STR News.

Hostaway introduces AI CoHost, an AI assistant for STR property managers. This tool analyzes portfolio performance, identifies growth opportunities, and automates tasks by processing metrics like revenue, occupancy, and guest reviews. It offers actionable recommendations and can draft communications.

Learn to build AI agents for STR management with Mark Simpson's five-level framework. Start with basic prompting, move to custom GPTs, and eventually to autonomous agents. The cost shifts from salary to usage fees, benefiting fast learners who manage costs effectively.

Beyond has enhanced its AI offerings with new revenue management tools like Listing Lens, which analyzes Airbnb listings to boost visibility and conversions. A beta MCP server allows AI integration, automating tasks for property managers. Neyoba, an AI pricing assistant, has already saved users over 100,000 hours.

KeyData appoints Scott McLeod as President to drive growth, focusing on product expansion and strengthening relationships with property managers and DMOs. The company recently launched an Owner Acquisition Platform to help managers secure high-value properties more strategically.

Hostfully has published the largest-ever study on STR & vacation rental technology, analyzing a vast range of tools. This comprehensive report provides insights into the evolving tech landscape for hosts and property managers.

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.

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.

Airbnb's Extended Cancellation Option is now available, providing hosts and property managers with more flexibility. This update offers potential relief during unexpected events, allowing for cancellations beyond the standard policy, which could improve guest trust and booking confidence.

91% of vacation rental property managers agree communication is key to guest reviews. This highlights the critical role of clear, timely guest interactions in shaping the overall guest experience and the resulting ratings.

This article discusses the Vacation Rental Property Management System Market, providing insights into its size and trends. Understanding the market size is vital for hosts and property managers. It helps in evaluating the technology landscape and identifying potential tools and services. Learn how this can inform strategic business decisions.

Smart locks for vacation rentals replace keys and lockboxes, automating access and streamlining operations. A Hostfully survey revealed only 39% of multi-property managers use unique PIN codes per reservation, leading to potential security and guest experience issues. Integrate your PMS with smart locks to create unique codes, which activate at check-in and expire at checkout.

Property owners in Perth are increasingly switching their Airbnb managers, a trend quietly reshaping the local short-term rental market. The shift indicates potential dissatisfaction with current management services or a search for better performance. This move could signal increased competition among property managers and offers a chance for hosts to optimize their returns.

The Short Stay Summit 2026 revealed valuable insights into AI adoption for smaller property managers, featuring perspectives from Sykes Cottages, Casago, and Vacasa. This article aims to help hosts understand how AI is transforming short-term rental operations and how they can leverage it. Learn strategies for implementing AI in your STR business.

At the Short Stay Summit 2026, industry leaders discussed the practical application of AI in short-term rentals. They emphasized focusing on internal AI applications for operational efficiency before guest-facing tools. Data hygiene and employee adoption are critical, and hosts should avoid over-investing in custom-built technology.

This article discusses an update to Airbnb's Terms of Service, specifically tailored for property managers. The update likely involves changes related to operational requirements, payment processing, or host responsibilities. Property managers should review these changes to ensure compliance and understand how they affect their listings and business operations. This is vital to maintaining a positive presence on the platform.

Lynnbrook integrates with VRPlatform to automate deposit syncing, reconciliation, and reporting. This new feature allows transactions to directly flow into the tool and match with reservations, saving property managers significant time. VRPlatform integration provides real-time financial visibility and reduces manual errors, streamlining financial workflows.

Key Data launches Dex AI, an AI-powered tool within its Key Data PRO platform to help property managers analyze STR performance. The tool provides automated summaries of key metrics, benchmarks against market data, and offers recommendations. This allows for faster identification of opportunities, potential risks and quicker decision making.

Guesty has launched a trust accounting solution tailored for Australian and New Zealand short-term rental property managers. This system integrates directly into Guesty's software, simplifying financial management by adhering to Queensland's trust accounting regulations. Working with auditors, the system helps operators comply and streamline financial operations.

Breezeway, a vacation rental operations platform, secured investment from Resurgens Technology Partners. This funding will fuel product development, enhance AI capabilities, and drive international growth, crucial steps in the expanding short-term rental sector. The investment reflects the market's growth and Breezeway's position to deliver new features for property managers, improving guest experiences.

Hospitable has launched an Owner and Property Manager Marketplace to connect STR owners with property managers. The service matches owners with managers based on operational performance data, financial expectations, and operating models. This reflects the growing professionalization of the STR sector, emphasizing long-term investment strategies and transparency.

Guesty has launched Guesty Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to help property managers analyze revenue and operational performance, with rollout starting February 4th. This marks Guesty’s seventh AI product release in a year. The tool simplifies data interpretation and suggests actions, addressing scaling challenges. It focuses on industry-specific metrics and aims to reduce the gap between insights and actions.

Hostfully's unified inbox centralizes guest communication from multiple platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, streamlining operations and saving property managers time. Property managers using unified inboxes, templates, and triggers have reported significant efficiency gains, including increased revenue and substantial time savings, leading to greater business growth.

Property managers can strengthen owner relationships and secure renewals by prioritizing consistent communication, data-driven reporting, and proactive strategies. Sharing market insights, addressing pain points, and simplifying the renewal process build trust and demonstrate value, leading to increased owner confidence in long-term partnerships.

This article provides property managers with five strategies to improve owner retention. Key strategies include consistent communication, data-driven reporting, proactive planning, addressing pain points, and simplifying the renewal process. Hosts can use these tips to improve their relationships with property owners and secure contract renewals.