A new global survey of more than 1,400 short-term rental hosts shows that AI adoption is rising, but the technology is not yet relieving the operational workload that hosts face each week. The findings come from the Pricelabs 2025 Global Host Report, which focuses on how hosts manage their businesses, where time is being spent, and why today’s tools are falling short.
AI Adoption Rises, But Time Savings Haven’t Arrived
Despite the hype around automation, only 14% of hosts say AI is currently helping them. Almost half (47%) describe AI tools as overwhelming, and both groups report spending the exact same amount of time managing their properties, an average of 8.3 hours per week. In particular, small-scale operators managing one to four listings report that AI-driven efficiency has not yet materialized.
Administrative Tasks And Property Care Still Dominate Host Workloads
Hosts report that their biggest time drains are traditional operational tasks, not guest communication or pricing. 76% say administrative work like bookkeeping and taxes is highly time-consuming, and 72% say property servicing, including cleaning and maintenance, consumes a significant share of their week. Yet only 10% plan to invest in cleaning or turnover technology in the coming year.
The survey also highlights an ongoing reliance on manual systems. Nearly half of hosts still use spreadsheets for core reporting and planning. This gap between the tasks that consume the most time and the tools hosts choose to adopt suggests a continuing education gap around tech returns, especially in back-office operations.
Platform Visibility And Reviews Remain Major Stress Points
Two of the biggest sources of host anxiety come from the major booking platforms. 63% say they worry about visibility on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, and 71% are concerned about the impact of negative guest reviews on their rankings.
Airbnb remains the dominant platform, used by 98 percent of hosts and earning the highest satisfaction rating among the major OTAs at 4.1 out of 5. Vrbo scored 3.3 and Booking.com 3.1. Even with heavy OTA reliance, direct bookings remain a top priority, with 90 percent of hosts planning to maintain or increase investment in their own websites in the coming year.
Hosts Continue To Invest In Their Businesses
The survey paints a picture of hosts who are entrepreneurial, committed, and willing to invest, but still waiting for technology to meaningfully reduce the operational burden. While the surveyed hosts feel like AI has not yet delivered the time savings it promised, they remain open to adopting tools that solve practical, day-to-day problems.
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