Short-term rental hosts are facing a significant challenge as new data from Hospitable and IntelliHost reveals that fewer than 3% of rental searches lead to bookings. Despite maintaining strong visibility in search results, the conversion rates for these listings have remained between just 1.2% and 2.4% over the past year.

The report highlights a growing gap between visibility and conversion, with travellers increasingly comparing more listings before making a decision. This trend suggests that the challenge for hosts is shifting from being discovered to securing traveller confidence in a crowded market. Factors such as response speed, pricing clarity, and communication quality are becoming crucial in influencing booking decisions.

Pierre-Camille Hamana, CEO and Founder of Hospitable, noted, “Travellers now have almost endless choice, and that’s changing how they book. Hosts are no longer just competing for visibility; they’re competing for trust.” Jeff Brown, Managing Partner at IntelliHost, added, “What we’re seeing is a more cautious traveller mindset. Guests are browsing heavily, comparing more options side by side, and behaving much less impulsively.”

The data forms part of the upcoming report, The New Rules of STR Performance, which examines conversion trends and guest behaviour. The findings suggest the short-term rental industry is entering a phase where operational quality and guest trust are key to performance, even for highly visible listings

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