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STR Brief
Short Takes From The STR Ecosystem


Booking.com vs Airbnb: What the Latest Data Means for Vacation Rental Operators' Distribution Strategy
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
Mar 93 min read


Airbnb Listing Copy Is Changing in 2026 — But Strategy Still Matters More
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
Mar 93 min read


Actionable Insights From Airbnb's Q4 2025 Report. What Hosts Need to Know.
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.
Mar 53 min read


Understanding Airbnb's Reserve Now, Pay Later Feature
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 (
Feb 213 min read


My Take on Airdna’s 2026 Hottest Markets Report
My take on AirDNA's 2026 Hottest Markets Report
Feb 214 min read


New(er) Vendor: Roam - Enabling Flexible Cancellation Policies
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
Feb 211 min read
Dispatches from the ascent.
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