STR News.

RentalReady introduces AI tools like MCP server and enhanced Maia Insights to analyze operational data. These tools offer direct access to reservations, tasks, reviews, and financials, enabling natural language queries for faster decision-making.

Awaze has partnered with Ohme as its official home EV charging solution. This collaboration aims to simplify EV charging for Awaze properties, enhancing the guest experience and potentially attracting EV-driving travelers.

BrokerBot, an AI platform for real estate brokerages, is automating administrative tasks and improving agent efficiency. Launched in early 2025, it has gained traction by answering agent questions, enforcing compliance, and reducing contract errors by 70%. The platform is now evolving to handle transactional tasks.

RealTime Reservation is acquiring STAY, a guest experience platform, to unify hotel ancillary revenue tech. This aims to solve the fragmentation of systems for services like spas and restaurants, enabling single transactions and better revenue measurement for hotels.

Whimstay is launching same-day vacation rental bookings across the US. This new service allows travelers to find and book last-minute accommodations, potentially boosting occupancy for hosts.

The Walk 'n Talk podcast (EP15) explores the conflict between hospitality and operational processes in STRs. Hosts Paul Waldschmidt and Chris Hynes discuss how rental agreements, fees, and security can negatively impact the guest experience and drive travelers back to hotels.

Tragic incident where twin sisters, 5, died after being found unresponsive in a pool at a Florida vacation rental. This highlights critical safety concerns for STRs, especially those with water features. Hosts must prioritize guest safety to prevent such devastating accidents.

Airbnb's Host Damage Protection is enhancing coverage, signaling a shift towards greater host security. This update could redefine expectations for protection against guest damages, impacting how hosts approach risk management and insurance.

IHG invested 8 years and significant capital into rebuilding its hotel technology infrastructure, now reporting initial payoffs in franchisee margins. The overhaul includes systems from Amadeus and Revenue Analytics, and cloud hosting with Google, enabling scale in personalization and dynamic pricing for their loyalty members.

Airbnb's Host Damage Protection is undergoing a subscription-based reshuffle, impacting how hosts manage risk coverage. This change requires hosts to adapt their insurance strategies and understand the new terms of protection.

Self-managing STRs remotely is feasible in 2026 with automation, smart tech, and vendor systems. This model yields higher profits and control than hiring property managers, making it the preferred choice for many investors.

A tragic incident occurred at a vacation rental where twin 5-year-old girls drowned in the pool. This event highlights critical safety concerns for short-term rentals and underscores the importance of robust safety measures for family-friendly accommodations.

A tragic incident occurred where twin 5-year-old girls drowned in a vacation rental's pool. This highlights critical safety concerns for STR properties, emphasizing the need for robust safety measures to prevent such devastating accidents and ensure guest well-being.

Fill last-minute Airbnb vacancies by adjusting minimum stays, offering 10-20% discounts (never below cost floor), and optimizing Instant Book settings. Focus on eligibility before price cuts to rescue revenue from otherwise empty nights.

Instant Book on Airbnb offers increased bookings and visibility in exchange for less control. While risks exist, guest requirements and automated screening can mitigate them. Standard rentals with basic systems benefit most.

Discover 22 top short-term rental podcasts to elevate your hosting game. From industry trends and marketing tactics to operational efficiency and financial strategies, these shows offer expert insights for hosts of all levels.

Ember Stays has been recognized as the top vacation rental manager in St. George, Utah. This ranking highlights the growing importance of professional management in competitive STR markets and underscores the need for hosts to optimize operations to stand out.

Travelport's new TripServices API aims to streamline AI travel booking by connecting flights, hotels, and extras. It uses machine learning to rank content and reduce irrelevant options, with expanded servicing tools for changes and disruptions. This platform could impact how travel tech integrates with GDS systems.

Aven, a former Sabre hospitality unit, has launched a new direct booking engine designed to keep travelers on hotel websites. This tech aims to reduce abandonment by eliminating redirects, focusing on a cleaner, rebuilt infrastructure.

Ed Ulmer of Barefoot emphasizes trust accounting as the foundation for vacation rental management, not a back-office task. Growing complexity in managing owner/guest funds and meeting state regulations necessitates robust PMS technology. Choosing the right system is crucial for operator success and guest retention.

OwnerRez announces integration with GuestsKey, a smart lock automation platform for property managers. This new tool automatically generates, schedules, and removes guest access codes, syncing directly with OwnerRez bookings to eliminate manual code management and enhance security for hosts.

Accor bets on AI for hospitality, focusing on AI discovery, distribution, loyalty, and operations. 63% of travelers use AI for trip planning, impacting hotel visibility. Hosts must ensure brands are "AI-ready" for survival.

AI is fundamentally changing hospitality, making human traits like judgment, curiosity, and emotional intelligence more valuable than technical skills alone. Hosts should focus on these human elements to differentiate their businesses.

Lorraine Bonner of YorGuest leverages OwnerRez for comprehensive STR management, handling 25 properties with a focus on automation and owner statements. She highlights the platform's user-friendliness and customization for UK operations, improving efficiency and profitability.