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Global: Fifty-eight per cent of small short-term rental hosts now use artificial intelligence to manage their listings, up from 14 per cent in 2025, according to research from PriceLabs.
The revenue management software provider surveyed 1,203 hosts managing between one and four properties across 72 countries for its second annual Global Host Report.
Respondents said they were using AI to write guest messages and listing descriptions, as well as analyse market data.
The proportion describing AI and technology as overwhelming fell from 43 per cent in 2025 to 26 per cent this year.
AI use was also more common among respondents planning to expand. Forty-five per cent of current AI users expected to add properties over the next 12 months, compared with 32 per cent across the full sample.
Richie Khandelwal, co-founder of PriceLabs, said: “Admin and guest communication still take up most of a host’s week, but now they have far more help getting through it.”
Regulation concerns rise
Regulation was the only measured business concern to grow year on year.
Fifty-three per cent of respondents were worried that local STR rules would affect their revenue, compared with 48 per cent in 2025.
Concerns about negative reviews fell from 71 to 56 per cent, while the proportion worried about finding cleaners declined from 49 to 38 per cent. Half were concerned about not earning enough, down from 55 per cent last year.
Overall confidence also softened. Forty-one per cent expected 2026 to be better than the previous year, compared with 51 per cent in the 2025 survey. The share anticipating a worse year increased from 12 to 19 per cent.
Hosts prioritise direct booking
Airbnb was used by 97 per cent of respondents and achieved an average satisfaction rating of 4.1 out of five.
However, 73 per cent believed booking platforms prioritised guests over hosts.
Creating or improving a direct booking website was the most frequently selected investment priority, cited by 33 per cent of respondents. Smart home technology was selected by 23 per cent, while 21 per cent prioritised market data.
PriceLabs found that 89 per cent planned to spend the same amount or more on their direct booking website during the next year.
Regional differences emerge
Hosts in Latin America reported the greatest difficulty filling gaps between reservations, with 70 per cent struggling to secure bookings for empty nights. This compared with 43 per cent in North America and 30 per cent in Europe.
Despite this challenge, 60 per cent of Latin American respondents planned to add properties during the next 12 months. The equivalent figures were 37 per cent in Europe and 34 per cent in North America.
The research was conducted through Pollfish during July and August 2026 in English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian.
As the survey only included hosts managing up to four listings, its findings reflect smaller operators rather than larger professional property management companies.
Highlights
- PriceLabs surveyed 1,203 STR hosts across 72 countries.
- All respondents managed between one and four short-term rental properties.
- Fifty-eight per cent used AI to manage their listings, up from 14 per cent in 2025.
- Regulation was the only measured concern to increase year on year.
- Fifty-three per cent feared local STR rules would affect their revenue.
- Airbnb was used by 97 per cent of respondents.
- Seventy-three per cent believed booking platforms prioritised guests over hosts.
- Direct booking websites were the most commonly selected investment priority.
- Hosts in Latin America reported the greatest difficulty filling gaps between bookings.
