2026 vacation rental industry trends for property managers: where are guests heading?

Fort Walton Beach, U.S., appears on the Unpack ‘26 Destinations of the Year list, reflecting increased demand for coastal getaways. Travelers are seeking relaxing retreats, family-friendly experiences, and properties that make it easy to unwind by the water.  

Travelers seek family-friendly, relaxing escapes with scenic views and easy beach access. This trend extends to similar coastal regions across North America and Australia. 

Take action:

• Tag key amenities in your listings: ocean views, direct beach access, pools, kid-friendly features (cribs, high-chairs, games), outdoor dining or fire pits.
• Enhance property descriptions: emphasize family-friendly layouts, proximity to beaches, and scenic views.
• Adjust pricing for peak demand: set dynamic minimum stays and use Escapia Rates Manager for holidays, summer weeks, and long weekends.
• Leverage automated communications: Send pre-arrival emails with local beaches, tours, kid-friendly attractions, and nearby restaurants.
• Highlight visual assets: showcase beaches, pools, family spaces, and relaxing outdoor areas in listing photos.

Big Sky, U.S., earned a spot on the Unpack ‘26 Destinations of the Year list, signaling a surge in traveler interest for mountain escapes.  

Travelers aren’t just booking ski trips—they’re seeking adventure, outdoor activity, and a connection with nature. From family-friendly hikes to weekend retreats in scenic landscapes, these experiences are driving bookings in mountain regions across North America. 

Take Action: 

• Enable location amenities: make sure your property has location-specific features turned on so travelers can filter and find your listing.
• Tag key amenities in your listings: fireplaces, hot tubs, ski storage, proximity to trails or slopes, fire pits, and game/recreation rooms.
• Highlight experiences: nearby ski resorts, hiking trails, and adventure activities in property descriptions.
• Adjust pricing strategically: use Escapia Rates Manager to optimize rates during ski season, weekends, and school holidays.
• Leverage visual assets: ensure listing photos showcase cozy fireplaces, hot tubs, mountain views, and adventure-ready features.

Vrbo data shows that 84% of travelers are interested in staying on or near a farm, reflecting a growing desire for slow travel, rural escapes, and immersive nature experiences. Gen Z travelers in particular are driving this trend, with mentions of farms in guest reviews spiking 300% year-over-year. 

Top features travelers seek in farm stays include:

• Nature walks or hiking (73%)
• Interacting with farm animals (62%)
• Harvesting produce or picking fresh fruit (42%)

Slow travel is taking off. Guests want immersive nature experiences, tranquility, and connection with the land, whether it’s hiking, interacting with farm animals, or harvesting fresh produce. Rural and countryside properties are well-positioned to meet this demand. 

Take Action:

• Tag key amenities in Escapia: proximity to hiking trails, access to farm animals, gardens, orchards, or outdoor recreational spaces.
• Highlight experiential features in listings: describe opportunities for harvesting, farm tours, stargazing, or other nature activities.
• Promote longer stays and packages: use Escapia rate plan automation to offer multi-night or week-long rural experiences
• Optimize property operations: schedule housekeeping and maintenance around longer stays and immersive experiences to ensure smooth guest visits.
• Enhance visual storytelling: use listing photos to showcase nature views, farm features, animals, and outdoor spaces that reflect the slow-travel lifestyle.

Vrbo data reveals that 91% of travelers are interested in trips focused on reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. Mentions of reading-related terms in guest reviews surged 285% year-over-year, and Pinterest searches for book retreats have skyrocketed.  

Travelers are seeking serene countryside rentals, chalets, and wellness-focused homes where they can unplug. Long-stay, quiet retreats are increasingly in demand. 

Take Action: 

• Tag properties in your listings as wellness-focused, quiet, or book-friendly retreats to improve filtering on OTAs.
• Promote multi-night stays: Use rates automation to create packages for 3+ night bookings or week-long retreats.
• Optimize housekeeping and maintenance: schedule automatic turnovers for longer stays to reduce manual workload and ensure smooth guest experiences.
• Highlight amenities and experiences: emphasize cozy reading nooks, libraries, serene outdoor spaces, hot tubs, and yoga/wellness areas in listings and photos.
• Tailor communications: send pre-arrival emails suggesting local libraries, hiking trails, cafes, or wellness activities to enhance the guest experience.

Travelers are mapping their trips around specific preferences. Guest reviews, Pinterest searches, seasonal demand spikes, and Destinations of the Year highlights all point to intentional planning.  

These patterns signal front-loaded demand: guests are planning earlier and with purpose, creating opportunities for property managers to capture bookings in advance. 

Take Action with Escapia:

• Use Promotions: adapt to traveler behavior with Early Booking deals for those planning ahead or Last-Minute offers for travelers booking close to arrival.
• Plan around peak periods: align promotions with high-demand weekends, specific events, holidays, and seasonal spikes.

NOW LIVE IN ESCAPIA: Early Booking and Last Minute promotions give your properties special visibility on Vrbo - all managed from a centralized platform in Escapia.

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Destinations like Hobart, Australia, and Savannah and Charleston, U.S., are seeing rising demand as travelers seek authentic cultural experiences, scenic locales, and local traditions.  

At the same time, fan-driven travel, like sporting events, music festivals, and local happenings, is growing, with 57% of travelers likely to attend a local sporting event while traveling, rising to 68% among Gen Z and Millennials. 

Travelers want more than a place to sleep. They want access to local culture, events, and community. Properties near festivals, sports, and cultural attractions can capture higher bookings by highlighting these experiences. 

Take Action:

Destinations like Hobart, Australia, and Savannah and Charleston, U.S., are seeing rising demand as travelers seek authentic cultural experiences, scenic locales, and local traditions. 

At the same time, fan-driven travel, like sporting events, music festivals, and local happenings, is growing, with 57% of travelers likely to attend a local sporting event while traveling, rising to 68% among Gen Z and Millennials.

Travelers want more than a place to sleep. They want access to local culture, events, and community. Properties near festivals, sports, and cultural attractions can capture higher bookings by highlighting these experiences.

Take Action:

• Include local experiences in your listings: highlight nearby festivals, sporting events, museums, or scenic tours in property descriptions.
• Track regional occupancy trends: anticipate peak demand during cultural events and adjust availability or rates accordingly using Escapia 
• Highlight eco-friendly and sustainable features: showcase energy-efficient appliances, recycling options, or environmentally conscious property practices in listing descriptions.
• Emphasize unique property features: historic architecture, scenic views, or proximity to local attractions can make listings stand out.

The Unpack ’26 report highlights the destinations, experiences, and traveler behaviors shaping 2026. For property managers, knowing what’s trending is only the first step. Success comes from acting on it. 

With Escapia, you can turn these insights into concrete actions: 

• Optimize pricing and availability using automated rate plans for peak periods, seasonal spikes, or special events.
• Showcase the right amenities and experiences: from fireplaces and hot tubs to beach access, wellness features, or farm activities, directly in your listings.
• Keep listings synced across all major and regional OTAs to ensure guests always see accurate availability.
• Enhance guest communications with tailored pre-arrival messages highlighting local experiences, cultural events, or family-friendly activities.

Powered by Expedia and with direct Vrbo integration, Escapia helps PMs stay ahead of evolving traveler demand, so your properties are positioned to capture more bookings, delight guests, and thrive in 2026.

Explore the full Expedia 2026 Travel Trends report

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