{"id":37942,"date":"2026-04-27T08:47:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T05:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bnbnews.gr\/?p=37942"},"modified":"2026-04-27T18:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:04:08","slug":"short-term-rentals-last-minute-bookings-ai-rising-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bnbnews.gr\/en\/news\/37942\/short-term-rentals-last-minute-bookings-ai-rising-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"41.7% of bookings are now last-minute – How AI is changing short-term rentals"},"content":{"rendered":"

41.7% of global short-term rental bookings are now made within just seven days before arrival. It was one of the key findings presented at the Short Stay Summit 2026, held in London on April 22.<\/p>\n

The event brought together more than 1,300 industry professionals and major players in the global market, with a focus on Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo.<\/p>\n

Last-minute bookings: The new normal<\/h2>\n

The booking data, presented at the conference by Smoobu, confirms what many property managers are already experiencing: the market is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with shorter booking windows requiring far greater operational flexibility.<\/p>\n

For hosts, this translates into continuous pressure to maintain last-minute availability, manage rapid turnovers and check-ins, and rely more heavily on dynamic pricing and real-time data.<\/p>\n

In other words, operating a short-term rental increasingly resembles running a real-time business rather than a predictable booking model.<\/p>\n

A two-speed industry<\/h3>\n

Hosted at London\u2019s historic Old Billingsgate, the Short Stay Summit focused heavily on the future of the sector: artificial intelligence, revenue management tools, direct bookings and growth strategies.<\/p>\n

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Andy Fenner, Chief Executive of STAA – the Short Term Accommodation Association<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yet behind the polished presentations, a clear divide emerged.<\/p>\n

On one side, platforms and technology providers are focused on AI, automation and new products. On the other, hosts continue to seek answers to basic operational concerns: payment delays, fee transparency and unreliable support.<\/p>\n

That contrast was evident during the \u201cInside the Platforms\u201d panel, where executives from major OTAs presented product roadmaps but offered limited clarity on everyday issues directly affecting host revenues.<\/p>\n

Technology: Solution or distraction?<\/h3>\n

A significant part of the summit was dedicated to new technologies:<\/p>\n