Myth 1: the short-term rental industry is not that big

Globally, the short-term rental supply listed on major Online Travel Agencies grew 33% from 2017 to 2018 to reach a total of 7.1Mn properties.

Myth 2: the short-term rental industry is not relevant compared to the hotel industry

Countries like France, Italy and Croatia have more short-term rental supply than hotel supply. In the United States, almost 1 in every 3 bedrooms available for travelers is in a short-term rental.

Myth 3: short-term rentals are mostly beach houses and countryside properties

Traditional houses and villas still account for a large part of the total global short-term rental supply, but contrary to most expectations, short-term rentals are predominantly apartments.

Myth 4: short-term rentals are for families and large groups

Most short-term rentals are actually one-bedroom properties, an inventory very similar to a very competitive hotel, offering a sofa bed in addition to the main bed, a kitchen and other competitive amenities.

Myth 5: short-term rentals are used for 7-night stay vacations

Global trends in length of stay show a decrease in the average length of stay, from 7 nights in 2015 to 3 nights in 2018.

This phenomenon is due to two main factors:

• As the inventory is becoming more urban, travelers’ booking patterns are getting increasingly similar to urban destinations ́ booking patterns
• Short-term rentals are being considered as a viable alternative by travelers compared to hotels, and so booking patterns are becoming more similar to hotel bookings

Myth 6: travelers using short-term rentals plan further in advance

In 2015, a typical short-term rental was booked 3 months in advance on average. In 2018, the average booking window has declined by two-thirds, to an average of 28 days. A booking pattern very similar to a hotel booking pattern.

Myth 7: short-term rentals equal a sharing economy

In most destinations, the largest part of the total supply is managed by professionals managing multiple properties and delivering a professional experience to their guests.

Conclusion

Short-term rentals represent a massive proportion of the hospitality industry worldwide. Due to the high fragmentation of the market, it is often hard to understand its size. This is why Transparent develops insight on market conditions, such as supply growth, demand patterns, pricing changes, and property manager activities.

Published by pierrebecerril via SeeTransparent.com.