News
Stay updated with the latest STR industry news and regulations
Lake.com Launches AI Travel Agency With $2.6M Pre-Seed to Unlock $20B Waterfront Rental Market - Hospitality Net
Lake.com, an AI-powered travel agency, launched with $2.6M in pre-seed funding, targeting the $20B waterfront rental market. This signals potential growth and investment in the vacation rental space. Hosts may want to monitor developments from this AI travel agency and the impact on the waterfront rental market.
Lake.com Raises $2.6M Pre-Seed to Redefine Vacation Rentals by the Water - Business Wire
Lake.com, a platform focused on vacation rentals by the water, has raised $2.6M in pre-seed funding. This suggests increased investment in niche vacation rental platforms. Hosts in relevant markets may want to research and consider listing on platforms like Lake.com.
Fractional Vacation Homes: The Future of Ownership?
This article discusses fractional vacation home ownership as a potential investment opportunity. Pacaso, a company offering fractional ownership, is also offering shares in their company until Sept 18th. Hosts should be aware of this trend and the potential market impact, but also consider the risks associated with luxury real estate and community resistance to this model.
EXPEDIA GROUP UNLOCKS MORE DEMAND FOR VACATION RENTAL PARTNERS WITH STRONGER DISTRIBUTION ACROSS ITS MARKETPLACE AND NEW TECH FEATURES - Business Wire
Expedia Group is enhancing its distribution across its marketplace and introducing new tech features to benefit vacation rental partners. This means more potential demand for hosts listing on Expedia's platforms. Hosts should stay informed about these updates to leverage the changes for increased visibility and bookings.
EXPEDIA GROUP UNLOCKS MORE DEMAND FOR VACATION RENTAL PARTNERS WITH STRONGER DISTRIBUTION ACROSS ITS MARKETPLACE AND NEW TECH FEATURES - Yahoo Finance
Expedia Group is enhancing its distribution and introducing new tech features for vacation rental partners. This means hosts may see increased visibility and potentially more bookings on Expedia's platforms. Stay tuned for details on how these updates impact your listings.
From Starting Over at 30 to 17 Rentals (and Financial Freedom) 5 Years Later
This article details Sarah King's journey from a post-divorce financial reset to building a portfolio of 17 rental properties in just five years, using the BRRRR method. Hosts can learn how she overcame challenges and utilized creative financing strategies to scale her real estate investments. Consider the BRRRR method and leveraging your own resources to scale your business.
Naples Brothers Build Vacation Rental Powerhouse, Disrupting a Decades-Old Industry - Newswire.com
This article discusses a vacation rental company's success in disrupting the industry. While specific details are scarce, the focus on building a "powerhouse" suggests insights into scaling and market trends that hosts should be aware of.
Wander: $50 Million Series B Raised For Vacation Rental Platform - Pulse 2.0
Wander, a vacation rental platform, has raised $50 million in Series B funding. This news indicates continued investment in the vacation rental market, potentially signaling growth and innovation in the platform space. Hosts should stay informed about these developments, as new platforms or features could impact their businesses.
WANDER RAISES $50M SERIES B TO BUILD THE TRUSTED BRAND IN VACATION RENTALS - PR Newswire
Wander, a vacation rental brand, has raised $50 million in Series B funding. This investment suggests growth and potential for innovation within the vacation rental market. Hosts should pay attention to how established brands evolve and consider potential impacts on competition and guest expectations.
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Going Beyond with Alyssa Stern
This article is an interview with a Product Marketing Specialist at Beyond Pricing, discussing the launch and growth of their short-term rental host community. Hosts should be aware of this community as a resource for connecting, learning, and sharing experiences. Consider exploring this community to network with other hosts and gain valuable insights.
Short-Term Rentals: Airbnb’s Dominance and Booking’s Gains in 1 Chart - Skift
This Skift article highlights the market share and relative growth of Airbnb and Booking.com in the short-term rental space. Hosts can use this information to inform their distribution strategy, potentially prioritizing platforms based on performance.
Guest Experience, Revenue Hacks & Mindset Shifts for STR Success (Ep 632)
This podcast episode with Derek Gizriel discusses consistent content creation and mindset shifts for STR success. Hosts can learn from his experience and strategies for staying motivated and productive with content creation, which has helped him scale his STR business to over $1 million in revenue.

Beyond and Booking.com Partner to Empower Hosts Worldwide
This article discusses a partnership between Beyond Pricing and Booking.com. While the content is primarily filler, it suggests an initiative to empower hosts. Further details are needed to understand how this collaboration might benefit hosts.
The Airbnb Category Hack: How to Optimize & Get More Bookings (Ep 631)
This podcast episode explains how to optimize your Airbnb listing by requesting to be included in relevant categories. Being in the right categories can increase visibility and potentially boost revenue. The host guides you through the process, emphasizing the importance of accurate category selection and provides tips to improve your chances of approval.

Beyond Launches Owner Insights: Boost Retention & Growth
This article is an announcement from Beyond Pricing. While it includes some filler text, the actual news appears to be the launch of some sort of "Owner Insights" feature. It's not clear what this feature entails without more information.
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11 Must-Know Travel Trends for 2025
This article outlines 11 travel trends for 2025 based on a recent survey. Hosts should focus on creating relaxing experiences, optimizing online presence, emphasizing cost-effectiveness, and highlighting unique aspects of their rentals to attract guests and adapt to evolving travel preferences.
How Sergio doubles his STR portfolio every year (Ep 627)
This article features Sergio Castaneda, who scaled his STR business to 19 units by focusing on systemizing, building a strong team, and delegating tasks like plant maintenance. Hosts can learn from his strategies for increasing profitability, managing revenue, and providing a better guest experience.
Mid Term Rental Strategies (Ep 616)
This podcast episode discusses strategies for mid-term rentals (30+ day stays) as regulations restricting short-term rentals emerge in some cities. The guest expert shares insights on platforms like Furnish Finder and Zillow, and ways to find renters through insurance companies, as well as the potential impact of Airbnb's algorithm on longer stays. Hosts should research platforms like Furnish Finder, Zillow, and placement agencies, and consider how Airbnb's smart pricing impacts rankings.
Guest marketing with Stay-Fi (Ep 615)
This article discusses the importance of guest data collection and direct bookings. It highlights Stayfi, a Wi-Fi marketing tool, as a way to gather guest emails and market directly to them to increase occupancy and reduce dependence on OTAs.
BOOSTYLY SHORT-TERM RENTAL DOCUMENTARY COMING SOON (Ep 604
This article discusses market trends in the short-term rental space, specifically highlighting Google's increasing presence with Google Vacation Rentals and the rise of direct bookings. It also emphasizes the importance of a diverse marketing strategy and leveraging various channels to reach potential guests in an evolving market.