US: A new report by vacation rental software company Hospitable has revealed a growing shift in the short-term rental (STR) sector, with nearly 80 per cent of hosts opting to self-manage their properties instead of using traditional property management companies (PMCs).
The research, drawn from Hospitable’s forthcoming report, found that 79.7 per cent of hosts have no intention of hiring a PMC over the next 12 months. Rising costs, greater operational autonomy and the ability to deliver personalised guest experiences are key drivers behind the trend.
More than four in five respondents [82.2 per cent] cited PMC fees as a major deterrent, while 58.4 per cent said they preferred to retain full control over the guest journey and day-to-day operations.
Pierre-Camille Hamana, founder and CEO of Hospitable, said: “Our research reflects a growing confidence among independent hosts. They’re not choosing independence because they have to, they’re choosing it because they can.
“With the right technology, today’s hosts are able to manage operations, guest experience, pricing, and communications more efficiently than ever before, without sacrificing profitability or quality,” he added.
The findings suggest that the availability of automation and property management tools is making self-management more accessible. Nearly all respondents [96.8 per cent] agreed that technology is essential to remaining competitive, enabling them to handle everything from guest messaging to dynamic pricing in-house.
More than one in eight hosts reported previously working with a PMC but later returned to self-management. The most common reasons included the ability to adapt quickly to market conditions [48.8 per cent], higher profitability [54.7 per cent], and improved oversight of guest interactions and maintenance [63.7 per cent].
While traditional PMCs still serve a role — particularly for hands-off owners — the report notes a shift towards local, boutique-style operators who offer a more personalised, market-savvy service.
Founded in 2016, Hospitable provides a suite of tools to help STR hosts automate key elements of property management, including AI-powered guest messaging, team scheduling and cross-platform calendar syncing.
The full report is due for release later this month.
