Recently, a guest left a private note after her stay that has stayed with me. "After 10+ years of being a host, I see why you're consistently given 5+ stars. You make traveling so easy when you enter a space like the one you've curated." That sentence made me stop and think. Not because of the compliment, but because it perfectly described what every great host should strive for. Making travel easy. Many hosts focus on amenities. Bigger televisions. More kitchen gadgets. Luxu

On August 4, the Leon Valley City Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2026-17, adopting several significant changes to the city's short-term rental regulations. The amendments expand the separation requirement for new STR permits, establish a square-footage-based occupancy standard, make STR permits nontransferable, and strengthen requirements related to trash originating from STR properties. Council also took an important step for current operators: existing STRs were

Texas short-term rental operators may be seeing a new tax-related cost associated with the online platforms they use to market and book their properties: Texas state and local sales tax on certain services provided by online travel agencies (OTAs) and other marketplace platforms. This is not a new hotel occupancy tax, nor is it a tax on the nightly rental rate. It is sales tax on taxable services that platforms provide to hosts and other users of their marketplaces. Thanks to

This is part 2 of our analysis of Airbnb's Q2 earnings announcement. Airbnb had a very good second quarter. Nights and Seats Booked increased 10% year over year, growth accelerated in mature markets including the United States, and second-quarter revenue reached $3.6 billion, up 17%. There is good news for hosts in those numbers. But Airbnb's latest results also illustrate an important distinction for anyone running a short-term rental: What's good for Airbnb's marketplace is

When was the last time you checked the contact information in your City of San Antonio short-term rental permit? It may seem like a small detail, but keeping your records current in BuildSA can save you from missed notices, compliance problems, and unnecessary headaches. The City relies on the information in your BuildSA account to contact you about important matters, including: Permit renewals Code compliance issues Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) questions or refunds Your require

Most San Antonio short-term rental operators will never encounter a compliance agreement. But many hosts have asked what they are, when they're used, and what they mean for permit holders. To better understand the process, I recently met with Savita Rai, Assistant City Attorney, who works with the City's Development Services Department (DSD) on short-term rental compliance cases. The first thing to know is that compliance agreements are not used for routine complaints or isol

IMPORTANT: This information reflects what STRASA knows as of August 17, 2026. The is still under review, and we are continuing to seek clarification from City staff about how the proposed STR fees were calculated. This information may change as we learn more. STRASA will provide updates as additional details become available. San Antonio short-term rental operators need to pay attention to the City’s FY 2027 budget process. On Thursday, Aug. 13, City Manager Erik Walsh presen

Airbnb just reported one of its strongest first halves in years. Bookings are growing, the U.S. market is accelerating, and the company is releasing new products and features at a much faster pace. Behind much of that change is artificial intelligence. CEO Brian Chesky is pushing Airbnb to become what he calls an “AI-native” company. Airbnb says AI and changes in how its teams work have reduced the time required to take some initiatives from concept to delivery by as much as

EnviroBin Solutions is a locally owned, veteran- and educator-owned business built on a simple promise: reliable, high-quality service that elevates San Antonio properties. As a proud Friends of STRASA Business Member, EnviroBin Solutions would like to introduce the team working behind the scenes to support local hosts. Driven by Service, Built on Trust The business reflects the shared values of its co-owners, Noé Ferrel and Petra Garza. Noé Ferrel (Co-Owner): Following a 20-

When a noise complaint, unauthorized party, or disturbance occurs at a short-term rental, what happens next? For many hosts, the answer is simple: call the guest, send a message through Airbnb or Vrbo, and hope the situation is resolved quickly. But what if it isn't? A recently adopted ordinance in Galveston is bringing that question into sharper focus. The city now requires short-term rental operators to maintain a local contact who can respond to complaints within a specifi

Each May, Airbnb unveils its Summer Release—a collection of new features that signals where the company is headed. For hosts, it's worth paying attention. Much like Apple's annual product announcements, Airbnb's Summer Release provides a glimpse into the company's long-term strategy. This year's announcements continue a trend that's been building for several years: Airbnb is becoming much more than a place to book a short-term rental. The platform now includes homes, hotels,

Install an in room safe to protect your guests.

See the best of San Antonio with Old Town Trolley Tours

One of the biggest misconceptions about short-term rental hosting is that compliance begins with permits and taxes. Those are certainly important. But many of the issues that create friction between hosts, guests, and neighborhoods have nothing to do with paperwork. They begin with communication. Guests arrive from all over the country—and around the world. They don't know San Antonio's quiet hours. They don't know where they're allowed to park. They don't know the City's occ

Operating a successful short-term rental in San Antonio means learning local regulations, obtaining permits, understanding Hotel Occupancy Tax, preparing your property for guests, protecting your investment with proper insurance, and becoming a good neighbor.

One of the most common questions we receive at STRASA is, "How does the City determine the maximum occupancy on my short-term rental permit?" The answer may surprise you. It Starts With Your Application When you apply for a Short-Term Rental (STR) permit, you are responsible for proposing the maximum occupancy of your property on the floor plan you submit. Development Services Department (DSD) staff then reviews that floor plan to: Verify the number of legal bedrooms. Identif

If you've been reading about Airbnb's move to a single host-paid service fee, you've probably seen a lot of different advice about how much to raise your prices.

For years, one of the biggest selling points of platforms like Airbnb was the idea that any host could compete on a level playing field. A great property, strong reviews, competitive pricing, and excellent hospitality were supposed to be the keys to success. Whether you owned one home or one hundred, the platform's search results would help guests find the listings that best matched their needs. That may be starting to change. Recent reports suggest that some major booking pl

a humorous open letter to our Airbnb guests

Few situations create more stress for a short-term rental host than arriving after checkout time to find a guest's belongings still in the property and no sign of the guest. Even worse, the phone goes straight to voicemail, messages go unanswered, and the next guest is scheduled to arrive later that day. We heard from a San Antonio host this week who was dealing with this exact situation. Her Ring doorbell camera showed some, but not all of the group leaving, the door seemed