Uvika Wahi
Did Google Just Make Travel Platforms Redundant?
Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) is ending the 20-year "click-through" reign by allowing travelers to book directly within AI conversations. UCP closes the "Inspiration Gap" by connecting AI agents directly to property backends for live pricing and checkout. While this shift threatens the traditional "search and compare" model of OTAs, professional managers gain a path to direct bookings while remaining the Merchant of Record. In 2026, success depends on data hygiene and machine-readable trust, ensuring properties are bookable where travelers are already talking.
Lisbon Tests Softer Rules, New Vrbo API, Investors Prioritize Stability Over Scale
Lisbon has approved a limited easing of vacation rental rules by reopening select neighbourhoods to new licenses, marking a shift in local regulatory strategy. Expedia has clarified how Vrbo listings are distributed through its B2B API network, expanding indirect reach while keeping control centralized. Meanwhile, a new Yes Consulting report shows investors prioritizing stability and resilience over rapid, asset-heavy growth in vacation rentals.
2026 Vacation Rental Trends: How Travel Is Becoming More Selective
TL;DR- The vacation rental market isn’t shrinking in 2026, it’s sharpening. Travel demand is still high, but guests are more selective, driven by trust, ease, and value. From last-minute booking spikes and pricing psychology to luxury resilience and Asia's growth, these 10 trends reveal where traveler preferences are heading and how professional operators can respond.
Maui Bill 9 Becomes Law: What the Final Ordinance Actually Does, and What Comes Next
TL;DR- Maui Bill 9 is now law under Ordinance No. 5909, mandating a phased-out end to apartment‑zoned short‑term rentals, including Minatoya-listed units. STR use must cease by January 1, 2029 in West Maui and January 1, 2031 elsewhere, with no opt-outs or renewals. Hotel- and resort-zoned rentals remain legal, while lawsuits and potential rezoning efforts may influence outcomes but do not change the law as written.
The Five Stories That Defined Short-Term Rentals in 2025, And What They Reveal About 2026
Every year, we publish hundreds of articles, record long-form videos, Shorts, podcasts, and host webinars covering the short-term rental industry ...
FIFA World Cup 2026 Is Driving Breakout Demand, Just Not in the Same Way Everywhere
📌TL;DR- The FIFA World Cup 2026 is already causing massive shifts in travel demand—but it’s not the same everywhere. Booking curves and pricing are surging in cities like Mexico City and Miami, where demand is early and international, while markets like Kansas City and Dallas are seeing steadier, more domestically driven growth. Regulations, pricing, ticket access, and visa hurdles all shape how the event is playing out, city by city. Hosts and property managers shouldn’t rely on hype—data is the only way to stay ahead of demand trends in the run-up to kickoff.
Why Finding Reliable Cleaners Is Getting Harder, And Why It Likely Won’t Improve in 2026
📌TL;DR- Finding reliable short-term rental cleaning staff is getting harder, and signs suggest 2026 won’t bring relief. Property managers are already losing bookings and getting bad reviews due to no-shows and inconsistent quality. With labor shortages across hospitality and growing operational complexity, success now depends on systematizing cleaning operations, not just hiring harder. The winners in 2026 will be the ones who redesign how they manage, train, and coordinate their cleaning teams.
Vrbo Q3 2025: More Demand Through Expedia, More Bookings Through Deals
📌TL;DR- Vrbo’s Q3 2025 performance signals a turning point, as Expedia’s platform begins delivering real results. Expedia reported double-digit growth in vacation rentals, record attach rates, and 20% of bookings using new promotion tools. Vrbo is now more tightly integrated into Expedia’s ecosystem—leveraging its loyalty program, bundling strategy, and personalized ranking systems. The platform now rewards listings that are clear, consistent, and price-competitive, aligning vacation rentals with Expedia’s full-trip vision.
Alternative Accommodations Powered Booking.com’s Q3 2025, And the Trend Isn’t Cooling
📌TL;DR- Booking.com’s alternative accommodations business, which includes homes, apartments, and unique stays, outpaced hotel growth again in Q3 2025. Fueled by demand from U.S. travelers, Asia’s recovery, and long-haul cross-border trips, the segment grew in both listings and bookings. The company’s hotel-grade infrastructure helped it scale AA smoothly, while the Genius loyalty program and multi-vertical ecosystem (flights, cars, attractions) increasingly route travelers into vacation rentals. After three quarters of consistent gains, alternative accommodations now play a central role in Booking.com’s overall growth strategy.
Why Booking.com Suddenly Sounds More Confident Than Airbnb (and Vrbo)
📌TL;DR- Booking.com’s Q3 2025 performance reflects a steady rise in alternative accommodation bookings and a stronger position in the U.S. market. The platform’s infrastructure, loyalty program, and multi-vertical travel stack are giving it an edge as guest habits shift and regulations tighten. With reliable payouts, increased U.S. brand visibility, and a broader supply mix, Booking.com now offers short-term rental managers a more stable and scalable option, especially for those diversifying away from single-channel dependence.
Lake.com Is Betting Big on AI Discovery: What Property Managers Can Learn
📌TL;DR- David Ciccarelli, co-founder of Lake.com, created the platform to make it easier to find quality waterfront vacation rentals—something major OTAs often overlook. Lake.com lists only properties within about 15 minutes of a lake or similar body of water and is built with professional property managers in mind, offering direct PMS integrations for automated syncing. It uses structured data and natural-language content to improve visibility in AI-driven search tools like Google and ChatGPT. With conversational search and AI booking channels on the horizon, Lake.com is positioning itself for the shift from traditional filters to intent-based, AI-powered travel planning.
Sonder Shutdown: A Sudden End to a High-Profile Hospitality Experiment
📌 TL;DR- Sonder has abruptly shut down and entered Chapter 7 liquidation, ending all U.S. operations immediately. Guests were displaced mid-stay and employees lost access without warning. The collapse stemmed from a fragile master-lease model, SPAC-era overvaluation, mounting financial losses, and the sudden end of its Marriott partnership. The Sonder shutdown marks a major turning point for hybrid hospitality and a warning about scaling asset-heavy models under a tech narrative.
Airbnb Tests Instacart-Powered Kitchen Stocking: What Professionals Managers Need to Know
📌TL;DR- Airbnb is testing Instacart-powered kitchen stocking where guests order groceries in-app and hosts unpack and store them for a $25 payout. Useful for guests, but operationally demanding for property managers. More importantly, it signals Airbnb’s move toward a broader host services marketplace and deeper control of the guest journey.
Where Guests Are Really Booking in 2025: Beyond Airbnb, Booking.com & Vrbo
📌TL;DR: Major OTAs still drive bookings, but property managers are losing control over visibility, pricing, and policies. This article explores the best alternatives to Airbnb and Vrbo in 2025 — including Holidu and Whimstay — and explains how to choose the right channels for your guests, region, and business goals.
New Vrbo Updates Show It’s Making Reliability Its Core Identity
📌TL;DR: Vrbo has introduced a new suite of updates centered on trust and reliability. The rollout includes VrboCare, a refreshed guarantee program, a new “Loved by Guests” badge, and stricter, listing-level Premier Host standards. Together, these changes reinforce Vrbo’s positioning as the “safe to book” platform, focused on consistent, verified guest experiences. For property managers, the takeaway is clear: reliability is now the metric that drives visibility.
From Reel to Reality: How Expedia Using AI to Turn Instagram Inspiration into Bookable Trips
Expedia’s new AI Trip Matching feature lets travelers turn Instagram Reels into real-world itineraries. Here’s how it works, what problems it solves, and what it reveals about the future of discovery for short-term rental managers — where visibility begins long before the search.
Airbnb’s October 2025 Host Upgrades: New Tools for Pricing, Cancellations, and Payout Visibility
📌TL;DR- Airbnb’s October 2025 host updates bring new tools for pro managers: dynamic cancellation policies, improved year-ahead price tips, earnings dashboards with YoY comparisons, and payout previews. These features signal Airbnb’s push to become an all-in-one platform for pricing, cancellations, and analytics, reducing the need for third-party tools.
Airbnb’s AI Era Isn’t About Automation, It’s About Emotion and Understanding
📌TL;DR- Airbnb is using AI not just for efficiency, but to make travel more human. New features like “Connections,” improved maps, and flexible carousels aim to foster emotional loyalty by helping guests connect with each other and explore meaningfully. It’s a shift from automation to empathy, making AI a tool for belonging, not just booking.
Airbnb’s New Social Features Reveal a Plan to Link People, Places, and Possibilities
📌TL;DR- Airbnb’s new Connections feature turns Experiences into a social network, letting guests see who’s attending, message each other, and build ongoing travel relationships. Combined with smarter discovery tools and AI-driven personalization, it’s a clear shift: Airbnb wants to be more than a booking app — it’s building a social travel platform. For property managers, this means more emotionally engaged guests, deeper retention loops, and a platform that’s evolving fast toward community and connection.
Italy Moves to Scrap Tax Break on Short-Term Rentals, Prompting Fierce Debate
📌TL;DR- Italy’s draft 2026 budget proposes replacing the 21% flat tax that applies to a host’s first short-term rental property with a uniform 26% rate on all rentals. The Italy short-term rental tax 2026 plan is still under debate and faces political backlash.
