Actionable revenue strategies for an uncertain STR market
May 21, 2025
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About the webinar
In the first episode of our STR Rev Talk series, we explored how property managers can adapt to an increasingly volatile short-term rental landscape. With inflation, shifting guest behavior, and global uncertainty shaping demand in 2025, the old playbook no longer works. This session brought together industry experts including John An and Otamiser’s COO Jarne Van Compernolle to unpack real-time data trends and offer actionable strategies for staying ahead.
Watch the webinar recording and discover how to future-proof your revenue strategy.
Event description
A major theme was the decline in mid-lead bookings, that critical 30–60 day window, and the rise of what the panel called the “missing middle.” While long-lead and last-minute bookings remain steady, guests in the middle range are showing more hesitation. Property managers were urged to respond early by loosening cancellation policies, adjusting minimum stay rules, and applying gradual price changes to build guest confidence and encourage earlier commitments.
Case studies from markets like Orlando and Hawaii illustrated how surface-level strength (like high ADRs) can mask underlying weakness. In Orlando, for example, over 35% of May bookings came in the final two weeks, signaling late buyer behavior. Meanwhile, Hawaii’s high rates couldn’t offset the drop in occupancy, especially from mid-July onward, due to fewer international travelers and rising airfare costs.
The webinar emphasized that pricing alone isn't enough. Visibility on platforms like Airbnb is now equally critical. Listings need to function like optimized product pages, with engaging titles, strong visuals, and regular updates to stay favored in OTA search algorithms. As John An pointed out, relying on 2023 trends could lead to missteps in 2025’s faster-moving, data-driven market.
Jarne underlined the importance of treating dynamic pricing tools as just one part of a larger strategy. Revenue management today requires human oversight to interpret data, segment listings, and communicate clearly with owners — especially those resistant to adjusting prices or policies. By blending automation with active management, property managers can improve both visibility and conversion while reducing last-minute volatility.
In a market defined by unpredictability, this session offered a clear call to action: adapt early, track the right metrics, and rethink strategy not just around pricing, but visibility and guest expectations too.