Global Short-Term Rentals 2026

Summary

Following the post-pandemic boom years, the global short-term rental market has entered a slower, more structural phase of growth. Gross bookings reached $219.9 billion in 2025 and are projected to rise to $270.6 billion by 2029, but the sector is increasingly being shaped by tighter regulation, changing traveler expectations and evolving platform strategies. Growth remains uneven across regions, with North America and Europe maturing while Asia Pacific, Latin America and parts of the Middle East and Africa continue to offer stronger upside.

Phocuswright’s Global Short-Term Rentals 2026 presents market sizing and forecasts for the global STR market by region and distribution channel. Key questions answered by this research include:

• How is the global short-term rental market evolving as it moves from lightly regulated expansion to stricter enforcement and structural adjustment?
• How do growth trajectories differ across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa?
• What role will online distribution, supplier-direct channels and major platforms play in the future of STR bookings?
• How are regulation, platform strategy and AI reshaping visibility, operations and competition across the STR sector?
• How are traveler expectations around trust, consistency and value influencing the balance between short-term rentals and hotels?