Wire Weekly: Global short-term rental & hospitality news

This week’s headlines point to a short-term rental industry that is still growing, but becoming more complex to operate in. Across the globe, demand continues to rise while governments are looking for more control over how short-term rentals are registered, approved, and managed.

At the same time, operators are being pushed to professionalise behind the scenes. From lodging tax automation and slower supply growth to the rise of experience-led travel platforms like Visa Destinations, the message is clear: growth is still there, but success will depend on stronger compliance, smarter pricing, and a better connection to the full guest journey.

EU Short-Term Rental Demand Proves Resilient in Q1 With Nearly 10% Growth

Within the first quarter of 2026, short-term rental stays across the EU have grown by 9.7%, according to Eurostat.

Amongst some of the biggest STR companies such as AirBnb, Booking.com, and Expedia, 144.3 million overnight stays were booked between January and March. Those with the highest rates recorded were Malta with a 30.5% increase, Slovenia at 24.7%, Slovakia at 23.5%, and Cyprus at 22.3%.

Overall, every EU member state saw an increase in their STR activity. This growth shows the demand for short-term rentals across the EU and how important they are to Europe’s travel market.

It also suggests that demand is not limited to major tourist cities, but is spreading across a wider range of European destinations. Even with heavy regulations, pressures, and changing behaviors within traveler groups and markets, short-term rentals continue to show resilience across the region, making it one to keep an eye on.

What this means for operators: European STR demand is still moving in the right direction, with Q1 stays up across every EU country. For property managers, that’s a good sign, but it also means the market is getting more competitive and more professional. The operators who can help owners with pricing, compliance, distribution, and guest experience are going to be in a much stronger position than those just listing properties and hoping demand carries them.

UK Short-Term Let Rules Could Shift More Power to Local Councils

In a new way of attempting to regulate short-term rental properties, the UK government is trying to find ways to deal with STR dense areas, including giving power over to local governments.

Within their plans lie calls for stricter rules for short-term lets and implementing a national registration system for such properties. This system would include registering properties and displaying a unique reference number, along with confirmation that properties comply with existing fire, gas, and electrical safety regulations.

If implemented, this would create a more standardized framework for STRs across the UK while giving local councils more control over how properties are used in their communities.

What this means for operators: For property managers, this is another sign that compliance is becoming a bigger part of day-to-day operations. A national registration system could make the rules clearer, but it would also add more responsibility around documentation, safety standards, and keeping property information up to date. PMCs that already have strong compliance processes in place will be better prepared, while those managing properties more casually may face more pressure as local governments gain more oversight.

Málaga Tightens the Path for New Short-Term Rental Projects

One of Spain’s most popular vacation destinations is making new changes to its short-term rental market, and it could lead to issues for those who do not comply or do so too late.

According to Málaga’s revised city planning rules, any new tourism accommodation project in residential areas, whether STRs, hotels, hostels, or other types of properties, will now need to demonstrate that the project provides wider public benefits and are appropriate for the neighbourhood where it is being built.

Prior to this, these types of projects were often granted approval more automatically. Should an application be submitted after this measure is fully adopted, it can be suspended for up to three years, creating a much higher barrier for new supply entering the market.

What this means for operators: For property managers, this makes compliance and timing even more important. In markets like Málaga, taking on new properties may require closer attention to zoning, planning approvals, and local restrictions. Existing compliant inventory could also become more valuable if new supply becomes harder to bring online.

Visa Destinations Signals a Bigger Shift in Guest Engagement

Travel-based credit cards have been around for decades, but it was not until recently that Visa upped their game and created Visa Destinations, a curated travel platform that focuses on experiences rather than just hotel or airline perks.

Launched just a few weeks ago, it includes 10 pilot cities, each with their own, specialised experience package for Visa cardholders. Locations and experiences include priority access to the Louvre Museum in Paris, discounts on West End theatre tickets in London, exclusive local cultural tours in Rome and Milan, priority access to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center in New York City, local culinary experiences in Thailand, and more across the globe.

Instead of simply rewarding travel purchases after the fact, Visa is trying to integrate itself into the trips themselves and position experiences, access, and local discovery closer to the center of the traveller and their journey.

What this means for operators: For short-term rental operators, this is a reminder that guests are looking for more than just a place to stay. As larger travel brands move further into experiences and local discovery, PMCs have an opportunity to build stronger local partnerships, improve digital guidebooks, and make their properties feel more connected to the destination.

U.S. STR Market Shifts From Expansion to Performance

As growth slows in new short-term rental listings within the US, existing property managers are gaining more power over their supply and pricing power.

According to AirDNA, US short-term rental occupancy is expected to average 57.4% this year while demand and available listings are expected to increase by almost 3%.

Because of high and rising inflation rates within the country, as well as increasing mortgage rates, investments into new properties and supply has been delayed. Despite these factors, travel demand is still at a healthy rate and has supported occupancy even in the face of rising prices.

All of this has culminated into a space where established operators have more room to focus on performance, pricing strategy, and guest experience.

What this means for operators: For operators, slower supply growth could create more pricing power, but only if properties are being managed well. Strong revenue management, high-quality listings, and a good guest experience will matter even more as PMCs look to protect occupancy and justify higher rates.

Short-term Rental Industry Briefs

Hospitable becomes first PMS to automate lodging tax compliance across all 50 US states

Hospitable has recently launched a PMS solution to an industry-wide problem, especially for those managing multiple properties in multiple areas across the United States.

With this new technology, those who are looking to scale their businesses are able to do so with more ease and flexibility as the system takes on the responsibilities of localized tax compliance. This ranges across all 50 states, and is also being utilised in the UK and Australia, two more major short-term rental markets.

Since being launched, it has already remitted over $4.5 million in lodging taxes on behalf of the hosts and property managers using the service. As the short-term rental industry grows and becomes more multi-channel, tools like this show how PMS platforms are being developed and transformed into the operational infrastructure operators need to thrive.

What this means for operators: For property managers, this is a reminder that growth brings more than just more bookings – it brings more admin, more tax rules, and more compliance work. Tools like Hospitable’s tax automation can help take some of that burden off operators, especially as they expand into direct bookings, Vrbo, and multiple markets. In short, the easier compliance becomes, the easier it is for PMCs to scale without getting buried in paperwork.

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If you’re seeing regulation changes, market shifts, operator trends, new technology, or community-led initiatives across short-term rentals, serviced accommodation, or hospitality, send them to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future WIRE Weekly roundup.