Abby Grous

Abby Grous

Abby Grous is the Senior Product Manager for Hospitable Direct. With experience working across the payments and healthcare industries, she now spends her days focused on helping hosts to professionalize their direct booking offering and grow revenue.

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Stories and articles by this author

Vrbo’s Largest-Ever Product Launch Adds Paid Search Placement

Sponsored Listings lead a wider launch that also includes new rates, cancellation policies, and guest tools.

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September 4, 2026

The Booking Window Is Not Shrinking. It Depends Where You Host.

We tracked the same 1,056 US listings for five years. City stays collapsed by a quarter. Cabin stays got longer.

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August 31, 2026

New Report Puts Real Numbers on Vacation Rental Experience Bookings

Fresh data shows who books vacation rental experiences, what they buy, and when they decide.

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August 30, 2026

Old dogs, new tricks: Why even 30-year veterans need to keep learning

The industry keeps changing. Good operators change with it.

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August 27, 2026

Casago Completes the Sale of All Former Vacasa Markets

Just over a year after the $130 million acquisition, every former Vacasa market has been sold

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August 21, 2026

Tripadvisor's Experiences Are Coming to Airbnb

A year after a $200 million relaunch of Experiences, Airbnb is adding Viator's catalog of proven sellers.

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August 18, 2026

Why destination knowledge is becoming a property manager's competitive advantage

Five ways to differentiate on the experience around your listing, not just the amenities inside it.

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August 14, 2026

Airbnb’s Q2 2026 Earnings: 5 Things Hosts Should Pay Attention To

Airbnb is changing how guests search, how hosts price, and what travelers can book. Here’s what its latest earnings call reveals about where the platform is headed.

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August 11, 2026

Going Direct? Here's What You Take on When You Become The Merchant of Record

Taxes, fraud, chargebacks, and payment risks don't disappear when you leave the OTAs, they just become your responsibility.

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August 10, 2026

What a 200-Night Rental Cap Actually Does to Revenue

We modeled a year of Salt Lake City listing data against a 200-night cap. Nearly half of active rentals would have run out of nights, and the smallest properties were hit hardest.

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August 5, 2026

Late Summer Bookings Are Running Ahead of Last Year

KeyData shows September pacing 13% ahead on occupancy and 11% ahead on nightly rate, a reversal from where late summer sat a year ago

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August 3, 2026

Unclear Pricing Tops the List of Vacation Rental Deal Breakers

Three of the five biggest deal breakers in Vrbo's new traveler survey are about fees, not the nightly rate

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July 31, 2026

TravelAI Buys the Sonder Brand and Relaunches Sonder.com

The deal covers trademarks and domain names only, eight months after Sonder's properties went dark

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July 28, 2026

Guests Grade You on Six Things. Only Some of Them Pay

We looked at 40,087 listings. The score most hosts obsess over is not the one that tracks with revenue

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July 27, 2026

Hosts Made More During the World Cup by Raising Prices, Not Filling More Nights

KeyData found revenue rose in all 13 host cities, almost entirely from what hosts charged per night

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July 23, 2026

Airbnb Launches Car Rentals With CarTrawler

The service is live in the U.S., France, Italy, Spain, and Australia, with up to 20% back in Airbnb credit on a first rental

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July 20, 2026

PriceLabs Expands to Mobile, AI Tools, and a Bigger API

The pricing platform now runs on your phone and inside AI assistants like Claude

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July 15, 2026

Your Airbnb Clicks Are a Pricing Signal. Here’s How to Read Them

Airbnb already shows you the demand for every future night. Most hosts price without ever opening it.

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July 13, 2026

Casago Launches a Locally Led Franchise in Belize

Casago's Vacasa conversion crosses into Central America

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July 7, 2026

Why 10 Units Is Where Short-Term Rental Operators Hit a Wall

PriceLabs surveyed 750+ operators running 5 to 50 properties. Most are full-time, run lean teams, and rank a bad review as their biggest threat.

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July 3, 2026

Technology Plus People: The Guide to Successful Software Integration for Vacation Rentals

Delivering exceptional guest experiences for property managers begins with selecting the right software provider, one that places people at the forefront of their work.

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July 2, 2026

The property managers getting the most from AI are the ones staying in control

AI can now read your bookings, maintenance log, guest history, and financials in real time. The operators who work that out will have a meaningful edge over those who don't.

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June 30, 2026

Hospitable Will Now Automate Lodging Taxes in All 50 States

The feature covers registration, calculation, filing, and remittance for direct, Vrbo, and upsell bookings

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June 29, 2026

Hostaway Launches an AI CoHost

A new AI assistant that covers the digital side of co-hosting.

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June 26, 2026

Vrbo Confirms It's Testing Sponsored Listings

A pay-per-click ad product that lets operators buy placement above organic search results. Pricing isn't disclosed yet, and a wider rollout is planned for later in 2026.

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June 19, 2026

Some Airbnb Stays Come With Free FIFA World Cup Tickets

A curated, invite-only program at about 150 listings across all 16 host cities, funded entirely by Airbnb

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June 16, 2026

New Tool Shows Property Managers Which Self-Managed Listings to Target

KeyData's new Owner Acquisition platform matches listing performance estimates with public ownership records

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June 12, 2026

The Free Pricing Lever Most Airbnb Hosts Are Ignoring

Among U.S. listings that already have a sauna, the ones that mention it in the title earn 28% more per night than the ones that don't — and four out of five don't. The same goes for your pool and your hot tub.

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June 10, 2026

Airbnb Adds Earnings Protection and an Extended Cancellation Option

One is paid insurance against lost income. The other lets guests buy more flexibility while host's payout stays protected.

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June 9, 2026

Sonder's Founder Launches a New AI Travel Agent

Six months after Sonder's bankruptcy, Francis Davidson is back with Odessia, an app that plans and books entire trips in one conversation

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June 5, 2026

Airbnb Invests $58M in WeRoad and Hires Its CEO to Run Hotels

The deal gives Airbnb a 10% stake in a European group-trip platform, plus the executive who will lead its boutique hotel push

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June 2, 2026

Premium Markets Pull Ahead This Summer as Value Markets Slip

New KeyData pacing shows occupancy falling in budget destinations even as rates rise

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June 1, 2026

New Data Reveals What's Actually Driving Vacation Rental Revenue in 2026

A joint Hospitable and IntelliHost report on 4.1M+ listings and 460,000+ reservations exposes three patterns most hosts are getting wrong

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May 28, 2026

Airbnb's 2026 Summer Release Changes How Listings Get Shown to Guests

AI personalizes which photos, reviews, and amenities each guest sees, and custom house rules now run through Airbnb's approval

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May 22, 2026

U.S. Vacation Rental Stays Grew Nearly 10% Longer in 2025

A new joint 2026 outlook from PriceLabs and Rentals United shows U.S. supply climbed to 1.6 million listings in 2025 as average occupancy slipped to 51%

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May 18, 2026

Lodgify Launches Dynamic Pricing, an AI Co-Host, and a ChatGPT Direct-Booking Pilot

The Barcelona PMS bundles five product launches and two new plans for hosts

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May 13, 2026

What Hosts Need to Know About Airbnb's Q1 Results

Strong Q1 numbers, but the real story is what Chesky teed up for May 20th

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May 12, 2026

AirDNA Announces a New Dynamic Pricing Tool

The data company's move into revenue management puts it in direct competition with PriceLabs, Beyond, and Wheelhouse

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May 6, 2026

Airbnb Guests Can Now Earn Delta Miles on Experiences and Services

The expanded partnership triples the earn rate for Experiences compared to stays

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May 5, 2026

Fixing the Broken Guest Journey: Why Fragmented Systems Are Holding STRs Back

Five questions every operator should ask before adding another tool to the stack

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May 5, 2026

Vacation Rentals Are Coming to the Uber App

More than 1 million Vrbo properties will be bookable through Uber later in 2026

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April 30, 2026

250,000 Google Ads Are Targeting Hospitality Brand Names

New AI skills are targeting a distribution problem that costs operators millions in unnecessary OTA commissions

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April 27, 2026

Airbnb Hits 50% of U.S. Reservations as Direct Bookings Slide

Key Data's Q2 2026 report shows a stabilizing market where ADR is driving gains, but channel share keeps shifting toward OTAs

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April 24, 2026

What the Highest-Performing Hosts Do Differently

Five lessons from PriceLabs’ 2026 Host Stories winners on pricing, operations, amenities, guest communication, and scaling smarter

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April 22, 2026

Casago Launches Idaho Franchise With 120 Homes in Boise and McCall

The expansion continues Casago's post-Vacasa playbook of converting markets to locally owned operations

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April 17, 2026

Airbnb's Split-Fee Toggle Is a Bug, Not a Policy Change

The option reappeared for hosts on the same day Airbnb completed its final host-only fee migration

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April 16, 2026

Hospitality Tech Startups Raise $1 Billion in 12 Months

Investment doubled year-over-year, with property management and AI-powered platforms attracting the largest rounds.

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April 14, 2026

Airbnb Bans AI Evidence for Damage Claims in New Terms of Service Update

New rules target AI-generated photos, smoke odor disputes, and require every existing host to re-accept terms by April 20th.

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April 13, 2026

Airbnb Says It's "Absolutely Thinking About" Adding Flights

Airbnb CBO Dave Stephenson confirmed flights are on the table, but stressed the company has nothing to announce yet.

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April 8, 2026

Hostaway Upgrades Its Direct Booking Website Builder

Booking Website Pro replaces Hostaway's basic site builder with improved SEO and marketing tools

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April 7, 2026

Hospitable Launches a Free Plan for Managing Listings Across Platforms

The new Essentials plan removes subscription fees for channel management across Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo

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April 3, 2026

Airbnb Launches Private Car Service in 125+ Cities

Private car transfers become the latest addition to Airbnb's growing Services category

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April 1, 2026

Lake.com Launches Membership Plans for Vacation Rental Hosts

Two new annual memberships offer 0% commission and direct booking tools on featured listings

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March 31, 2026

Idaho's New Law Stops Cities From Regulating Short Term Rentals

Starting July 1st, Idaho cities can't require permits, cap the number of STRs, or limit rental days

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March 30, 2026

Easter Bookings Jump in 18 of 22 European Markets

Nightly rates are up everywhere, but affordable Eastern European cities are seeing the fastest demand growth

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March 26, 2026

Deloitte Outlines 5 Problems Facing the Hospitality Industry

The report lays out what's pressuring hotels, vacation rentals, and cruises, and what the industry should do about it.

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March 24, 2026

Pass the Keys Launches a Quality Guarantee Based on Guest Reviews

The company will waive its management fee for any stay rated below 4 stars on Airbnb

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March 20, 2026

Trusting the Algorithm: Business Strategy Changes and How to Handle Them

As AI-powered tools become more common in property management strategy, many operators are finding it difficult to balance human expertise and algorithmic speed

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March 17, 2026

eviivo Adds Automated Owner Statements to Its Property Management System

The update targets the manual spreadsheet work that still slows down property management companies as portfolios grow

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March 17, 2026

Key Data Launches Dex AI

The new AI engine built into Key Data delivers daily performance summaries, market benchmarking, and custom dashboards

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March 13, 2026

Discounting for Visibility? What STR Operators Should Really Be Thinking About

As platforms experiment with discount-driven visibility, STR operators face a deeper question: are you pricing to fill nights, or paying for placement in someone else’s marketplace?

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March 12, 2026

Breezeway Secures Growth Investment from Resurgens Technology Partners

The property operations platform plans to accelerate AI development and international expansion, backed by Resurgens' $800 million fund.

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March 12, 2026

CozySuites Acquires Roami Out of Bankruptcy for $6.3 Million

Court filings reveal the full deal terms behind the acquisition of the once-fast-growing STR operator

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March 10, 2026

Proper Insurance Acquired by Specialty Program Group

The STR insurance provider has written over 200,000 policies across all 50 states

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March 9, 2026

Concert Demand Isn’t Seasonal: Why Emotion Is the Missing Variable in STR Pricing

Understanding how fixed-date, emotion-driven travel reshapes pricing, pace, and stay patterns

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March 4, 2026

Airbnb Tests Airport Pickups

Private car transfer service pilot launches in select cities outside North America

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March 2, 2026

Casago Expands Into Northeast Florida and Coastal Georgia

Impact Holdings takes over former Vacasa markets in St. Augustine, Amelia Island, and St. Simons Island

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February 27, 2026

Airbnb Offers $750 to New Hosts in World Cup Cities

The company's largest-ever new host incentive targets entire-home listings across all 16 North American host cities

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February 26, 2026

Vrbo Partners With WeatherPromise to Offer Bad-Weather Refunds

The new add-on automatically pays guests if it rains too much during their trip.

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February 24, 2026

Airbnb Experiments With Discounts Tied to Search Ranking

Is this the start of a new guest loyalty program?

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February 22, 2026

Airbnb Expands Reserve Now, Pay Later Worldwide

$0-upfront bookings go global after strong U.S. adoption

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February 19, 2026

What Hosts Need to Know About Airbnb's Q4 Results

Record revenue for Airbnb, but Hosts navigate fee changes, hotel growth, and new initiatives

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February 17, 2026

Why So Many STR Owner-Property Manager Relationships Fall Apart

Misaligned expectations, unclear operating models, and weak onboarding are quietly driving owner churn across STRs

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February 16, 2026

Casago Founder Steve Schwab to Step Down as CEO, Transition to Chairman

President Joe Riley named next CEO

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February 13, 2026

World Cup Bookings Surge, but Stays Get Shorter

New data shows sharp demand spikes in host cities, but shorter stays could limit revenue for operators with rigid rules.

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February 11, 2026

Pricing Isn’t the Problem for Most Underperforming Airbnb Listings

New data shows content quality and visibility issues often outweigh pricing strategy

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February 8, 2026

What Top-Performing Vrbo Listings Have in Common

Hostaway data shows detailed amenities, strong visuals, and clear location signals drive higher performance.

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February 5, 2026

Super Bowl 2026 Drives Early Revenue Surge for Bay Area Short-Term Rentals

Listings near Levi’s Stadium are pacing at nearly 3x last year’s revenue

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February 3, 2026

Repeat Guests Are Costing STR Operators Millions in OTA Fees

New data shows a small share of direct bookings can capture the vast majority of repeat revenue

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February 2, 2026

Hilton Launches Apartment Collection With Placemakr Partnership

The Placemakr partnership brings 3,000 furnished apartments to Hilton’s system

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January 27, 2026

Hosts are Pausing Growth to Focus on Marketing in 2026

Hostaway’s 2026 STR report shows marketing spend rising as expansion plans cool

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January 23, 2026

Hospitable Launches Trip Insurance That Pays Hosts Commissions

New automated upsell lets guests buy travel protection while hosts unlock a passive income stream

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January 22, 2026

Kasa absorbs nearly 1,000 Mint House units

The all-equity deal expands Kasa’s management platform across premier U.S. markets

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January 19, 2026

Casago Expands Across Daytona Beach

152 former Vacasa homes in Volusia County, Florida shift to an existing Casago operator

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January 18, 2026

What Trump’s Housing Proposals Mean for STR Investors

A proposed investor ban and a $200B mortgage bond purchase carry very different risks for short-term rental owners.

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January 15, 2026

Expedia Integrates Vrbo Properties Into Its API

Over 900,000 vacation rentals will now appear across Expedia’s wider network, giving hosts broader reach without new channels to manage

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January 13, 2026

Direct Booking Push Continues as Simply Owners Integrates with SuperControl

The new integration makes direct bookings easier for British STR owners

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January 12, 2026

New Data Shows 40% of Hosts are Pausing Growth Plans

Survey of 550+ hosts highlights rising competition and costs driving the shift toward caution

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January 9, 2026

New Forces are Pushing Quiet Luxury to the Center of Hospitality Design

As costs rise and guest preferences evolve, designers are choosing high quality essentials over loud decorations.

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January 7, 2026

The Biggest Short-Term Rental Trends of 2025

A year of platform shifts, new tech, and major economic forces that reshaped how hosts operate.

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January 3, 2026

HomeAway Sues Michigan Over $18.7 Million Tax Bill

The platform says hosts, not the company, were responsible for paying the taxes.

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December 29, 2025

World Cup Schedule Triggers Massive Booking Spike Across North America

Data shows East Coast cities dominating early demand while the West Coast struggles to keep pace

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December 23, 2025

Direct Bookings Jump 91% as Hosts Push to Cut Fees

New data shows operators saved $6.9 million in 2025 by shifting more reservations to their own channels

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December 21, 2025

Airbnb Tightens New Year’s Eve Anti-Party Screening

Last year’s system blocked more than 23,000 high-risk bookings across major markets

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December 19, 2025

A Data-Driven Look at How 2025 Reshaped the STR Market

Tighter regulation, later bookings, longer stays, and rising occupancy defined performance across major regions.

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December 18, 2025

Spain fines Airbnb $75 million for unlicensed STRs

Regulators say more than 65,000 listings violated national rules as Spain escalates enforcement

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December 17, 2025

Hosts Say Staffing Problems Are Now a Top Business Risk

Survey shows one in three operators lost revenue because of cleaner shortages or contractor issues

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December 11, 2025

Vrbo Releases New Ski Season Data

Earlier bookings, rising demand, and changing traveler behavior across U.S. ski markets

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December 10, 2025

Vacation Rental Demand Climbs Across Europe’s Top Christmas Market Cities

Bookings outpace last year across all markets, and constrained inventory in France fuels the highest average nightly prices of the season.

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December 8, 2025

Guesty Rolls Out an AI Revenue Management Agent

A new AI layer inside the PMS targets revenue leaks operators might be missing

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December 3, 2025
The 3 Emails That Turn Airbnb Guests Into Direct Bookings

The 3 Emails That Turn Airbnb Guests Into Direct Bookings

Most hosts think direct bookings need a big marketing operation. They don't. Just three well-timed emails can drive 15-30% of your yearly bookings.

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June 17, 2026
How a QR Code Turns Airbnb Guests Into Repeat Direct Bookings

How a QR Code Turns Airbnb Guests Into Repeat Direct Bookings

The moment a guest checks out, they go back to being Airbnb's. Here's how a printed QR code keeps them yours and turns one stay into repeat bookings.

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June 10, 2026
Why Most Airbnb Hosts Never Build a Guest Email List

Why Most Airbnb Hosts Never Build a Guest Email List

Past guests are the easiest bookings you'll ever get, so why do most Airbnb hosts never build an email list?

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June 3, 2026
Why Airbnb Doesn't Want You Communicating With Past Guests

Why Airbnb Doesn't Want You Communicating With Past Guests

12 Airbnb changes pushing hosts to direct bookings

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May 27, 2026
World Cup 2026 Vacation Rental Bookings: What the Data Actually Says

World Cup 2026 Vacation Rental Bookings: What the Data Actually Says

A data-backed look at the World Cup 2026 vacation rental story: why hosts are seeing wildly different results and what to watch as bookings finalize.

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May 20, 2026
Airbnb Q1 2026 Earnings Call: 5 Key Takeaways for Hosts

Airbnb Q1 2026 Earnings Call: 5 Key Takeaways for Hosts

Airbnb posted $2.7B in Q1 revenue, but the earnings call signaled bigger changes ahead. Here's what stood out for hosts on search, hotels, RNPL, and the May 20th Summer Release.

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May 13, 2026
Uber Is Adding 1 Million Vrbo Vacation Rentals to Its App: What It Means for Hosts

Uber Is Adding 1 Million Vrbo Vacation Rentals to Its App: What It Means for Hosts

Uber announced a partnership with Expedia to bring 1 million+ Vrbo vacation rentals into the Uber app. Here's why the deal makes sense, who has the edge in the 'everything app' race, and what it means for hosts.

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May 6, 2026
Why the $300 Hotel Room Is Dying, And What It Means for Vacation Rental Hosts

Why the $300 Hotel Room Is Dying, And What It Means for Vacation Rental Hosts

The K-shaped economy is hollowing out the mid-tier hotel market. Here's why vacation rentals are perfectly positioned to capture the travelers those hotels are losing.

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April 29, 2026
New Study: Airbnb Listings with Longer Descriptions Earn 70% More Revenue

New Study: Airbnb Listings with Longer Descriptions Earn 70% More Revenue

New data from 15,600 Airbnb listings shows longer descriptions correlate with significantly higher revenue. Here's what's driving the trend and what hosts should do about it.

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April 22, 2026
PE Firm Pays $250 Million for a Collection of Local Vacation Rental Managers

PE Firm Pays $250 Million for a Collection of Local Vacation Rental Managers

A PE firm just paid $250 million for Towne Vacations, a collection of local vacation rental managers. Here's what the deal signals about the future of property management exits.

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April 15, 2026
ChatGPT Is Running Ads Now: What It Means for Vacation Rental Hosts

ChatGPT Is Running Ads Now: What It Means for Vacation Rental Hosts

ChatGPT just started rolling out paid ads. If AI starts steering travelers toward certain booking platforms based on ad partnerships, having your listing on multiple channels matters more than ever.

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April 8, 2026
Airbnb Launches Private Car Transfers in 125+ Cities : Is It Competing With Uber?

Airbnb Launches Private Car Transfers in 125+ Cities — Is It Competing With Uber?

Airbnb's new private car transfer service is live in 125+ cities. We break down what it means for hosts and whether Airbnb is stepping on Uber's turf.

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April 1, 2026
ChatGPT Stops Booking Vacation Rentals: What It Means for Hosts

ChatGPT Stops Booking Vacation Rentals — What It Means for Hosts

ChatGPT backed off direct travel booking this month. Here's why the gap between AI-powered discovery and trusted booking platforms matters for STR operators.

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March 25, 2026
What Vacation Rental Companies Are Missing About Facebook Ads

What Vacation Rental Companies Are Missing About Facebook Ads

63% of vacation rental companies aren't running Facebook or Instagram ads. Here's why that gap is an opportunity and how to think about return on ad spend.

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March 18, 2026

Robots in Vacation Rentals: Do They Actually Make Sense for Hosts?

A company just deployed robots in a Florida vacation rental. We break down costs, guest demand, the Henn-na Hotel case study, and whether the ROI math works for hosts.

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March 11, 2026
AirDNA's First STR Investor Survey: Key Takeaways from 650+ Investors

AirDNA’s First STR Investor Survey: Key Takeaways from 650+ Investors

AirDNA's first-ever STR investor survey polled 650+ investors. Here are the key charts and takeaways on purchase sentiment, financing, and target markets.

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March 4, 2026
Airbnb's New Ranking Experiment: Pay a Discount for Better Search Placement

Airbnb’s New Ranking Experiment: Pay a Discount for Better Search Placement

Airbnb is testing a new system where hosts can offer discounts to rank higher in search. Here's what to watch out for and whether the tradeoff is worth it.

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February 25, 2026
What Airbnb Told Wall Street This Week, and What It Means for Hosts

What Airbnb Told Wall Street This Week, and What It Means for Hosts

Airbnb's latest earnings call revealed signals every host should pay attention to: fee restructuring plans, hotel growth outpacing homes, and AI-powered support handling 30% of tickets.

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February 18, 2026

From Turnover to Trust

Lessons for Short-Term Rental Hosts Managing Cleaning Operations

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February 12, 2026
Pricing Isn't the Real Problem for Most Underperforming Airbnb Listings

Pricing Isn’t the Real Problem for Most Underperforming Airbnb Listings

New PriceLabs data from 10,000+ listings shows that content quality (not nightly rate) is the factor separating top-performing Airbnb listings from the rest.

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February 11, 2026
The 15% Rule: How a Small Direct Booking Channel Captures Most Repeat Guest Revenue

The 15% Rule: How a Small Direct Booking Channel Captures Most Repeat Guest Revenue

A hostAI study of 230,000+ bookings reveals how much repeat guest revenue leaks to OTAs, and how one Florida operator captures 84% of it with just 15% direct bookings.

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February 4, 2026
7 Key Takeaways from 1,150 Hosts and 1.6 Million Bookings

7 Key Takeaways from 1,150 Hosts and 1.6 Million Bookings

Three major platforms surveyed 1,150 hosts and analyzed 1.6 million bookings. Here are the 7 biggest takeaways on marketing, growth, direct bookings, AI, and more.

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January 28, 2026
Airbnb's Hotel Push: What It Means for Airbnb Hosts

Airbnb's Hotel Push: What It Means for Airbnb Hosts

Airbnb went on a high-profile hotel executive hiring spree. Here's what their push into hotels means for short-term rental hosts and why diversifying your booking sources matters more than ever.

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January 21, 2026
How Trump's Housing Policy Proposals Could Affect Airbnb Investors

How Trump's Housing Policy Proposals Could Affect Airbnb Investors

President Trump floated two major housing policy ideas — banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes and a $200 billion mortgage-backed securities purchase. Here's what both mean for STR investors.

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January 14, 2026
Email marketing for Airbnb hosts: direct bookings chart

Email Marketing Strategies

Everyone says to collect emails for direct bookings, but almost no one explains what to send. Here are the one-time and recurring marketing emails that actually drive repeat guests and direct bookings for STR hosts.

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January 7, 2026
The Biggest Vacation Rental Trends of 2025

The Biggest Vacation Rental Trends of 2025

A look back at the biggest short-term rental trends that shaped 2025 --> from Vacasa's collapse and Airbnb's platform overhaul to record venture funding and shifting guest behavior.

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December 31, 2025
4 Predictions for 2026

4 Predictions for 2026

Four predictions for the STR industry in 2026: AI-powered search replacing the traditional search bar, elite operators moving into commercial real estate, a surge in direct bookings, and niche experiences creating breakout listings.

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December 24, 2025
Casago Hands Off 1,000 Homes to Evolve

Casago Hands Off 1,000 Homes to Evolve

Casago sold 1,000 former Vacasa homes to Evolve in a deal that highlights the diverging models in STR property management. Here's what it means for the industry.

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December 3, 2025
Guests Are Reverse-Searching Your Airbnb Photos to Book Direct: How to Be Ready

Guests Are Reverse-Searching Your Airbnb Photos to Book Direct: How to Be Ready

A growing number of travelers are reverse image searching Airbnb listing photos to find direct booking sites and save on platform fees. Here's how to make sure your website is ready to convert them.

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October 15, 2025
Why Top Airbnb Operators Are Moving Into Boutique Hotels

Why Top Airbnb Operators Are Moving Into Boutique Hotels

Elite hosts have an excellent foundation to make the leap into boutique hotels if they want to.

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October 1, 2025
The Pickleball Premium: pickleball court at a vacation rental

The Pickleball Premium

Pickleball courts are a high-ROI amenity every Airbnb owner should consider

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September 24, 2025
Experience Is the New Pricing Power

Experience Is the New Pricing Power

What Freewyld teaches us about building high-performing, experience-driven rentals

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September 17, 2025
Building Destinations, Not Another Listing

Building Destinations, Not Another Listing

With wellness suites, waterfront villas, and a cult-like following of water-sport enthusiasts, Edgecamp shows how niching down creates pricing power.

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September 10, 2025
Airbnb hero image optimization: before and after photo collage

Hero Image Optimization

Use AI to Get More Bookings, Not Just Reply Faster

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September 3, 2025
What Ultra Successful Vacation Rentals Will Look Like in the Future

What Ultra Successful Vacation Rentals Will Look Like in the Future

The next wave of successful STRs will be led by niche, experience-driven properties like Birdie Houses that build community, drive direct bookings, and regain pricing power.

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August 27, 2025

The Short-Term Rental Tax Strategy

See what makes STRs a strong strategy for high income earners looking to reduce their tax burden while investing in real estate

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August 6, 2025

How Bonus Depreciation Can Save Thousands in Taxes While Building Long Term Wealth

Learn how the short term rental strategy turns rentals into tax shields

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August 6, 2025

How to Manage an Airbnb From a Different State

A Complete Guide to Successfully Managing Your Airbnb Remotely While Living in Another State

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August 6, 2025

The Top 10 Beginner Airbnb Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Ready to become an Airbnb host? Learn the top 10 mistakes new hosts make and how to avoid them.

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August 6, 2025

How Depreciation Recapture Works & 3 Strategies to Avoid It

Bonus depreciation is powerful, but the IRS eventually wants its cut. Here's how to plan ahead

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August 4, 2025
Custom Airbnb map collage showing a listing's location and nearby attractions

Custom Airbnb Maps: The Easiest Way to Boost Your Bookings

A custom map in your listing photos shows guests where they are staying at a glance. Three ways it lifts bookings and cuts bad reviews.

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July 30, 2025

AirCover Guide: 7 Steps to Maximize Your Protection

Proven strategies for hosts to get a full reimbursement and protect your Airbnb investment (written in plain english)

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January 5, 2025

The Step-By-Step Guide to Airbnb Design

How to design your Airbnb like a pro and turn “Meh” into a Memorable

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January 4, 2025

Airbnb Cleaning: Your Guide to Maintain 5-Star Standards

How to maintain five-star cleaning standards from month six to year six in your short-term rental

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January 3, 2025

5 Things to Consider Before Buying Your First Airbnb

Before you put a down payment on that beach house, here's what you need to know.

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January 2, 2025

Airbnb Cleaner Pay Guide: How to Motivate and Retain Top Talent

How to pay, motivate, and retain top Airbnb cleaners for consistent five-star reviews.

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January 2, 2025

Airbnb Cleaning 101

Learn Why Airbnb Cleaners Are the Key to Maximizing Guest Satisfaction and Profits

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January 2, 2025

How to Find Reliable Airbnb Cleaners

Discover step-by-step strategies to find and hire reliable Airbnb cleaners. Expert tips on interviewing, vetting, and building your cleaning team

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January 2, 2025

How to Train Airbnb Cleaners

Learn proven strategies to train cleaners, prevent refund requests, and maintain five-star reviews.

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January 2, 2025

Fine-Tuning A New Airbnb for Maximum Results

A Complete Guide to Optimizing Your New Airbnb for Long-Term Success and Maximum Revenue

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January 2, 2025

How to Create an Outstanding Airbnb Listing

Ready to become an Airbnb host? Learn how to create an outstanding listing that attracts guests. Discover proven tips for photos, pricing, and amenities that drive bookings.

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January 2, 2025

Mindset Guide for New Airbnb Hosts Getting Started in 2025

Ready to become an Airbnb host? Learn how to overcome common fears, set realistic expectations, and develop the right mindset for hosting success in 2025.

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January 2, 2025

Research: The first step New Airbnb Hosts Need to do before getting started in 2025

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Smart Market Analysis and Business Planning for Airbnb Success

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January 2, 2025

Simplifying the Day-to-Day of Airbnb Hosting

Ready to become an Airbnb host? Learn how to manage daily operations, build a reliable team, and create exceptional guest experiences with our proven strategies.

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January 2, 2025

AirCover Fine Print: What Every Airbnb Host Needs to Know

Your Complete Guide to Understanding AirCover's Fine Print: Claims, Coverage, and Critical Details

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January 2, 2025

Airbnb Interior Design: Budgeting Tips and Trends for 2025

How to create stunning Airbnb spaces with strategic budgeting and smart design choices.

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January 2, 2025

Airbnb Design Secrets: Pro Tips to Make Guests Fall in Love

Room-by-Room Expert Strategies to Elevate Your Airbnb Design Game

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January 2, 2025

6 Airbnb Furniture Hacks to Save Thousands

Don’t waste another dollar on overpriced Airbnb furniture – use this guide instead

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January 2, 2025

How to Build a Dream Team for Your Airbnb

Learn how to find a trustworthy Airbnb cleaner, Airbnb handymen, and essential team members - without spending a dime

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December 1, 2024

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