US: Short-term rental analytics company Key Data has published its Vacation Rental Industry Outlook 2026, revealing that operations, staffing, and revenue pressures remain the top challenges for property managers heading into the new year.
The report, based on responses from 244 short-term rental professionals representing more than 43,000 properties across the US, found that 73% see these issues as the biggest barriers to achieving their 2026 targets.
Regulation also continues to weigh on the industry, with 42% of respondents expecting legal or permitting restrictions to limit growth and 47% reporting strict local licensing requirements.
Despite these challenges, optimism remains: 60% of property managers expect at least modest revenue gains in 2026, suggesting confidence in the sector’s ability to adapt.
Operational efficiency emerged as the top strategic focus for next year, outranking marketing, guest experience, and portfolio growth. Nearly a third (32%) of managers now review market data weekly to inform pricing decisions and protect margins, a sign of increasing reliance on real-time analytics over expansion.
Melanie Brown, director of data insights at Key Data, said: “Staffing shortages, revenue concerns and regulation are weighing heavily on the sector. What we also see is a shift in priorities: managers are putting operations and efficiency ahead of expansion, and leaning more on data to make decisions. It reflects a market that is bracing for tougher conditions while still looking for steady, sustainable growth.”
The Vacation Rental Industry Outlook 2026 is available now here.
Highlights
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73% of property managers say operations, staffing, and revenue pressures are their biggest challenges for 2026.
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42% expect legal or permitting restrictions to impact growth.
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60% anticipate modest revenue increases next year.
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Operational efficiency is the top strategic focus for 2026.
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32% of managers review market data weekly to inform decision
