Short-term Rental News Digest – December 2021

The last month of 2021 is almost done and dusted. Before you embrace a new year, it’s always good practice to reflect upon the key events of the past year and start to research anticipated trends for the near future. 

Some of the highlights of the past year include the easing of restrictions, increasingly more senior citizens taking to the road again, and the launch of a number of new features and integrations. For example, Airbnb launched over 50 upgrades recently that included a Wi-Fi speed test tool. 

In 2021, iGMS was also very busy. We launched integrations with the major dynamic pricing tools and introduced a unique guest communication productivity tracking toolkit. And, we’re not quite done yet… 

Continue reading to find out about further integrations that we’ve launched and trends that you can look forward to in the new year. 

iGMS Partners With Jervis Systems 

iGMS has partnered with Jervis Systems, an access control platform, to offer automated access to guests. Users will now be able to connect their iGMS account to Jervis Systems and access will automatically be given at check-in time and reversed at checkout time. Instructions and reminders will also be sent according to the host’s chosen schedule. 

Airbnb and Vrbo Start to Share Info About Party Houses 

In June, we reported that Airbnb and Vrbo were going to join forces to create the Community Integrity Program with the goal of improving guest safety across vacation rental platforms. After a few months of planning, the Community Integrity Program was finally launched in the United States. Both platforms were in discussions with other vacation rental platforms with the hopes that more will join. 

Industry to Grow by Over 14% in 2022

AirDNA has revealed in its 2022 industry outlook that short-term rentals in the US are anticipated to grow by 14.1% in 2022. That being said, 2021 wasn’t a bad year either. According to AirDNA’s data, the average earnings for short-term rentals in the US grew by 35% in 2021, compared to the beginning of the pandemic. What’s more, listings generated about 26% more revenue on average compared to 2020. 

Not only did hosts manage to increase their earnings in 2021, but they also had the opportunity to take advantage of the “longer summer season”. In popular destinations, the peak season started earlier than usual and also lasted longer.  

Design Trends for 2022 Revealed

TikTok has partnered with Airbnb to reveal design predictions for the new year by summarizing the most trending buzz phrases used on both platforms. The most popular buzzword was “cottagecore”. In short, it’s a design style that makes use of materials such as patterned vintage wallpaper, wood, and floral upholstery to create a rural lifestyle. 

Other trends include eclectic nostalgia, potted plants, maximalist styles, gothic, and sustainable features. 

Vrbo Released Its Trend Report for 2022

While Airbnb focused on design trends, Vrbo released a report that focused on the destinations expected to trend in 2022. According to their report, the top five cities for 2022 will be Cincinnati, Yorktown, Niagara Falls, Harrisburg, and Matanuska-Susitna. 

With regards to the type of accommodation that’s trending, Vrbo shared that chalets, in particular, are currently popular. According to their data, chalets have enjoyed an increase in demand of over 80% year over year. It’s even better if the chalet is pet-friendly seeing that increasingly more travelers want to take their furry family members along.

Snowbirds Are Traveling Earlier

According to data shared by Vrbo, snowbirds are booking vacation homes in warmer destinations earlier in 2021. What’s more, demand for vacation rentals in traditional snowbird destinations has increased by more than 20% compared to 2019. The vacation rental platform anticipates that early bookings will continue to be a trend in 2022. 

A New Podcast Network Launched

Will Slickers, the host of the Good Morning Hospitality and Slick Talk podcasts, has launched a new podcast network, Hospitality.FM. It will include content about the short-term rental industry and a few other hospitality-related industries. 

The goal of the new network is to amplify the voice of the hospitality industry as a whole by giving listeners one media platform via which they can access their top podcasts. In addition, it will also offer podcast hosts access to production services. Topics that will be explored include guest experience, inclusion, and tech.  

Podcasts that will be joining the network include GuestX Podcast, Slick Talk, The No BS Short-Term Rental Podcast, and Good Morning Hospitality. It’s anticipated that by the end of 2022, 20 shows will be produced and distributed by means of the network. 

Minut Expands to France

Minut, a well-known property monitoring company, has launched in France. Recently, they also expanded to Portugal and Spain. One of the advantages offered by Minut is that it also integrates with Igloohome, a smart locks provider. So, not only can it help hosts to keep their properties better protected, but it can also make the check-in process more seamless for guests.