Will there be a chat feature?
Great questions, John.
Regarding language translations, Paul stated above the following: "Great question. At the moment, no. But that's a great one and definitely on the list of what we are looking to support, as we recently expanded our new guest forms to include other languages."
Rezzy AI can respond to your direct booking guests in the Unified Inbox utilizing SMS messaging.
Regarding the hosted website chat feature, the blog post states: "💻 Website chat widget that answers guest questions using your property info, and sends anything else to your inbox. (coming later)" However, I don't have an ETA on that.
Give Rezzy AI a test drive, and feel free to add a Feature Request for a hosted website chat feature!
It says it will be an add on. If you aren't messing around with chatgpt or perplexity you are missing out on some serious fun and unbelievable tools ( for making life easier, more enjoyable, deeper). Your loss.
Will this be able to translate from other languages? Translate messages sent and received.
How will this work with direct booking from the website? Will there be a chat feature?
Same!! Our team is pumped.
over my dead body. Can we turn this off? In fact, this will make me consider leaving OR. Hmm. I guess I will have to research that. Last thing I want is to be paying for an AI tool I will NEVER use. I have already been pretty appalled by the crappy AI generated dragons in your ad. I will NEVER use AI to communicate with any guest, because I'm trying to have a personalized experience where I actually CARE about my guests.
We are not too fond of AI ourselves, but this is a no-problem feature: it is OPTIONAL, you do not need to/do not have to turn it on.
This week’s roundup covers Dearborn’s new short-term rental rules, rising UK countryside bookings, a shift toward vacation homes among wealthy travelers, efforts to cut food waste in rentals, and European hotels challenging Airbnb’s over-tourism claims.
The Dearborn City Council approved new short-term rental regulations set to take effect January 1, 2026. The ordinance prohibits short-term rentals in single-family residential neighborhoods. A city representative said, “We believe that limiting short-term rentals to commercial areas, like our downtown districts, will protect housing stock for residents, including long-term renters."
Airbnb has shared its picks for the top ten family-friendly destinations in the UK this summer. The list includes seaside favorites like Dorset and Ceredigion, alongside popular countryside spots such as the Peak District and the Isle of Wight. According to Airbnb, family travel bookings to rural areas in the UK grew nearly 60 percent from 2019 to 2024, reflecting a broader trend toward quiet escapes. In 2024, the majority of guest nights stayed on Airbnb in the EU, almost 60 percent, were outside of cities.
According to a recent Forbes report, wealthy Americans are increasingly turning to vacation homes instead of traditional luxury hotels. Companies like Exclusive Resorts and Iconic House are seeing significant growth, driven by a demand for more privacy, space, and personalized services. Wealthy travelers are opting for the flexibility and intimacy of private stays over the standard hotel experience. This shift contributes to the global vacation rentals market, which, according to Statista, is expected to generate $105 billion in revenue this year and reach $125 billion by 2029.
A recent report highlighted in Parade points to food waste as a growing issue in short-term vacation rentals, with U.S. vacationers generating an estimated $2 billion in wasted food each year. Guests say they would welcome information on how to donate or compost unused food before checkout. With vacation rentals on the rise, these small steps could help reduce environmental impact while enhancing the guest experience.
Following our May 23rd and June 20th Industry News updates on Spain’s court ruling against unlicensed Airbnb listings, European hotel leaders are now challenging Airbnb’s recent report on overtourism. Airbnb’s “Overtourism in the EU” report claimed that hotels account for most tourist stays and suggested that short-term rentals help ease crowding by spreading visitors beyond city centers. The report also pointed to airlines and cruise ships as key drivers of overtourism. Meliá Hotels CEO Gabriel Escarrer pushed back, noting vacation rentals in Spain have grown 135 percent over the past decade, far outpacing hotels, which face stricter rules. Accor, another major hotel group, echoed the call for balanced tourism policies and stronger oversight of short-term rentals.
As the vacation rental industry navigates shifting regulations, market trends, and traveler expectations, we’ll be watching for what’s next. Check back next week for more industry updates!
Natasha,
The clue is in the word you used, "personalized." That means an approximation of personal, not quite personal, personal-ish. That is no doubt what you offer, it can hardly be otherwise if you have a lot of guests and you tell them the same thing every time. I mean, how many different ways can you lend a personal touch to "checkout is at noon" or "the patio light switch is just inside the side door"?
Furthermore, this is what the majority of guests want. For every guest who wants to spend hours getting to know you and telling you about their grandchildren, there are 10 who just want an easy check-in, clear instructions, appliances that work, and a comfy bed with NO personal interaction.
If you cared about your guests, 9 times out of 10 you'd just leave them alone. AI can help with that, leaving you time to lavish your personalized attention on the few who want it.
