The Shortyz 2026 winners revealed

Reading Time: 2 minutes

UK: Industry leaders, innovators and disruptors from across the short-term rental sector gathered in London yesterday (21 April) for the seventh annual Shortyz Awards, where 21 winners were crowned.

Held at the five-star The Westin London City, the event brought together global operators and suppliers to celebrate excellence across the industry.

The ceremony was hosted by ShortTermRentalz editor Priya Khaira alongside BBC and Sky Sports broadcaster Amber Sandhu.

Guests were treated to an evening of entertainment, including a modern orchestral performance by Voices Amplified Trio.

The awards were judged by an independent panel comprising short-term rental professionals, hospitality experts and design specialists. The remaining five categories – Rentalpreneur, Innovator/Disruptor, Best Travel Influencer, Rising Star and Pioneer Award – were decided by thousands of votes from ShortTermRentalz readers.

The organisers thanked platinum sponsor SuperControl by Inhabit, as well as bronze sponsors Dharma, Key Data, PriceLabs and Guesty 365.

The winners are as follows:

Rentalpreneur 

• Jeff Iloulian, CEO, HostGPO
• Oriol Plana, CEO, Mr.Alfred
• Natasha Hirschmann, founder, Convert your stay
• Daniela Derin, co-founder, Skol Apartments Marbella
• Gregory Lewis, CEO, AirDXB

Innovator/Distruptor award

• Amirali Mohajer, founder, HostAI
• James Varley, founder, HostPlanet
• Sophie Jones, managing director, We Stay 
• Mark Lumpkin, sales director, STR cribs 
• Moriya Rockman, founder, Smiling House Luxury and Villa Tracker

Rising Star

• Corin Jackson, CEO, The Jacksonheim Property Group 
• Javier Llorente Granger, group head of operations, Nestor
• Jodie Bell , accounts manager, Finest Retreats
• Danilo Colombino, partnership manager, Upmarket
• Rebecca Ward, co-founder, Simply Owners 

Pioneer / industry leader

• Kimberly White, chief operating officer, HostGPO
• Oriol Plana, CEO, Mr.Alfred
• Jamie Lane, chief economist and SVP of analytics, AirDNA
• Maria Flores, chief revenue officer, Beyond
• Jason Sprenkle, CEO, KeyData
• Moriya Rockman, founder, Smiling House and Villa Tracker
• Marco Celani, president , Italianway Spa

Best travel influencer

• Alex Husner & Annie Holcombe, co-founders, The Real Women of Vacation Rentals Podcast 
• Avery Carl, founder, The Short Term Shop & host of The Short Term Show podcast

Sustainability

• Park City Lodging
• Villa Finder
• SLO by Nestor

Consumer champion award

• Villa Tracker
• OC Adventure Homes
• My Event Concierge 
• Lodgify
• Simply Owners
• Key Data
• Supercalla
• HostGPO 

Best leisure property management company

• Abode Luxury Rentals
• Italianway
• We Stay
• Moving Mountains
• Supercalla
• Pass the Keys 
• Guest365
• Finest Retreats

Best urban property management company

• Pass the Keys
• Wynwood House
• Italianway
• HeimHost 
• Bloqq
• Hybrid Resi
• Propr
• Nestor

Most effective use of social media

• Lodgify
• Maison Privee
• Truvi
• Only Provence 
• Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy (HVMB)
• Wynwood House
• Vincimus Stays
• Skol Apartments Marbella

Best app

• Enso Connect
• Operto 
• AirDNA
• SuiteOp
• Guesty
• Finest Retreats
• Hostify 
• Lodgify

Best use of AI and technology 

• Enso Connect
• Hostaway 
• Breezeway
• Guesty
• Hospitable
• Jurny
• HostAI
• MrAlfred (Quickpass) 

Best sales and marketing

• Hospitable
• Homes and Villas by Marriott Bonvoy (HVMB)
• AirDNA
• Autorank by Otamiser
• Homhero
• Wynwood House
• Truvi
• HostGPO

Team of the year

• Hostify
• We Stay
• Operto
• Finest Retreats
• Hybrid Resi
• Abode Luxury Rentals
• Key Data

Best property management system 

• Hostaway
• eviivo
• Lodgify
• mr.Alfred
• Hostify
• Guesty
• Avantio 
• Hostfully

Best OTA 

• Simply Owners
• ReloQuest 
• Villa Finder
• Italianway
• Villa Tracker

Guest experience award

• Pass the Keys
• Skol Apartments Marbella
• Supercalla
• Amsterdam Group Villa
• The Marlo (part of Native by Numa)
• RENTAL12
• Finest Retreats
• St Davids Aparthotels

Best Ancillary service provider

• Bubbles and Bins 
• Key Data
• Guesty
• Breezeway
• Hostbuddy AI
• Enso Connect
• Pikl
• Babyquip

Best interior design

• SLO by Nestor
• Rental12
• HostGPO
• The Marlo – Native by Numa
• Vincimus Stays
• We Stay
• The Heim

Best holiday site operator

• Meadow Falls 
• Skol Apartments Marbella

Best safety and security initiative 

• Operto
• Breezeway 
• Cleverfi
• Minut
• Finest Retreats
• Well & Good Professional Services
• Truvi