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Spain: Lodgify has released its 2026 State of the Industry Report, providing an in-depth, data-driven look at US vacation rental performance in 2025 and actionable insights for 2026.
The report combines an analysis of more than 1.6 million bookings with survey responses from 270 US hosts and property managers, offering a comprehensive snapshot of industry trends, operational challenges, and growth opportunities.
Key findings from the report include:
Direct bookings deliver higher value
Direct bookings outperformed online travel agencies (OTAs) in 2025, providing 45.2 per cent longer stays, 51.3 per cent longer booking windows, and slightly higher average daily rates than OTAs. The data underscores why hosts are increasingly investing in direct booking sites to improve profitability and reduce reliance on third-party channels.
Shorter, last-minute stays dominate
Nearly 72 per cent of bookings in 2025 were for one-to-three night trips, while 32 per cent were made within seven days of check-in. This trend toward flexibility and last-minute travel highlights the need for hosts to balance efficiency with turnover management and operational readiness.
Revenue growth slowed amid pricing pressure
While 32.6 per cent of hosts reported revenue growth, this represented a year-over-year decline from 2024. Average daily rates increased just 1.6 per cent, trailing US inflation of 2.7 per cent, highlighting the importance of dynamic pricing strategies and smart cost management in competitive markets.
Technology adoption is accelerating
Hosts are prioritising channel managers, property management software, and home automation to improve efficiency. Yet, 26.7 per cent of respondents still cited selecting the right tools as a top challenge, demonstrating the need for simplified, outcome-driven tech stacks.
AI adoption is early but growing
Only 28.2 per cent of hosts reported using AI in 2025, mostly for guest messaging and content creation. Notably, 6.3 per cent of respondents weren’t sure whether they had used AI at all, indicating ongoing confusion around what qualifies as AI and how it’s embedded within existing tools.
To see the full report and methodology, click here.
