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2026 Short-Term Rental Report
The Hostaway 2026 Short-Term Rental Report explores what day-to-day operations really look like for operators right now, and why some businesses are pulling ahead. In 2025, 61% of short-term rental operators used AI, with adoption climbing even higher among larger portfolios. What began as something new to test has quickly become part of everyday operations, helping teams respond faster and spend less time glued to their inboxes. At the same time, competition is intensifying. Nearly 74% of operators say their markets are more competitive, driven less by regulation and more by saturation. More listings. Higher expectations. Less room for inefficiency. Operators using AI are seeing stronger returns in pricing and marketing. Then there's direct bookings. Everyone talks about them. Few truly win them. Most operators still rely heavily on OTAs, even as AI-driven discovery makes brand visibility more important than ever. SEO and organic social lead the way, but loyalty and repeat-guest strategies remain underused. The takeaway for 2026? The advantage is using AI intentionally. Download the full report to see where the biggest opportunities still sit.
