2021 Shortyz Awards winners announced

UK: The 18 winners at the second annual Shortyz Awards have been announced in a bumper virtual ceremony filmed at the historic Dixon Hotel in London, in an event watched by thousands of people from the global short-term rental community.

This year’s event, which was co-hosted by Paul Stevens, editor of ShortTermRentalz, and Eloise Hanson, news editor of Boutique Hotel News [both belonging to the International Hospitality Media portfolio], featured everything from an action-packed opening scene, a cocktail making masterclass with Letterbox Cocktails chief mixologist Joe Calvey, an interview with headline sponsor Vrbo, and a preview of IHM’s upcoming Serviced Apartment Awards [24 June] and Urban Living Festival [7-8 July], which will both be in-person events.

It came in a record-breaking year for the Shortyz Awards and for ShortTermRentalz overall, with more than 400 entries received across the 18 categories, and over 69,000 verified votes cast from more than 11,000 people around the world.

Work for the 2021 Shortyz Awards began back in October, before companies and individuals could begin submitting nominations at the start of December, through the new Shortyz entries platform.

The entries deadline passed at 23:59 GMT on 5 March, before our expert panel of judges assessed all of the submissions in accordance with the proposed criteria, and the final shortlists were unveiled in a series of exciting announcements. Following that, ShortTermRentalz readers were asked to vote in 17 of the 18 categories over a week-long voting period.

The Shortyz are open to everyone in the global short-term rental industry, including rentalpreneurs and accommodation owners, vacation rental operators, technology providers, channel managers, PMS and RMS providers, OTAs & accommodation booking platforms, property professionals, interior designers, payment system providers, insurance companies, media, and investors.

Vrbo and NoiseAware were headline and titanium sponsors respectively, while the event was also supported by noteworthy sponsors in the shape of Abode PR, AirDNA, Beach Retreats, Beyond, the UK Short-Term Accommodation Association [STAA] and Zeevou, as well as supporting partners and industry heavyweights, AJL Atelier, hotel.school, and the European Holiday Home Association [EHHA].

The awards were first conceived in 2019, less than a year after ShortTermRentalz’ successful launch in September 2018.

The purpose of the Shortyz is to:

• Recognise excellence amongst industry peers
• Highlight innovation and industry best practice
• Reward achievement
• Celebrate start-up technology

Our judging panel was: Paul Stevens, Shortyz head judge and editor of ShortTermRentalz; George Sell, editor-in-chief, International Hospitality Media [IHM]; Jessica Gillingham, director of Abode PR and founder of PillowTalk Media; Damian Sheridan, director of the Book Direct Show; Michael Goldin, director of business development, NoiseAware; Simon Lehmann, co-founder and CEO, AJL Atelier; Andy Easton, managing director, Beach Retreats; Terry Whyte, owner of Anna Maria Island Beach Rentals Inc. and Vacation Rental Software Guy; Carlos Villaro Lassen, Secretary General of the European Holiday Home Association; Deborah Heather, director, Quality in Tourism, head of M Assessment Services; Shomik Panda, director-general, UK Short Term Accommodation Association; Julie Brinkman, CEO, Beyond; Tom Caton, CRO and co-founder, AirDNA; Julie George, author of Million Dollar Host and coach with STR Legends; Heather Richer, principal, Richer Logic Consulting, board president of the Association for Short-Term Rental Homeowners [ASTRHO], and HSMAI Revenue Management advisory board member; Katherine Doggrell, co-founder, NewDog PR; and Antonio Bortolotti, host, Vacation Rental Worldwide Summit.

The confirmed winners of the 18 shortlists at the 2021 Shortyz Awards are as follows:

1. Sustainability Award 

• Bob W
• City Relay
• Fairbnb.coop
• Nuki Home Solutions GmbH
• Park City Lodging [Winner]

2. Best holiday or home exchange platform [NEW] [sponsored by Beach Retreats] 

• HomeExchange
• Love Home Swap [Winner]
• THIRDHOME

3. UK Staycation Award