STR Brief

New data from the FY2025 earnings reports for both Airbnb and Booking highlights an interesting trend in the vacation rental industry: let's look at the numbers of Booking.com vs. Airbnb Booking.com is closing the gap with Airbnb faster than many people expected. In fact, Booking.com 's alternative accommodations segment now books about 84% as many nights as Airbnb , despite having less than half the number of vacation rental listings . That raises an important question for

If you follow short-term rental forums or marketing advice online, you’ve probably noticed a lot of conversation lately about new approaches to writing listing descriptions . Airbnb listing copy is changing. Many of the suggestions focus on making listings feel more emotional, experiential, and lifestyle-driven rather than purely functional. Examples include: experience-focused headlines storytelling descriptions highlighting unique amenities hyper-local recommendations using

Airbnb released its Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results, and while the headlines talk about strong growth, the real implications for hosts are more nuanced.

Why This Matters Travelers increasingly expect flexibility and lower upfront barriers before committing to travel. Reserve Now, Pay Later reduces friction for guests who: Don’t want to pay upfront Are coordinating travel with others Are balancing cash flow or timing Are comparing multiple options This means that booking decisions may occur earlier in the planning process, with less financial commitment required right away. What Airbnb Reserve Now, Pay Later Means for Hosts (

My take on AirDNA's 2026 Hottest Markets Report

Here's the problem they solve: flexible cancellation policies drive more bookings—but they also expose you to major revenue loss when guests cancel at the last minute. “You should switch to a flexible cancellation policy,” they said. Meanwhile, the forecast shows rain at the mountain… and your inbox starts filling with cancellations. Roam gives you income protection that lets you offer flexible cancellations  without  eating the cost when guests back out. You get reimbursed e