For travelers seeking overnight accommodations, the words “heated indoor pool” and “continental breakfast” may not have the same cachet they once did. Not when a hotelier’s competition can boast amenities that sound more like real estate listings: “charming loft only 7 mins from downtown,” “dreamy studio in the woods,” “urban retreat.”
Not every traveler wants an actual home away from home. For some, a room will do. But increasingly, travelers are looking for a place to stay that has the feel of home, even if it’s someone else’s home, or studio apartment, or extra bedroom.
At standard price points, hotel rooms look the same – two queen beds, tiled bathroom, generic art on the walls, heat-and-air unit under the window.
Not so with short-term rentals, whose color schemes and design choices often mirror the homeowner’s personality and where family photos and other personal effects add a homey ambience.
The use of short-term rentals has grown exponentially in the last few years, with global sales projected to reach $132.5 billion by 2022, nearly triple what they were in 2012.