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18+ Vacation Rental Statistics & Travel Trends for 2026

The 99 Coupons Desk May 18, 2026 10 min read travel · vacation rentals · statistics

$91.3B Airbnb 2025 gross booking value

$101.7B Global vacation rental market, 2025

19M STR properties tracked daily by Lighthouse

$246.62 US STR average daily rate, Jan 2026

The vacation rental industry walks into 2026 looking less like a frothy disruptor and more like a maturing $100-billion-plus pillar of the global travel economy. The pandemic-era supply boom is over, occupancy is settling, and the platforms that matter, Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and a long tail of regional players, are all leaning on loyalty programs and length-of-stay discounts to keep guests booking. Airbnb just closed out its strongest growth quarter in more than two years, while AirDNA is calling 2026 the best year to invest in US short-term rentals since 2021.

What follows is a tightly verified set of vacation rental statistics for 2026. Every figure below was pulled and cross-checked against its primary source, including Airbnb's Q4 2025 shareholder letter, the AirDNA 2026 Outlook Report, Grand View Research's market sizing, Business of Apps' Vrbo report, Lighthouse's short-term rental data and StayFi's 2026 industry compilation. Stats that could not be verified to a primary source were dropped.

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Airbnb generated $91.3 billion in gross booking value across 533 million nights and experiences in 2025, on revenue of $12.2 billion. (Source: Airbnb Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter)
The global vacation rental market was worth roughly $101.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $121.94 billion by 2033. (Source: Grand View Research)
Vrbo pulled in an estimated $3.8 billion in revenue, a 15.4% year-over-year increase and about 28% of parent Expedia Group's total revenue. (Source: Business of Apps)
Lighthouse tracks more than 19 million active short-term rentals every day across the major booking platforms. (Source: Lighthouse)
US short-term rental ADR sat at $246.62 in January 2026, with occupancy of 48.4% and RevPAR of $119.27. (Source: AirDNA via StayFi)
AirDNA forecasts 4.6% US supply growth, 1.5% ADR gains and a 1% occupancy dip for 2026, the best investment setup since 2021. (Source: AirDNA 2026 Outlook)

Global vacation rental market size and growth

1. The global vacation rental market reached $101.69 billion in 2025.

Grand View Research estimates the worldwide vacation rental market at $101.69 billion in 2025, with a projected climb to $121.94 billion by 2033 at a 3.7% compound annual growth rate. That puts vacation rentals in the same league as global hotel chains and major cruise operators as a stand-alone travel category. (Source: Grand View Research)

2. There are roughly 890 million vacation rental users globally in 2026.

Statista's worldwide vacation rentals outlook puts the global user base at about 890 million in 2026, projected to reach 1.11 billion by 2030. User penetration sits at roughly 11.5% of the global population this year, which still leaves enormous room for the category to grow in emerging markets. (Source: Statista via StayFi)

3. 2026 is shaping up as the best year to invest in US short-term rentals since 2021.

AirDNA's 2026 Outlook Report concludes that cooling home prices, steadier revenue indicators, resilient travel spending and slower listing expansion have combined to make 2026 the strongest investment window for US short-term rentals in five years. The headline forecasts: supply growth of 4.6%, well below the 20% peak of 2021-2022, ADR gains of 1.5%, and a modest 1% dip in occupancy. (Source: AirDNA)

Airbnb 2025 performance

4. Airbnb booked 533 million nights and experiences in 2025.

According to the Airbnb Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter, full-year Nights and Seats Booked rose 8% to 533.0 million. Q4 alone delivered 121.9 million nights and seats, the strongest single quarter of the year, up 10% year over year. (Source: Airbnb Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter)

5. Gross booking value climbed 12% to $91.3 billion.

The same letter reports full-year 2025 GBV of $91.3 billion, up 12% year over year (or 10% ex-FX). Q4 GBV reached $20.4 billion, a 16% jump (13% ex-FX) and Airbnb's highest growth quarter in more than two years. (Source: Airbnb Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter)

6. Airbnb revenue hit $12.2 billion for the year.

Airbnb posted full-year 2025 revenue of $12.2 billion, up 10% year over year. Q4 revenue was $2.8 billion, up 12%, above the high end of company guidance. (Source: Airbnb Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter)

7. Airbnb delivered $4.6 billion in free cash flow at a 38% margin.

The platform generated $4.6 billion in free cash flow in 2025, a 38% FCF margin, while adjusted EBITDA reached $4.3 billion at a 35% margin. Profitability of that scale gives Airbnb plenty of fuel to subsidize promotions, host incentives and product launches in 2026. (Source: Airbnb Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter)

Vrbo, Expedia Group and other platforms

8. Vrbo generated an estimated $3.8 billion in revenue in 2024.

Business of Apps reports that Vrbo brought in roughly $3.8 billion in revenue, a 15.4% year-over-year jump. That made Vrbo responsible for about 28% of parent Expedia Group's total revenue, with the core Expedia brand contributing 42%. (Source: Business of Apps)

9. Expedia Group reached $13.6 billion in 2024 revenue and topped $14 billion in 2025.

Expedia Group reported $13.6 billion in annual revenue for 2024, up 6.7% year over year, with annual bookings of $110 billion, a new record that surpassed the company's 2019 peak. 2025 revenue exceeded $14 billion, with Q3 2025 alone delivering 12% bookings growth and 9% revenue growth year over year. (Source: Business of Apps / Statista)

10. Lighthouse tracks more than 19 million short-term rentals every day.

The data platform formerly known as Transparent monitors more than 19 million active short-term rentals each day across Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and Tripadvisor. This is the deduplicated, unique-property count Lighthouse publishes on its short-term rental market page, and it is the figure the industry cites when sizing the global STR supply pool. (Source: Lighthouse)

US supply, ADR and occupancy

11. There are roughly 1.77 million active US short-term rental listings in 2026.

StayFi's industry compilation, drawing on AirDNA data, puts US active short-term rental listings at about 1.77 million in 2026, up from 1.69 million in 2025. Available listings are projected to grow 4.6% for the year, well below the 20% expansion peak of 2021-2022. (Source: AirDNA via StayFi)

12. US STR ADR was $246.62 in January 2026.

The latest US short-term rental average daily rate clocked in at $246.62 in January 2026, while December 2025 (the seasonal peak) ran higher. AirDNA's broader 2026 forecast calls for ADR gains of 1.5% for the year, with stronger acceleration expected in 2027. (Source: AirDNA via StayFi)

13. US occupancy slipped to 48.4% in January and is expected to ease about 1% for the year.

US short-term rental occupancy was 48.4% in January 2026, with December 2025 occupancy at 51.0%. AirDNA's 2026 outlook anticipates US STR occupancy will ease by about 1% across the full year as the market settles into a healthier supply-demand balance. (Source: AirDNA via StayFi)

14. RevPAR hit $119.27 in January and demand is forecast to grow 4.1% for the year.

Revenue per available rental landed at $119.27 in January 2026, with nights booked growing 5.5% year over year that month. AirDNA projects full-year US demand growth of 4.1% in 2026, on the back of 4.7% demand growth in 2025. (Source: AirDNA via StayFi)

15. Luxury rentals are outpacing budget on pricing power.

StayFi data shows luxury-tier ADR rose 5.23% year over year while budget-tier ADR slipped 0.33%. Larger homes are also pulling more demand: bookings for 6-plus bedroom properties jumped 12.61% year over year, with 5-bedroom up 10.65% and 3-bedroom up 7.48%. (Source: StayFi)

World Cup, regional and segment trends

16. World Cup host cities are forecast to post outsized RevPAR gains in 2026.

AirDNA's outlook flags FIFA World Cup 2026 host markets as a clear bright spot. Philadelphia is forecast to see RevPAR up 6.3%, Jersey City/Newark up 5.6% and Dallas up 5.5%, well above the national average. Operators in those markets are already calibrating minimum stays and dynamic pricing for the tournament window. (Source: AirDNA)

17. Pet-friendly rentals earn a $17.41 ADR premium and 5.4% more demand.

StayFi's 2026 compilation shows pet-friendly properties command an average daily rate $17.41 higher than comparable non-pet listings and attract 5.4% more demand. The amenity has shifted from niche to expected for a large slice of the leisure traveler base. (Source: StayFi)

18. 74% of operators now run a property management system and 61% use AI.

The 2025-2026 operator stack has matured fast: 74% of vacation rental operators use a property management system, 70% run a direct-booking website and 61% report active use of AI tools in their workflow. The era of running an STR portfolio out of a spreadsheet is effectively over. (Source: StayFi)

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the global vacation rental market in 2026?

Grand View Research valued the global vacation rental market at $101.69 billion in 2025 and projects it will reach $121.94 billion by 2033, a 3.7% compound annual growth rate. Statista counts roughly 890 million vacation rental users worldwide in 2026.

How many vacation rental properties exist worldwide?

Lighthouse, the data platform formerly known as Transparent, tracks more than 19 million unique active short-term rentals every day across the major booking platforms. Airbnb alone reports more than 8 million active listings, and Vrbo lists roughly 2 million bookable properties.

Did Airbnb keep growing in 2025?

Yes. Airbnb's Q4 2025 shareholder letter reports full-year gross booking value of $91.3 billion (up 12%), revenue of $12.2 billion (up 10%) and 533 million nights and experiences booked (up 8%). Q4 GBV growth of 16% was the platform's highest in more than two years.

How much does Vrbo make and how big is its supply?

Business of Apps reports Vrbo generated roughly $3.8 billion in revenue, a 15.4% year-over-year jump that contributed about 28% of parent Expedia Group's total $13.6 billion in 2024 revenue.

What is the average daily rate for US vacation rentals?

US short-term rental ADR was $246.62 in January 2026 according to AirDNA data compiled by StayFi, with occupancy of 48.4% and RevPAR of $119.27. AirDNA's outlook calls for 1.5% ADR growth across the full year 2026.

Why is 2026 considered a strong year to invest in short-term rentals?

AirDNA's 2026 Outlook Report calls it the best STR investment window since 2021. The forecast: 4.6% supply growth (well below the 20% peak of 2021-2022), 1.5% ADR gains, only a 1% occupancy dip, and a stronger STR Premium relative to investment costs than at any point since 2022.

Where are the strongest US growth markets in 2026?

AirDNA flags FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities as standouts, with forecast RevPAR growth of 6.3% in Philadelphia, 5.6% in Jersey City/Newark and 5.5% in Dallas, well above the national average.

Vacation rentals in 2026 are a steadier, more competitive market than at any point in the last five years. Supply growth has normalized, ADRs are nudging up, and platforms are layering loyalty perks, length-of-stay discounts and limited-time promotions deep into the booking funnel. Every figure in this post was pulled directly from its primary source and cross-checked in May 2026, with anything unverifiable left on the cutting room floor. 99coupons.ai tracks live promo codes, member deals and cashback offers across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and dozens of regional vacation rental brands, so the only thing left to decide is the destination.

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