Staffing, AI & Competition: The Hidden Challenges (+ Opportunities) for Short-Term Rental Hosts in 2026
Earlier this year, Hospitable surveyed over 500 hosts and property managers and released their findings on the state of the short-term rental industry.
The data shows where hosts are experiencing challenges, how they’re leveling up and growing their businesses, and their revenue outlook for 2026.
Here are the most interesting findings you might have missed.
The Pressure Cooker: Competition, Costs, and Demand Volatility
It’s no secret that hosting is not as easy as it used to be. When asked which external factors had the biggest impact on their businesses in 2025, nearly half of hosts (47.1%) chose increased competition in their local market.
But fierce competition wasn't the only headache. It was closely followed by:
- Rising operational costs (45.1% )
- Reduced demand or shorter stays (44.6% )
- Economic uncertainty (42.4% )
Most Airbnb hosts aren't dealing with a single defining issue, but a combination of factors hurting performance simultaneously.
Staffing Becomes a Major Bottleneck for Short-Term Rentals
While market pressures are no surprise, one of the most surprising findings involves the operational grind behind the scenes.
The report reveals that staffing has become a critical constraint across the industry.
Nearly 40% of hosts found it difficult to find reliable local cleaners, and 14.1% cite staffing shortages as one of the most significant external factors affecting their business.
These challenges directly affect turnover quality, property conditions, reviews, and repeat bookings.
Finding the right team is crucial to building a successful Airbnb business. Use our guide to build a reliable Airbnb team and improve your operations.
The AI Revolution Is Here (And Hosts Trust It)
Hosts are increasingly turning to technology to solve their scale problems. 97.7% of hosts say technology plays an important role in staying competitive.
AI adoption, in particular, has moved from experimental to essential:
- 80.9% use AI for guest communication
- 62.6% apply it to pricing decisions
- 54.2% use it to manage reviews and feedback
- 37.4% use it for listing optimization
The most surprising stat? Over half of hosts (52.9% ) now fully trust AI to manage guest communication accurately, and 63.2% believe AI has a positive impact on guest satisfaction.
The time savings are significant, with 35% saving between two and five hours per week.
Use our Free Airbnb Guest Message Templates to save time and start automating your guest messages.
Airbnb Host Outlook for 2026: Growth, But With Caution
Despite the challenges, hosts are optimistic. Nearly 60% of hosts (59.9% ) plan to scale up their portfolios in 2026.
But growth is not universal. 18.4% say they do not plan to grow at all, and 21.7% are unsure.
This means almost two in five hosts are approaching 2026 with caution, signaling a more selective mindset focused on profitability over pure portfolio size.
When asked which trend will have the biggest impact in 2026, hosts ranked automation and AI (24.7%) narrowly ahead of shifting travel behavior(24% ).
👉 Read the full Hospitable report here
