As vacation rental bookings boom, so does smart tech. But what’s next for this smart revolution? Will this upward trajectory in tech adoption continue?

Hostfully has launched an AI-powered itinerary planner, described as a “first-of-its-kind” feature in the digital guidebook industry.

The pressures of the pandemic are driving more Airbnb hosts to lure users into booking their properties privately, further straining the already fraught relationship between the company and some of its larger hosts.

After years of delay, guest sentiment pushed Airbnb into more transparent pricing. It’s great for the short-term rental sector, and many competitors large and small will have little choice but to follow.

Hostfully, a San Francisco-based startup that helps professional short-term rental property managers maximize distribution and guest experience, has raised $4 million in a seed funding round, bringing its total funding to date to $7 million.

The study by Hostfully reveals that while there were more than 115,000 companies managing vacation rentals in 2018, this has now grown to more than 140,500.

ApartmentLove Integrates OwnerDirect.com with Hostfully Increasing Access to Short-Term Vacation Rentals Around the World

While hotels certainly haven't shied away from voice tech, short-term vacation rentals appear to be innovating somewhat faster, pushing the envelope on everything from voice-activated smart-home integration to personalized guest recommendations.

Brian Chesky, the chief executive, acknowledged tensions with hosts but said the relationship had improved over the last year.

It's clear that vacation rental hosts and property managers crave direct bookings, and many may be making inroads. Still, the marketing power of big brands is tough to compete with.