The Reality of Hosting in 2025: What 1,400+ Hosts Told PriceLabs

Summary and analysis based on the Global Host Report 2025 by PriceLabs.

Credit: PriceLabs. Source: Global Host Report (2025).

Short-term rental hosting has never been more visible, more regulated, or more technologically advanced than it is today. Yet at the heart of this global industry lies something simple: everyday people trying to make their homes, businesses, and investments work.

PriceLabs’ Global Host Report 2025 surveyed over 1,400 hosts across the world—representing Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and direct booking operators—to understand what hosting really looks like today. The findings paint a picture of a community that is hardworking, entrepreneurial, proud, stressed, resilient, and more determined than ever to build sustainable independence.

Below is a comprehensive recap of the key insights that matter most to hosts, policymakers, and STR community leaders.

1. Hosting Is Not Passive Income — It’s Real Work

One of the clearest messages in the report: hosting is a job, even when hosts spend fewer than 10 hours per week actively managing their listings.

• 83% of hosts work another job in addition to hosting.

• 71% spend under 10 hours per week on hosting activities, but the emotional load is heavy.

• Only 6% report working 30+ hours weekly.

Most hosts manage their STRs during evenings, weekends, and breaks between their primary jobs. And although short-term rentals are often advertised as “easy money,” the hosts behind the listings know better.

Ownership Is Personal

A massive 87% of hosts own their properties, making the work deeply tied to personal finances, family goals, and long-term aspirations. For many, hosting is not speculation—it’s stewardship.

2. Why People Start Hosting — and Why They Keep Going

Hosting motivations are evolving.

Initial motivation:

• 56% began hosting to earn extra income.

• 49% hoped to cover costs of a second home or inherited property.

Today:

Hosts are now thinking in long-term business terms:

• 49% want to grow their business

• 22% want to host full-time

• 56% reinvest profits back into their property

For many hosts, this shift isn’t transactional—it’s transformational. They’re building assets, creating future value for their families, and finding purpose in welcoming guests.

3. The OTA Paradox: Hosts Depend on the Platforms They Distrust

This is one of the report’s most striking themes.

Hosts are deeply reliant on OTAs:

• 98% use Airbnb

• 58% use Vrbo

• 39% use Booking.com

BUT they’re anxious about them:

• 63% worry about their visibility and ranking

• 71% worry about receiving a poor review

• Hosts feel OTAs prioritize guests, not hosts

• Customer support inconsistencies amplify frustration

Despite all that, Airbnb still scores the highest satisfaction rating at 4.1/5.Vrbo earned 3.1, Booking.com 3.3.

Why this paradox?

Hosts may resent Airbnb policies, but Airbnb reliably delivers bookings. Revenue wins—even when emotions run hot.

4. The Hidden Work Behind Every Booking

PriceLabs analyzed thousands of responses and identified the tasks that consume the most time and energy.

Top three time-consuming tasks:

1. Cleaning and maintenance

2. Administrative work (taxes, accounting, filings)

3. Keeping up with platform rule changes

The word “cleaning” alone appeared 186 times—a huge insight into what actually stresses hosts.

Despite this, only 10% plan to invest more in turnover tools. Many hosts note the options available still don’t fully solve labor shortages, reliability issues, or local vendor inconsistency.

What hosts say would help most:

• Reliable cleaning and maintenance

• Better guest vetting tools

• Clearer OTA rules

• More control without penalization in search rankings

Hosts want autonomy, not automation for automation’s sake.

5. AI: Helpful or Just Another Thing to Learn?

Hosts are split right down the middle:

• 14% embrace AI

• 43% find it overwhelming

• 43% are curious but cautious

Here’s the surprising finding:

Tech-first hosts and tech-wary hosts spend the same time per week (8.3 hours) managing their listings.

AI today doesn’t save time. Instead, it amplifies what hosts can do, but still requires learning, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

How hosts learn best:

• 70% rely on trial and error

• 48% turn to tech companies themselves for guidance

• Only ~30% attend events or learn from influencers

Hosts don’t want more tech—they want tech that teaches.

6. Pride, Purpose, and Optimism Still Define Hosting

In a world of rising regulations, tightening margins, and unpredictable platform changes, one emotion dominates the report:

Pride.

• 69% are proud of what they’ve built

• 41% expect 2025 to end better than 2024

• 32% plan to expand next year

• Many describe hosting as “purpose-giving,” “creative,” or “fulfilling”

Even hosts who feel stressed or burned out describe deep connection to the work: the joy of guest reviews, the satisfaction of meaningful experiences, the loyalty of returning guests.

This emotional resilience is the backbone of the STR industry.

7. Direct Bookings: The Path to Independence

One of the sharpest trends:

30% of hosts plan to invest more in direct booking websites in 2025.

Why?

Because hosts want:

• More control

• Fewer platform restrictions

• Protection from algorithm shifts

• Direct relationships with returning guests

• Stable, predictable revenue

This trend reflects a slow but steady move toward host independence—scaling strategically instead of platform-dependently.

Final Thoughts: The STR Community Is Evolving Toward Strength

The PriceLabs Global Host Report reveals a hosting community that is:

• Entrepreneurial

• Resilient

• Hardworking

• Underappreciated

• Ready for more control

• Looking toward independence

Tech has solved some friction, but not the biggest headaches. OTAs deliver bookings but leave hosts anxious. AI boosts productivity but doesn’t reduce workload. And yet—hosts remain proud, optimistic, and determined to grow.

Hosting in 2025 isn’t a side hustle; it’s a craft.

It requires judgment, resilience, and personal investment. And if the report shows anything, it’s that hosts are rising to that challenge—with grit, hope, and the quiet ambition of people building something that truly matters.

Credit

This blog post summarizes and interprets the Global Host Report 2025 by PriceLabs. Source: Global Host Report 2025 (PriceLabs).