Representative ImageNew research from PriceLabs, a revenue management software, reveals that only 12% of Airbnb listings meet industry standards, with these listings being 35% more likely to outperform their local market. The PriceLabs Listing Optimisation Report, a data science study, analysed thousands of listings across 10 global cities using AI trained on millions of Airbnb properties.
The study highlights that nearly 70% of listings suffer from poor-quality images—often poorly lit, blurry, or presented in a confusing order. Additionally, 54% of listings have unclear or incomplete descriptions, and another 54% show inconsistencies between descriptions and photos. These issues are prevalent across major short-term rental markets, including Barcelona, Budapest, and Melbourne.
The findings underscore the growing pressure on hosts to improve their listings as search algorithms increasingly prioritise quality alongside price, availability, and reviews. PriceLabs' 2025 Global Host Report indicates that 63% of hosts are concerned about their property’s ranking on online travel agencies (OTAs), which drive most bookings.
Richie Khandelwal, Co-founder of PriceLabs, stated, “Hosts often underestimate how much listing quality affects visibility and performance. What seem like small issues, like bad photo sequencing or vague descriptions, can have an outsized impact on whether a guest clicks, books, or scrolls past.”
AI-powered tools, such as PriceLabs’ Listing Optimiser, are available to help hosts identify and correct these issues, ensuring their listings remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market. The full PriceLabs Listing Optimisation Report offers further insights into creating high-performing listings
This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
