Spike in direct bookings for short-term rentals in 2024: Lodgify

Direct booking sites take 34 pc marketshare
2025-02-01
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/ New Delhi
/ Hotels
Spike in direct bookings for short-term rentals in 2024: Lodgify

Self-check-ins are increasingly popular with hosts and guests, says Lodgify

In order to cut out third-party fees, many short-term rental property owners are moving towards direct booking sites, says a report by Lodgify that identifies key trends in short-term rental market in 2024.
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Expanded listing strategies, evolving guest expectations and the rise of remote property management are among the top trends for the global short-term rentals market in 2025, says a report by Lodgify, a short-term rental management platform for independent hosts and property managers.

In a press statement, Lodgify says that its 2024 Vacation Rental Industry Report takes an in-depth look at booking trends, guest behavior patterns and the top opportunities and challenges shaping the short-term rental industry. The report draws on data from over 1 million bookings in the United States with check-ins between January 1 and December 22, 2024. It also includes insights from nearly 800 surveyed hosts and PMs and a detailed analysis of more than 116,000 guest reviews conducted in collaboration with review aggregator Revyoos.

Lodgify says that to increase profitability, regain control over the guest experience and help them stand out in an increasingly competitive market, more hosts are creating direct booking websites. Eager to avoid third-party service fees, guests have also embraced the shift to book vacation rentals directly. In 2024, direct booking sites accounted for nearly 34 pc of bookings, second only to Airbnb‘s 46 pc, according to the report. A quarter of hosts and PMs responding to the survey cited the creation of a direct booking site as a primary contributor to the growth of their business in 2024.

For vacation rental business owners, setting up a direct booking site is easy with the right tools, but it is just the first step in diversifying beyond third-party booking platforms. The challenge can be in successfully driving traffic through marketing and SEO efforts. When asked to list their top three challenges in 2024, ‘driving direct bookings’ was the top choice, selected by nearly 57 pc of hosts. However, hosts and PMs appear to be committed, with nearly two-thirds saying that driving direct bookings was one of their top goals in 2025.

Alex Vuilleumier

“Hosts and property managers are under pressure from many angles, higher costs, more regulations, increased competition and volatile macroeconomic conditions. Increasing direct bookings offers them one way to ease some of these challenges, while delivering better value to guests. When we look at our booking data, we see the potential for accelerating fragmentation of the traditional short-term rental booking marketplace as guests and hosts alike seek out better value and customer service,” says Alex Vuilleumier, Chief Operating Officer, Lodgify.

Another important trend in the year was the move towards remote property management as over 61 pc of hosts and PMs managed their properties from afar, driven by the growing use of mobile technology to streamline operations and shift toward embracing flexible, tech-driven solutions that boost efficiencies and improve guest satisfaction. The report also finds that self-check-in is popular with both hosts and guests as nearly 74 pc of hosts said they always or frequently offer self-check-in, meeting the demand for seamless, contactless guest experiences. A key enabler of this trend is the growing adoption of smart locks, with 68 pc of hosts reporting their use in 2024. These tools not only enhance guest convenience but also help property managers streamline the check-in process, saving time and money.

The report adds that the top three in-demand amenities guests are prioritising include fully equipped kitchens, high-speed Wi-Fi with workspaces and outdoor spaces.

On the negative side, short-term vacation rental legislation impacted 40 pc of hosts in 2024, with common challenges including new permit requirements and caps on nights booked. Regulations such as New York City’s short-term rental restrictions and Maui’s proposed phase-out of vacation properties highlight the need for hosts to stay compliant and adaptable.

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