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This week’s roundup covers Airbnb’s 2026 travel predictions, AAA’s encouraging holiday travel forecast, Vrbo’s latest ski season insights, and key short-term rental policy updates from New York and Australia. Let’s dive in.
On Monday, Airbnb released its 2026 travel predictions, highlighting several trends vacation rental owners and operators should be watching as demand continues to evolve. Airbnb points to the growth of one to two-day international trips, driven largely by Gen Z travelers seeking high-energy, culture-rich city getaways rather than longer vacations. The report also shows continued momentum around outdoor travel, with searches for stays “near a national park” up 35 percent in the U.S. for 2026, as more guests look to unplug and spend time in nature. Event-focused travel remains a major driver of bookings as well, with 65 percent of Airbnb’s top searched dates and cities tied to major cultural, sporting, and music events, including the Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Carnival, and Coachella.
AAA released its year-end holiday travel forecast, projecting another record-breaking season for U.S. travel. The organization expects more than 122 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more between December 20th and January 1st, surpassing last year’s record and signaling strong demand throughout the holiday season. They predict that road trips will continue to dominate, driven by flexibility and lower fuel costs, while air travel is also expected to hit new highs as millions fly to visit friends and family. AAA says the forecast reflects continued confidence in travel spending, even as travelers remain selective about how and when they book their trips.
Vrbo released Key to Ski: How to Plan a Ski Trip, a new online travel guide that blends expert planning tips with insights drawn from Vrbo’s search data. The guide highlights Big Sky, Montana, as the fastest-growing destination for skiers, Breckenridge, Colorado, as one of the most popular mountain towns, and Vail, Colorado, as a world-class ski destination known for its luxury accommodations. Vrbo also uses this guide to advise travelers to book two months in advance for better prices, to travel during less busy periods whenever possible, and to prioritize stays located near ski resorts to maximize their time on the mountain.
Monroe County became the first major county in upstate New York to opt out of creating a short-term rental registry this week, after the County voted 21 to 8 to decline participation in the state-run system for tracking vacation rental listings. Supporters of the decision cited concerns over added bureaucracy and the county’s existing tax collection agreements, while critics argued the move limits transparency and oversight. The decision highlights an encouraging trend of local governments taking the time to assess long-term implications and regulatory strategies, rather than reacting quickly to public frustration over short-term rentals.
Brisbane City Council has announced a new set of proposed restrictions on short-term rentals, which would require many operators to obtain development approval and permits to continue hosting. Under the proposed plan, short-term rental properties in low and medium-low density zones would need approval to continue operating, with permit holders facing new requirements including public liability insurance, published house rules, and a nominated 24-hour contact who must respond to complaints within one hour and report back to the council within one day. Also added is a three-strikes policy, which would revoke permits after repeated disturbances. Owners who operate without approval could face fines exceeding $140,000. The proposed changes follow a 2023 task force review that found little evidence linking short-term rentals to increases in Queensland’s rental prices. If approved by the state government, the new rules would take effect on July 1st, 2026.
As demand remains strong heading into the end of 2025 and experts look ahead to 2026 travel trends, expect continued shifts in traveler behavior and short-term rental regulation. Check back next week for the latest industry news.
We are excited to announce our new integration with PayPal, which brings several major improvements, including support for Venmo, Pay Later, a new streamlined checkout experience, and more!
This is what you can expect to see when using PayPal now. A beautiful new checkout screen with buttons that most everyone is familiar with seeing across checkout pages when shopping. We believe this new design gives guests greater confidence when finalizing their booking and completing the payment process.
(What guests see during checkout.)
Please be aware that all accounts using the current PayPal connection must upgrade to gain access to the new PayPal. The upgrade is easy! All you need to do is connect your PayPal account again if you connected previously, and if you've never used PayPal, it's never been easier. More details on how to get connected here.
PayPal has stated that you must upgrade your connection by December 31st to continue processing payments. If you don't do this by the cutoff date, the payment will error out for the guest.
If you're currently using PayPal PayFlow Pro or PayPal Payments Pro, your existing connection will be labeled as deprecated on December 31st. You can continue using that until PayPal cuts you off. It's unclear how long you'll be able to continue using those connections after that date.
Our updated PayPal integration now offers significant new improvements, including Venmo, Pay Later and more! Better transaction visibility, ongoing compliance with PayPal’s latest API standards, and a brand new, modernized, and streamlined checkout experience for your guests!
Take a look below and see all the great things you can now do with PayPal:
More Payment Methods Options
Peace of Mind
Get started with PayPal by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with PayPal.
THANK YOU!
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Kick off the new year with more payment options and better control. 💪 Keep reading to learn more about our powerful December updates that rounded out 2025, including our new PayPal integration for easier and expanded payment options, the new Payment and Security Deposit guest forms, and the ability to ban problematic guests from booking direct.
In case you missed our December 17th blog post about our New PayPal Integration with Venmo & Pay Later, we announced our new integration with PayPal, bringing several significant improvements, including support for Venmo, Pay Later, and a new streamlined guest checkout experience.
Learn more by reading our PayPal support article.
Following the October 8th release of the OwnerRez Confirm & Pay Guest Form, OwnerRez continues to improve other guest forms further to bring them up to parity with our Confirm & Pay guest form. These upgraded guest forms are available automatically for users of OwnerRez's new PayPal connections and Stripe payment processing, making it easier for guests to make payments and schedule security deposits as part of our December 17th release.
The Payment guest form was upgraded.
Additionally, the Security Deposit guest form was also updated.
The only time guests would see the "old" version of these two forms is if your OwnerRez account is still using the legacy PayPal connection.
Banning problematic guests prevents repeat damage, rule violations, and negative experiences while protecting your property, reputation, and future guests from disruptive or destructive behavior. While you cannot ban guests from booking your property on listing channels, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, or Vrbo, with our December 17th release, you can ban guests from booking on your website.
If a banned guest attempts to book on your website via the Booking/Inquiry widget, they will receive a customizable message explaining why they are unable to proceed. To ban a guest, go to the Contacts grid, pick the guest you want to ban, and then choose Notes from the left menu. Add your notes about the guest's stay and check the 'Ban this guest from booking' checkbox at the bottom, then save.
Once banned, the Banned badge will appear on the Guest Information.
The Banned badge also appears on the specific Booking Overview > Guest section.
Additionally, the Banned badge appears in the Tags column on the Contacts grid.
For more information, read our Banned Guests support article.
Following our September 10th addition of the property filter to the Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync, we decided to add a bit more. With our December 3rd release, we added a Listing Site filter to the Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync, allowing users to refine their Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync based on specific listing sites, such as Airbnb and Booking.com.
Additionally, OwnerRez now populates Payment Reference Numbers to payments synced to QuickBooks with our December 3rd release.
Is it time to add an accounting tool to your tech stack? Explore OwnerRez's Accounting integration options.
Both Airbnb and Vrbo encourage reviews, but many guests don't do so. The primary motivator is when hosts write a review first, prompting Airbnb or Vrbo to send messages like "Read what the host said about you" or "See your rating," which effectively encourages guests to write their own reviews. With our December 10th release, OwnerRez enabled Airbnb Automatic Five-Star Host Reviews (sent five days after departure) for all by default (& Vrbo automatic reviews for new users) to help strengthen your overall listing reputation and performance. This feature automatically posts a professional, positive guest review on your behalf after checkout, something many hosts already use to increase response rates and review quality.
Why did we make this change? Hosts who use Auto-Reviews consistently experience improved listing performance, including the following.
📈 Improved standing with Airbnb’s performance metrics
Remember that you always remain in control and can adjust or turn off Airbnb or Vrbo Automatic Five-Star Host Reviews or customize the review templates at any time by navigating to Reviews > Host Reviews tab > Automatic 5-Star Reviews dropdown list, and select either Configure Settings or Turn OFF.
Security deposits protect property owners from damages, theft, or rule violations, while incentivizing guests to treat the rental property responsibly and follow the house rules. As a follow-up to our November 12th Property Rules design update, OwnerRez has added a dedicated section in the Property > General Info area that allows users to directly edit security deposit rules by clicking on the pencil icon, rather than just editing them in the Payments section only.
The Channel Rate Tester enables you to run quotes with channel integration logic and compare them to OwnerRez details, ensuring your channel configurations align with expectations and support your fees and discounts. However, determining what Airbnb guests are truly paying was challenging, even when comparing OwnerRez and Airbnb quotes side by side.
With our December 10th release, OwnerRez has improved the Channel Rate Tester, specifically for Airbnb, to display separate guest and host totals clearly. The new Channel Rate Tester display layout features pass-through taxes, host subtotal, Airbnb remitted taxes, and a separate Host Payout section, providing a more transparent and easier-to-understand financial breakdown.
Access the Channel Rate Tester by navigating to the upper right Tools menu > Channel Rate Tester. You can select Airbnb from the middle dropdown list.
Filtering for messages in the OwnerRez Unified Inbox can be frustrating when your results seem incomplete, or you know a message exists but can't find it. OwnerRez added a "Try searching all messages" link when Unified Inbox displays empty filter results, allowing users to locate guest messages that may exist in other folders as part of our December 10th release.
Explore all of the messaging options accessible to OwnerRez users.
As OwnerRez continues to progress with in-app design updates, we have updated the design of the following areas to enhance styling, with a reduced use of green to help draw your attention to the content of the rows and columns.
More design updates and changes are on their way soon!
Improve Google Analytics Performance. OwnerRez encountered Google Analytics performance problems because many widgets attempted to load Google Analytics data simultaneously. We've improved our Google Analytics performance by now allowing widgets to load data only once per tracker intelligently and send it only to the widgets that requested it, greatly reducing network traffic and improving page load times.
Enhance Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync Design. OwnerRez updated the Batch Update for QuickBooks Sync page to ensure it aligns with other in-app areas.
Enhance Display of Related Information in Communication History Messages. OwnerRez has enhanced the display of linked related information in the in-app Communication History area to now include links for various items, such as payments, reviews, tasks, and more.
Display Airbnb message removed indicator in the Unified Inbox. OwnerRez has added support for displaying when Airbnb messages have been removed in Unified Inbox by displaying an indicator with the text, "Message removed." Removed Airbnb messages, including their content and attachments, will no longer be accessible.
Correct Property Rules > Batch Apply Cancel Button. The cancel button on the Property Rules Batch Apply page was incorrectly redirecting users to the Property page instead of returning them to the correct Property Rules page. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that the Property Rules > Batch Apply Cancel button redirects users to the Property Rules page.
Ensure Vrbo Discounts and Promotional Dates Handling is Accurate. Due to how our system handled seasons, some Vrbo Discounts and Promotional dates were calculated incorrectly, causing sync errors. We have fixed this bug by ensuring consistent date handling, so that seasons and promo dates are correctly aligned.
Fix Confirm & Pay Guest Form Custom Payment Whitespace and Payment Icon Display. Custom payment whitespace and payment icon formatting were incorrect on the Confirm & Pay guest forms. OwnerRez corrected these glitches so that Confirm & Pay guest forms display correct custom payment whitespace and appropriate payment icons throughout the guest payment flow.
Fix Non-active Account Message Errors. OwnerRez was receiving message errors when sending messages to non-active account participants. We have resolved this issue by now only sending messages to accounts that are actively linked.
Prevent Airbnb Channel Bridge from Importing Duplicate Guest Records. The Airbnb Channel Bridge was inadvertently extracting incorrect guest IDs, resulting in duplicate guest records. OwnerRez fixed this bug so that the Airbnb Channel Bridge now retrieves guest ID information from a more reliable location within Airbnb's data structure.
Prevent Saving Empty Guest Quick Edit Forms after Encountering Errors. Sometimes, when errors occurred after a pop-up Guest Quick Edit form (e.g., Bookings, Inquiries, and Quotes) was saved, the system inadvertently saved the form as an empty form. We corrected this glitch by having the system detect if the Guest Quick Edit form is incomplete and display a helpful error message instructing you to refresh and try again.
Prevent Sending "Unpublished" Notifications to Booking.com Users. After users made changes to their Booking.com (BDC) channel integration, OwnerRez users with active BDC channel integrations received incorrect notifications stating that their BDC channel integration had been unpublished. OwnerRez resolved this issue to prevent sending "unpublished" notifications after users make changes to their Booking.com (BDC) channel integration.
Rezzy AI Improvements (Private Beta)Suppress Discount Code Input Field on the Confirm & Pay Guest Form if No Discounts are Applicable. Even if no discount codes were applicable for a booking, the discount code fields were still displayed on the Confirm & Pay guest forms. We resolved this issue by now properly checking if there are valid discount codes based on booking conditions before displaying the discount code input field on the Confirm & Pay guest forms.
Correct Add Property Page Text to Show That the Address is Required. The text on the Add Property page did not clearly indicate that a property address is required. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to indicate that property addresses are required.
Correct Booking Guest Assignments. Occasionally, guest assignment bookings were not corrected when users edited guest information using the Booking > Overview > Guest > Edit Contact Info popup. We resolved this issue, and the Booking > Overview > Guest > Edit Contact Info data is now properly preserved during the guest assignment process.
Ensure Owner Statement Label Sizes are Consistent. Some Owner Statement label sizes were inconsistent, so OwnerRez corrected them.
Ensure Surcharge Settings are Correct on Confirm & Pay Guest Forms. Surcharges configured to appear below tax line items were not appearing as intended for non-taxable surcharges on the Confirm & Pay guest booking form. We resolved this issue to ensure configured surcharges are displayed correctly on the Confirm & Pay guest booking form.
Ensure PM Lock is Automatically Applied to fully Remitted Bookings. Even when there were no open security deposits and the booking was fully remitted, PM Locks were not automatically applied after owner statements were created. OwnerRez corrected this glitch so that PM Locks are applied correctly.
Fix Airbnb Deposits Incorrectly Marked as Resolved When Still Pending. Despite still having pending resolutions, some Airbnb deposits were sometimes incorrectly marked as resolved. We resolved this issue by improving how we track the resolution status of deposits, ensuring they properly show as "Needs Attention" when they require manual handling of resolutions.
Fix Booking Cancellation Issues that could Make Bookings Uneditable. This edge case occurred when a canceled booking became uneditable due to an expense issue, rendering it impossible to add charges to the booking. OwnerRez fixed this bug to ensure that canceled bookings are editable.
Fix Invalid Length of Stay Discount Issues. Some Length of Stay discounts with invalid configurations were sent to Vrbo, causing synchronization errors. We corrected this glitch so that Length of Stay discounts are configured correctly when sent to Vrbo.
Fix Quick Quote Hidden Single Property Selector. When attempting to create a booking with the Quick Quote tool, the property selector dropdown list was obscured. OwnerRez fixed this bug, so properties are now properly displayed in the Quick Quote tool property selector dropdown list.
Fix Vrbo Promotion Comparison Errors. Some Vrbo OneKey discount tiers could not be compared accurately, resulting in unnecessary syncs and errors. We resolved this issue, and the comparison logic now correctly compares all Vrbo OneKey tiers.
Fix Vrbo Promotions Surcharge ID Format. Due to inconsistent surcharge ID detection, some Vrbo promotions or discounts were not applied correctly. OwnerRez fixed this bug by using standardized surcharge ID detection separators and backward compatibility for existing promotions and discounts.
Prevent Guests From Booking Travel Insurance for Destinations Outside the US. Although travel insurance was unavailable for these property locations, when users attempted to add travel insurance for properties located in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau (independent nations, not US states), they instead encountered unhelpful error messages. We resolved this issue by preventing the ability to add Travel Insurance for properties located in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau.
Prevent Single Select Dropdown Lists from Displaying Incorrect Placeholder Text. Website property search widget single select dropdown lists incorrectly displayed the text "Select" rather than the correct placeholder text, such as "Any Guest" or "Any Bedroom." OwnerRez fixed this bug to ensure that website property search widget single select dropdown lists display the correct placeholder text.
Rezzy AI Improvements (Private Beta):Correct Property > Rules > Payment Rules > Offline Payments Typo. The word "checks" was misspelled in the in-app Property > Rules > Payment Rules > Offline Payments section, so we corrected this typo.
Fix Calendar Ribbon View Property Selection. Even though a property had already been selected, the calendar ribbon view still incorrectly displayed "Select a property." OwnerRez fixed this bug to ensure that the calendar ribbon view property selector functions correctly.
Fix Oregon Vrbo Surcharges Ingested as Rent Line Items. Some Vrbo Oregon surcharges were inadvertently sent with a rental fee type, causing them to be ingested as rent line items instead of surcharges. We resolved this issue by correctly identifying these surcharges by their external ID.
Ensure Airbnb Transaction Sync Populates Both First and Last Guest Names. When no guest name was included, the Airbnb transaction sync would sometimes only populate the guests' last names. OwnerRez fixed this bug so that the Airbnb transaction sync correctly populates both first and last guest names from transaction data when available.
Ensure Auto Reviews Use Public Property Name. Rather than using the {PDISPNAME} public property name, Airbnb and Vrbo auto reviews were using the incorrect {PNAME} internal property name. We resolved this issue, and Airbnb and Vrbo auto reviews will use the correct {PDISPNAME} public property name.
Ensure Billing Announcements are Displayed to Team Users with Billing Access. Team access members who had access to billing-related announcements (e.g., unpaid balance, expired credit card, etc.) did not receive those announcements as configured. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that team access members with access to billing-related announcements receive them.
Ensure Cancellation Policies are Properly Applied to Google Vacation Rentals Bookings. Configured property cancellation policies weren't applied correctly to Google Vacation Rentals bookings, causing issues when calculating refunds during cancellations. We fixed this bug, and configured property cancellation policies are now applied correctly to Google Vacation Rentals bookings.
Ensure Quote creation Updates Associated Block Dates. When creating a quote from an existing block, the system failed to update the associated block's dates. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that creating a quote from an existing block updates the associated block's dates.
Fix Booking -> Messages > History Dropdown List Styling. The in-app Booking -> Messages > History dropdown list styling was incorrect. We resolved this issue so that the styling is consistent with other in-app dropdown lists.
Fix Incorrect Unsubmitted Host Review Counts. Host review counts incorrectly included expired and unsubmitted Expedia integrated booking reviews that could never be completed. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure that expired and unsubmitted Expedia integrated booking reviews are excluded from host review counts.
Fix Vrbo Channel Bridge Tax Import. Imported Vrbo Channel Bridge tax amounts were not always imported or processed correctly for guest booking amounts. We fixed this bug so that imported Vrbo Channel Bridge tax amounts are correctly processed in guest amounts, allowing for proper handling of different tax collection scenarios.
Prevent Unified Inbox Draft Message Errors. Occasionally, Unified Inbox drafts encountered errors, causing the spinner to spin endlessly when sending draft messages. OwnerRez corrected this glitch to ensure Unified Inbox drafts are sent correctly.
Prevent Channel Unlinking for Channel Hold Blocks Associated with Channel Quotes. A channel quote becomes uneditable when the channel connected to it is unlinked from an existing channel quote. We fixed this bug to hide the channel unlink button on channel quote holds, preventing users from attempting to unlink the channel integration in these situations.
Resolve Vrbo Property Import Failures. Some Vrbo property imports encountered failures. OwnerRez resolved this issue to make Vrbo property imports more reliable by improving error handling and enhancing the detection of complete property information.
This week’s roundup highlights Airbnb’s one-million-dollar investment ahead of the 2026 World Cup, new pool safety rules advancing in Florida, a North Carolina town saying no to short-term rental rules, and an important Arizona court decision defining the scope of local STR regulation. Let’s dive in.
Airbnb announced this week that it will be investing more than one million dollars into Houston, a 2026 World Cup host city, marking the company’s largest community commitment there to date. The funding will support the creation of a new Green Corridor, expanding walkable and sustainable infrastructure through central Houston. The investment also includes support for the Grow the Game initiative, which focuses on improving field access, equipment, and soccer opportunities for youth across the city. A Deloitte report tied to the announcement projects that more than 31,000 guests will stay in Houston using Airbnb during the World Cup, with their spending expected to generate roughly 372 million dollars in regional GDP. Local hosts are also projected to earn around 3,000 dollars in extra income during the event.
In response to more than 100 child drownings in the state so far in 2025, Florida is moving forward with three proposed Senate bills aimed at strengthening pool safety. Senate Bill 608, which focuses on vacation rentals, would require any vacation rental property with a pool to install an approved safety feature if the bill passes. The measure is written to take effect next July and would give the Department of Business and Professional Regulation the authority to suspend or revoke a license if a property is found to be out of compliance.
The planning board in Waynesville, North Carolina, voted this week to end its years-long discussion about potential short-term rental regulations, choosing not to move forward with any new rules. Several board members stated that additional oversight wasn’t necessary, noting that existing ordinances already address issues such as parking and public safety. Board member Dr John Mason said the proposal “smacks of over-reach in so many different ways” and added that the town should “abandon the effort and leave it alone,” underscoring the board’s unanimous decision not to pursue new regulations at this time.
The Arizona Court of Appeals voted unanimously this week to overturn Sedona’s decision to prohibit a mobile home park from renting out its units as short-term rentals. The ruling found that individual mobile homes qualify as "residential rental property" under state law and are therefore allowed to operate as vacation rentals. The court also noted that Sedona’s ban conflicted with Arizona’s statewide short-term rental statute, passed in 2016, which limits the extent to which local governments can restrict short-term rental activity. The decision clears the way for the park to operate short-term rentals and sets a strong precedent for how local governments can regulate short-term rentals across the state.
As new policies arise and communities continue to debate short-term rental regulations, expect continued movement across the vacation rental industry. Check back next week for the latest news.
We're excited to release the fourth episode of our new podcast, Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals.
Hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, co-founders of OwnerRez, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the real stories behind OwnerRez. Through candid walk-and-talk conversations, they share what it actually takes to build and operate a company in the vacation rental industry, including the decisions, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.
Whether you are a long-time vacation rental operator or just getting started, this show offers practical insight and honest perspective, one walk at a time.
In Episode Four, Paul and Chris dive into the topic of AI, automation, and why doing meaningful work with AI requires discipline and continuous improvement. They discuss how AI is often a marketing buzzword, but when applied effectively, can become a true force multiplier. The conversation explores the moment AI crossed from novelty to a powerful tool, why OwnerRez is uniquely positioned to build industry-leading AI tools like Rezzy, and how deep data access and execution make all the difference. They also speak candidly about the risks of copy-and-paste AI, the importance of preserving the human voice, and how AI is shaping the vacation rental industry as a whole.
You’ll hear about:
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:
New episodes are already in the works, and we can’t wait for you to join us on the walk.
Interesting podcast guys, thanks for the insights! I got a little PTSD from the "hardest day" discussion, having been there myself in the past. But I think anyone doing big things should expect to have a day like that on occasion, unless you're just very, very lucky.
We’re excited to share the second episode of our new podcast, Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals. This show pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build, scale, and run a successful company in the vacation rental industry.
Hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, co-founders of OwnerRez, the podcast is inspired by a ritual the two have followed for years: weekly walks where they talk candidly about the business, debate ideas, unpack problems, and push each other toward clearer thinking.
Behind every feature release, integration, or product decision at OwnerRez, there’s a story, sometimes messy, sometimes funny, sometimes stressful, but always rooted in the reality of building software for thousands of property managers. This podcast captures those stories. Whether you’re a host, manager, entrepreneur, or just curious how vacation-rental software gets made, this show gives you real conversations, real experience, and real insight one walk at a time.
In Episode Two, Paul and Chris revisit some of the hardest and best days in OwnerRez history, from a server issue that nearly wiped out thousands of booking records to the day they both began working full-time on OwnerRez. They also talk openly about how they have handled burnout, family life, and share some of the hobbies that have helped them stay grounded over the years.
You’ll hear about:
It’s an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about fragility, resilience, and the genuine investment it takes to build something that thousands of people rely on every day.
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:
New episodes are already in the works, and we can’t wait for you to join us on the walk.
Add-ons are very useful, thank you.
We really, really need/want a way of specifying a quantity, e.g. so that guests can choose how many bags of firewood they would like.
I have seen the comment saying that this is on the roadmap but I wondered if there's an ETA for it/whether or could be prioritized?
Many thanks.
After settling in Florida, Cecilia Ghilardotti turned her love for the coast and her diverse professional background into Maven Vacation Rentals. Starting with a single duplex and growing through word of mouth, she has built a small, curated portfolio focused on care and consistency.
I was born and raised in Argentina and came to the United States at 21 on a Rotary International scholarship to study at Brenau University in Georgia. After the scholarship year ended, I stayed on my own and worked my way through school until I completed my degree in Business Administration with a minor in Music, Opera Performance. Before settling in Florida, I lived in Argentina, Germany, Canada, and different parts of the U.S. Music was also a meaningful part of my early years. I trained in classical singing alongside my academic studies, but my professional career ultimately took a different direction.
Before entering vacation rentals, I spent about ten years in IT and software development as a business analyst. My work focused on understanding user needs, analyzing systems, simplifying workflows, and helping teams make their processes more effective. I worked with companies such as Intel, Alcatel-Lucent, Catalina Marketing, Aaron’s, and BlueGreen Vacations.
Vacation rentals are my second career. My entry into the industry began after I purchased a duplex and decided to experiment with renting one of the units short-term while living in the other. I finally had the time to explore it. The response from guests was strong, and that early experience naturally grew into a small management business. The growth happened entirely through word of mouth. I’ve kept the portfolio intentionally small because I value the level of care and consistency that a boutique operation allows. For me, quality and attention matter more than scaling quickly.
No, I’m originally from Argentina. After living in the U.S. and abroad, I eventually chose to settle in Florida. I’ve always been drawn to the ocean in a way that feels less like a preference and more like something essential. The beach is where I reset, find calm, and feel most myself. The climate, the light, and the coastal atmosphere were a natural fit for me, and they continue to inspire the kind of environment I enjoy creating for guests.
There are two sides to the work that I enjoy equally. One is the creative side. I love shaping spaces that make people feel something, through design, comfort, service, and small touches that elevate the stay. It reminds me in some ways of performing: you craft an experience from start to finish, and the environment becomes a form of expression. Some of my best childhood memories are from family trips to beautiful resorts in Brazil, and that sense of magic and immersion stayed with me. Being able to recreate even a small piece of that for my guests is incredibly fulfilling.
The other side is the strategy. I like understanding how a short-term rental functions as an investment, pricing, patterns, opportunity, seasonality, guest behavior, and risk. There’s a quiet puzzle to it, almost like playing a chess game every day: adjusting the pieces, noticing patterns, and finding ways to optimize performance without compromising safety or guest experience. When those two elements, artistry and strategy, intersect, that’s where the business becomes truly enjoyable for me.
The most challenging aspect is that vacation rentals are still a relatively new industry, and the regulatory structure hasn’t fully matured. Hotels operate with clear and standardized safety requirements, while short-term rentals fall under rules that vary widely from one city to another. Because of that, managers often have to establish their own internal standards for safety, consistency, and risk prevention, things like fire preparedness, pool safety measures, and protocols that protect both the home and the people in it. A clearer, more unified framework would make things safer and more streamlined for everyone involved.
OwnerRez is the central system I use for organizing my operations. I rely on it for reservation management, messaging workflows, owner statements, expense tracking, reporting, accounting, OTA integrations, and guest communication.
A feature I appreciate is the level of visibility it provides to owners. They can see activity, performance, statements, and revenue details directly in the system, which creates transparency without having to manage separate tools.
The feature that stands out most to me is the reporting capability. It’s highly customizable and provides a wide range of data points that can be combined in different ways. The flexibility makes it easier to interpret patterns, evaluate performance from multiple angles, and make strategic decisions based on what the numbers reveal. I also value the customization of messaging templates and automations, which help maintain consistency in guest communication while still allowing for personal touches where needed.
With a focus on care, consistency, and thoughtful hospitality, Cecilia has built Maven Vacation Rentals into a standout boutique vacation rental business along Florida’s coast. We look forward to continuing to support her business and finding new ways to help her deliver consistent stays with a personal touch.
This week’s roundup covers AirDNA’s report on strong short-term rental demand leading up to the 2026 World Cup, rising wellness trends shaping Gen Z travel, New York City’s discussions on short-term rental policies, new insights into guest expectations, and a proposed insurance rate hike in Western North Carolina. Let’s dive in.
Several news outlets reported this week on new AirDNA data indicating that demand for short-term rentals for the 2026 World Cup is already surging. Demand in host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico is already outpacing what is typical for major events, with markets such as Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Mexico City, and Guadalajara showing some of the strongest year-over-year increases. The data indicates that fans are booking vacation rentals early to secure lodging and to get ahead of rising prices as availability tightens. This early momentum points to a potentially record-breaking summer for short-term rentals in World Cup host regions.
Awaze, a UK-based vacation rental company that manages over 100,000 properties across 20 countries, released new data this week showing a sharp rise in wellness-focused travel among Gen Z travelers. Matthew Price, CEO at Awaze, said that travelers are increasingly prioritizing well-being and relaxation, and that amenities like hot tubs and saunas are shifting from optional extras to features that consistently drive higher occupancy and stronger year-round returns. According to the report, physical and mental well-being is now Gen Z’s top discretionary spending priority, and 52 percent of those polled had taken a wellness-focused UK break in the past three years. Hot tubs have been a major factor in this demand, representing 55 percent of Awaze bookings and helping properties achieve 51 percent higher weekly rates and 45 percent higher occupancy compared to listings without hot tubs. For vacation rental operators, the trend signals a growing opportunity to market wellness-focused features as a way to increase bookings and revenue, especially among younger travelers.
New York City officials are reportedly considering a small, but meaningful change to Local Law 18, the short-term rental ban established in 2022. The proposal, if passed, would make three key adjustments. It would allow New York residents to offer their homes as short-term rentals while they are out of town, increase the current guest limit from two to four, and permit interior door locks to give both hosts and visitors added privacy. Supporters argue that the update would provide a welcome opportunity for residents to earn extra money and reduce lodging costs for visitors, all without affecting the long-term housing supply. At the same time, opponents continue to advocate for tight oversight. If approved, it would mark the first significant reconsideration of the city’s monumental restrictions since the law took effect.
VegOut Magazine published an article this week titled “I’ve stayed in Airbnbs across 25 countries – here are 5 red flags I now spot in listings instantly,” offering a seasoned traveler’s take on what can cause guests to scroll past a property. The article calls out issues like overly cropped or dimly lit photos, missing information about amenities, vague or restrictive house rules, and listings with no reviews or unclear location details. The author notes, “If a listing leaves me guessing, I take it as a sign to move on.” For vacation rental operators, the article underscores how important clarity and transparency are in securing bookings. Professional photos, detailed amenity lists, clear rules, and honest descriptions can help build trust and make a listing stand out to travelers who are trying to decide between several options.
Following last year’s devastating Hurricane Helene, North Carolina is considering a proposed 68 percent increase in dwelling insurance premiums for parts of Western North Carolina. Local officials and property owners say the hike could place significant financial pressure on vacation rental operators and may discourage investment in short-term rental properties. Some worry the higher costs could ripple into the region’s tourism economy, which relies heavily on rentals and seasonal visitors. The proposal is still under review and has sparked calls for more public input before any changes move forward.
As we look ahead to 2026, expect continued shifts in demand, traveler preferences, and regulation across the vacation rental industry. Check back next week for the latest updates.
We are excited to introduce our latest channel integration with Lake.com, the leading platform for near-the-water vacation rentals, giving OwnerRez users a seamless way to sync their listings, calendars, and reservations. This new integration provides OwnerRez users access to a highly targeted audience of travelers looking for lakehouses, cabins, cottages, and beach homes.
Lake.com is the vacation rental platform offering 40,000 properties near the water across North America and Europe, where families experience the great outdoors. Using advanced tools and features, Lake is building the next-generation platform for outdoor travel.
Lake.com operates on a pay-per-booking model, also known as a model of shared success. Hosts are charged a 10% commission fee on bookings they receive on Lake.com, with payment for the booking released via Stripe after the first night's stay. View more information about their payments here.
Get started with Lake.com by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with Lake.com.
Just launched our new guest guide and companion tablet for our first guests of the holidays. Beautiful! BetterSTR support was amazing, the tools user friendly. Can't wait to hear guest reviews.
We are thrilled to share our newest integration with RevMax, expanding access to data-powered revenue optimization. With this connection, OwnerRez users can now activate RevMax’s pricing intelligence, performance analytics, and automated optimization engine directly within their existing workflows.
RevMax is a revenue optimization platform built specifically for vacation rental property managers. Powered by data science and industry expertise, RevMax delivers dynamic pricing, performance analytics, and automated revenue strategies that help managers improve occupancy, ADR, and total revenue with less manual work. RevMax is part of Inhabit’s short term rental portfolio, supporting property managers across a wide range of PMS environments. To learn more, visit here.
With the new connection in place, OwnerRez users can benefit from:
For a limited time, new RevMax users, including those operating on OwnerRez, are eligible for savings up to 60% on select RevMax plans. View additional pricing info here.
Get started with RevMax by visiting here and checking out the OwnerRez support article for integrating OwnerRez with RevMax.
Thank you for adding the scheduled triggers feature. However it only allows scheduled for a specific amount of days and time of day. I think it would very useful to have the schedule based on minutes, hours in relation to the event trigger. For instance if I want to send an email to a property manager 5 minutes after a booking is created. Thank you!
Thanks, Randy! You may want to add your vote to this Trigger Action - Be able to set the occurring time to 30 minutes Feature Request, which appears to be on our roadmap as planned, or consider adding your own Feature Request.
Thank you for adding the scheduled triggers feature. However it only allows scheduled for a specific amount of days and time of day. I think it would very useful to have the schedule based on minutes, hours in relation to the event trigger. For instance if I want to send an email to a property manager 5 minutes after a booking is created. Thank you!
With the updated confirm and Pay, something broke in the quotes 'change charges' area. When I 'add charge' it no longer allows me to selected one of my predefined surcharges. It only populates blank 'description' and 'rate' fields and doesn't allow an 'item' field at all. Everything must be typed in manually. Can you please fix this ASAP? I can't send quotes with this broken and we send quotes daily! Thanks!
Bradley, thanks for reporting this. Please submit this issue to the OwnerRez Helpdesk so they can review it.
With the updated confirm and Pay, something broke in the quotes 'change charges' area. When I 'add charge' it no longer allows me to selected one of my predefined surcharges. It only populates blank 'description' and 'rate' fields and doesn't allow an 'item' field at all. Everything must be typed in manually. Can you please fix this ASAP? I can't send quotes with this broken and we send quotes daily! Thanks!
Meet the father and daughter duo behind AZ Vacation Home Concepts. Curtis and Allyson have combined their strengths in marketing and construction to build a purposeful portfolio that delivers exceptional stays across Phoenix, Arizona.
My dad took over this business several years ago after working with a business partner on growing a vacation rental business in Phoenix, AZ. His target home could sleep the grandparents, their 4 kids, and the 10 grandkids, all under one roof with an elevated kitchen experience and resort-style pool. As time went on, we started expanding into more general homes (3 bed, 2 bath, some without a pool) and focused more on longer-term stays, displaced families, or “experience” based reservations. We are a father-daughter duo with a history of hospitality that were kind of made for this business.
My dad, Curtis, is a General Contractor and Realtor/Property Manager. I was a freight broker and then a salesperson for a marketing agency. I am now a full-time Realtor/Property Manager.
Yes, we are from the Phoenix area.
I love giving families a place to stay where they can build their own vacation, instead of being limited to the amenities of a resort with the constant awareness that you are sharing spaces with others.
I don’t love the 9 p.m. calls asking me how to turn the kitchen lights on. We have curated a property manual for each home in hopes of decreasing the frequency of these calls.
OwnerRez hosts all of our reservations, properties, and connects to Airbnb/Google Rentals/Etc. We send Legal Agreements and house relevant documents to each reservation. We also send invoices and allow guests to pay through OwnerRez. The reporting gives me most of the info that I need.
The ability to talk to guests on any platform through OwnerRez.
Curtis and Allyson have done an excellent job of building a vacation rental business that delivers exceptional, guest-focused stays across Phoenix, Arizona. We look forward to continuing to support their operations as they find new ways to innovate and grow in the vacation rental space.
Agreed Alece. Glad that your Feature Request has garnered some votes! 👍
@Anne -- Aside from me changing my internal lock names to what I would prefer they be listed as in the guest messaging, there's unfortunately no workarounds until this feature is added.
Subscribed! Congratulations!
December is here, and it’s the perfect time to review your setup and make sure your OwnerRez account is ready for the year ahead. 🎄 As holiday bookings roll in and plans for 2026 take shape, we’ve put together a strong lineup of webinars to help you strengthen your OwnerRez workflows.
This month’s schedule features multiple live Demos, a Q&A session, and an in-depth Focus Session on the Theming section. Whether you're just getting started or looking to learn something new, 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 webinar on the theming area inside OwnerRez. In this Focus Session, we’ll walk through where the fields on this page show up throughout the system and how you can create themes for different properties so your brand messaging stays consistent and effective.
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.
So exciting! Will you become available on Pocket Casts? It is the only podcast player I like.
Congrats on the launch! Looking forward to listening!
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new podcast, Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals. This show pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build, scale, and run a successful company in the vacation rental industry.
Hosted by Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes, co-founders of OwnerRez, the podcast is inspired by a ritual the two have followed for years: weekly walks where they talk candidly about the business, debate ideas, unpack problems, and push each other toward clearer thinking.
These walking conversations have shaped countless product decisions, strategy shifts, and breakthrough moments inside OwnerRez. Now, you get to listen in.
Behind every feature release, integration, or product decision at OwnerRez, there’s a story, sometimes messy, sometimes funny, sometimes stressful, but always rooted in the reality of building software for thousands of property managers. This podcast captures those stories.
Every episode dives into lessons learned from:
Whether you’re a host, manager, entrepreneur, or just curious how vacation-rental software gets made, this show gives you real conversations, real experience, and real insight one walk at a time.
In our first episode, Paul and Chris open up about the origins of their 20-year partnership and the early days that shaped what would later become OwnerRez.
You’ll hear about:
It’s a raw and honest look at how OwnerRez began and why its founders still love building it today.
Walk ’n Talk: The Business Behind Vacation Rentals is available on:
New episodes are already in the works, and we can’t wait for you to join us on the walk.
Exactly... this would be worth it's weight in gold!
I'm glad OwnerRez is integrating with HiChee, but this requires users to have a HiChee account to see the price comparison if I am not mistaken. Is there any plans to create an OwnerRez or HiChee widget to embed on my direct booking website just below the OwnerRez check-out widget or as part of that widget. That is what we looking for. So when a guest is putting there information into the widget (dates and number of guests), the price comparison widget is working in real time to compare VRBO, Airbnb, etc with what they are paying for direct booking. Like what Direct Pricing Tools does, but without the pricetag.
This week’s Industry News covers short-term rental policy updates in Atlanta, Green Bay, Galveston, and Southampton, plus Comparent’s first annual ranking of the top 100 management companies. Let’s dive in.
The Atlanta City Council voted 7-6 on Monday to reject a proposal that would have banned short-term rentals in several northeast Atlanta neighborhoods. Several vacation rental operators spoke during public comment, urging the council not to move forward with the proposal and encouraging members to work together on solutions rather than implement blanket bans. The close vote is a clear win for local operators and underscores the importance of showing up and speaking out as cities continue to revisit short-term rental policies.
The Town of Southampton temporarily adjusted its short-term rental rules this week to accommodate the U.S. Open Golf Championship, taking place from June 18th-21st. Under the current regulations, rentals must meet a 14-day minimum stay requirement, but during the event, properties can be rented for as few as three days. Officials say the temporary change is intended to increase local lodging availability, support local businesses, and reduce traffic from people commuting to the event. Some residents expressed concern about potential congestion and overcrowding, while vacation rental operators welcomed the flexibility. This move is similar to Kansas City’s recent temporary permit program and highlights how municipalities are experimenting with temporary event-driven rules to balance neighborhood complaints and tourism.
Green Bay’s Planning Commission rejected a proposal from the Equal Rights Commission to cap short-term rentals at 180 days per year. The commission noted the proposal “would be ineffective at both of its goals: getting more affordable housing on the market and ridding the city of nuisance properties.” Nearly 50 people spoke during the public comment period, with many short-term rental operators warning that the cap would put them out of business, and city staff noting that enforcing the limit would be challenging. Those supporting stricter rules cited concerns about noise, parking, and neighborhood disruption, but the Planning Commission also declined a proposed seven-night minimum stay requirement. The decision will now be presented to the City Council on December 2nd.
Comparent has released its first annual ranking of North America’s top vacation rental management companies, called the Comparent 100. The ranking is based on the number of properties companies manage and includes details on leadership teams, operational scale, and guest reviews, covering more than 172,000 properties in total. Founder, Brooke Pfautz, hopes the ranking provides much-needed transparency in an industry where data on management size and performance has been limited. The Comparent 100 will be updated each Fall and will highlight consolidation trends and operational metrics that will help enable easy comparisons across operators.
The Galveston City Council approved a new three-strike system for short-term rentals. Under the new regulations, three verified violations within 12 months, regarding issues such as noise, parking, waste, fireworks, and other public-safety concerns, can trigger a review by the Short-Term Rental Licensing Board. The board can recommend a suspension or, in cases of repeat violations, permanent revocation to the City Manager. Owners must now also provide a 24/7 local contact to address complaints, with failures to respond counting toward strikes. Officials say the changes aim to protect the neighborhood's quality of life, while hosts caution that the new rules place unrealistic expectations on operators.
As we enter the holiday season, expect more updates on short-term rental regulations and new opportunities in the vacation rental market. Check back next week for the latest news!
