:
US: New data from property management software company Hospitable has highlighted the extent to which staffing shortages continued to affect short-term rental property managers in 2025, with more than a third of hosts and managers reporting lost bookings or negative reviews as a result.
The research, drawn from an upcoming Hospitable report, showed that 34.3 per cent of respondents had faced booking losses or guest dissatisfaction linked to staffing or contractor-related issues this year. Labour reliability remained a significant pressure for property managers of all sizes, but the impact was particularly acute for larger portfolio managers relying on multiple external vendors.
Cleaning shortages were one of the most commonly reported challenges. Almost 40 per cent of hosts and managers said they struggled to find dependable local cleaners, a problem that directly affected turnover times, guest experience and occupancy rates.
Among property managers handling bigger portfolios, 35.5 per cent said that hiring or retaining reliable staff was one of their most persistent operational difficulties. Looking ahead to 2026, 27.3 per cent listed reducing operational costs and easing staffing pressures as core business goals.
In response to ongoing reliability issues in the sector, Hospitable launched its Cleaner Marketplace in September, offering access to more than 150,000 vetted cleaners via its platform to help operators source consistent support.
Pierre-Camille Hamana, CEO and founder of Hospitable, said staffing reliability was continuing to shape booking performance and the day-to-day running of STR businesses. He added that the findings underscored how much time hosts and managers spent dealing with problems that should be predictable and stable.
Founded in 2016, Hospitable has evolved from a time-saving PMS into a broader STR management platform, automating guest messaging with AI, managing rental agreements and payments, coordinating teams and supporting direct booking capabilities.
The full report will be made available in January 2026.
Highlights:
New research from Hospitable shows that 34.3% of STR hosts and managers have lost bookings or received negative reviews in 2025 due to staffing and contractor issues.
Cleaning shortages remain a major operational challenge, with almost 40% saying it is difficult to find reliable local cleaners.
The strain is greatest among larger property managers, where 35.5% cite recruiting or retaining dependable staff as a top ongoing challenge.
Looking ahead to 2026, 27.3% of respondents list reducing operational costs and easing staffing pressures as key priorities.
Hospitable recently introduced its Cleaner Marketplace, giving operators access to 150,000+ vetted cleaners to improve reliability and property care.
