This Week’s News & Insights

Your one-stop-shop for vacation rental success

Author

Dom Trovato
April 02, 2025

Good morning,

Here's what's going on in the vacation rental world this week:

Airbnb quietly launches its first ever rewards program - offering 10% credits guests can use on future stays, Deer Valley's massive expansion marks North America's first new ski resort since 1981 and opens a golden opportunity for early vacation rental investors, and while airlines sound economic alarm bells, history suggests STRs might actually thrive if there is a downturn.

This week in the markets: 30 year mortgage rates inched down, tax cuts appear to be on the horizon, and major STR regulation changes rolled out in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Libson, and Washington City, Utah.

Lets dive in. 

NEWS

Headline Roundup

  • Airbnb quietly launches first-ever rewards program: learn how it could lure hotel guests and boost bookings (The Host Report)

  • RedAwning becomes first major platform to let hosts adjust cancellation policies by season (EIN Presswire)

  • Airlines signal a travel industry slowdown but STR hosts can breathe easy—for now (The Host Report)

  • EU pricing transparency backfires as Airbnb hosts adjust strategy, impacting affordable stays the hardest (The Host Report)

  • First new ski resort in 40 years creates rare opportunity for Park City Airbnb investors (The Host Report)

  • Jamaican Airbnb guest numbers skyrocket 1,300% since 2017, hosts rake in $32 billion (Irie FM)

  • After 10 years and over 70,000 properties on their platform, Homelike shuts down as corporate travel shifts (The Host Report)

  • Tofino reverses course on B.C.’s short-term rental restrictions as tourism and housing needs clash (CBC)

INVESTMENT INSIGHTS

Market Snapshot

This week, mortgage rates went down a bit. This happened because economic uncertainty pushed more investors to buy U.S. Treasury bonds for safety. When demand for these bonds goes up, their yields go down, and this leads to lower mortgage rates. The Federal Reserve keeping its policy steady also helped bring rates down. However, worries about where the economy is heading still affecting the market.

Tracking the 2025 Trump Tax Cuts

Important for STR investors: There's a growing push to make the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent. If successful, this would restore 100% bonus depreciation—a powerful tax incentive for short-term rental investors. Currently, bonus depreciation is set at just 40% for this year. We’ll continue to monitor developments closely.

Regulations Update

  • Major European cities are dramatically restricting short-term rentals, with Barcelona phasing them out entirely by 2028, Amsterdam slashing annual rental caps to just 15 nights in central districts, and Lisbon banning new licenses in 19 neighborhoods where STRs exceed 20% of housing stock.

  • In the U.S., Washington City, Utah, has implemented immediate regulations with steep $750 daily fines for violations,

  • A bright spot emerges in North Carolina, where proposed bill S.B. 291 could block municipalities from banning short-term rentals, potentially creating a more investor-friendly environment.

  • Houston is preparing to vote on a $275 annual registration requirement

  • Los Angeles is intensifying enforcement of existing regulations ahead of the 2028 Olympics.

  • Other markets with developing regulations were keeping an eye on: Pinellas County, FL, Hattiesburg MI, Lorain, OH, Holmdel Township, NJ, Marion, MA, .

See this weeks full regulations report here: (The Host Report)

EDUCATION

Featured Article

Top KPIs for STR property managers: RevPAR leads the way

Key Data's survey of over 200 short-term rental property managers reveals that RevPAR, ADR, and APO are considered the most crucial performance metrics, with 52% of respondents ranking RevPAR in their top three KPIs and 64% prioritizing ADR. As property managers increasingly focus on these revenue-centric metrics to evaluate portfolio performance, what KPI’s are you tracking to maximize your STR business potential? Hit reply and let me know!

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