This Week’s News & Insights

Good morning,

Here’s what’s going on in the short-term rental world this week:

Vrbo cracked down on hosts who leave guests stranded with a new 100% penalty rule, July home sales in vacation rental markets slipped 3%, and Hospitable launched a new cleaner marketplace to help hosts put turnovers on autopilot.

This week in the markets: Mortgage rates slid to fresh 2025 lows, finishing the week down 0.24%, while Oakland pushed back its strict STR cap until 2026, and Boulder floated a new ‘Festival Lodging License’ aimed at big-event tourism.

Lets dive in. 

NEWS

Headline Roundup

• New Vrbo Policy Hits No-Show Hosts With 100% Penalties (Yahoo News)

• Hospitable Helps Hosts Automate Turnovers With New Cleaner Marketplace (The Host Report)

• Home Sales in Vacation Rental Markets Drop 3% in July (National Mortgage Professional)

• Vrbo Exec Highlights Key Travel Trends in STR Market (Forbes)

• Boom Partners With Tint to Launch BoomGuard Insurance for STR’s (Boom)

• New Vrbo Perk Lets Families Rent Baby Gear While Traveling (Expedia Group)

• Beyond Launches First STR Revenue Management Mobile App (Beyond)

• Airbnb, Booking Holdings, Expedia, Trip.com Spend $5.2B on Marketing in Q2 (PhocusWire)

• Glamping Crosses Key Milestone as Demand Surges (Glamping Business)

• Casago Strengthens Tech Stack with Breezeway Integration (The Host Report)

• PriceLabs Hits 161 PMS Integrations (The Host Report)

• Hospitality Platforms DigitalGuest and Chicostay Merge (PhocusWire)

• Inspirato Weighs Rival Buyout Offer From Exclusive Resorts (Skift)

Custom Maps: The Easiest Way to Boost Your Bookings

INTERESTING INSIGHTS

Another Perfect Example of STR 3.0 in Action

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the future of ultra-successful short-term rentals and how they're moving toward niche experiences and direct marketing.

Today I want to show you another company executing this strategy flawlessly - but in a completely different niche. While Birdie Houses targets golfers, Edgecamp Sporting Club has laser-focused on kitesurfing enthusiasts.

Meet Edgecamp Sporting Club

Located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Condé Nast Traveler called it "basically the Soho House of kitesurfing."

Their niche positioning is crystal clear: Everything revolves around kitesurfing, jet skiing, and water sports. They're not just offering a place to stay, they're offering access to "one of the most coveted kiteboarding sanctuaries in the world."

Different Property Types, One Cohesive Experience

Soundfront 7: Edgecamp’s flagship property is a massive 12,000 sq ft home with 14 bedrooms, each with private balconies, that sleeps up to 28 people. It's the ultimate waterfront retreat with epic views and immediate access to the water.

Waterfront Villas: Luxury 5+ bedroom homes with top-tier amenities, breathtaking views, and direct access to water sports.

Pamlico Station: A 14-suite boutique hotel with water views, pool, sauna, and wellness programming. Even the in-room amenities (Therabody massage guns, yoga gear) cater specifically to their active guest base.

The Sporting Club: Offers a full takeover of Edgecamp’s properties, from Pamlico Station to the waterfront villas for corporate retreats or weddings. It offers a combined capacity of up to 106 guests across all properties.

The STR 3.0 Playbook in Action

Just like Birdie Houses, Edgecamp is checking all the boxes for next-generation STRs:

Experience-First Design: Every detail serves their water sports community from the wellness centers and spa amenities to exclusive kite launch access and pro kiter partnerships.

Community Building: They've created a membership program offering exclusive rates during prime kiting season and unlimited amenity access. This builds recurring revenue and loyal customers who return year after year.

Niche Expertise: They understand that "when it comes to kiting in the Outer Banks, nothing matters more than being here when the conditions are right." Deep insider knowledge creates pricing power.

The Bottom Line

Whether it's golf trips or kitesurfing adventures, the winning formula is the same: pick your niche, become the undisputed expert in that space, and build experiences so compelling that guests become raving fans.

The days of generic "nice place to sleep" listings are over. The future belongs to properties that niche down and become destinations themselves.

MARKET INSIGHTS

Mortgage Rate Snapshot

Over the past week, mortgage rates hit a string of fresh 2025 lows, driven primarily by weaker-than-expected labor market data. Yesterday broke the streak, with a negligible 0.01% uptick, but overall rates still closed the week down 0.24%.

Regulations Update

• Oakland, California delays STR regulations limiting rentals to 90 nights annually until spring 2026, leaving 2,500 current listings in regulatory uncertainty

• Boulder, Colorado proposes "Festival Lodging License" to temporarily relax STR restrictions during events like the 2027 Sundance Film Festival

• Twin Cities, Minnesota suburbs including Excelsior imposing $1,000 daily fines for unlicensed STRs while St. Anthony considers owner-occupancy limits or outright bans

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