Key Takeaways
The short-term rental industry has seen massive shifts over the last few years, and the pace isn’t slowing down. Our team just wrapped up the Data and Revenue Management (DARM) Conference in Florida, where we connected with major industry leaders and data providers. We returned equipped with critical updates, insights on emerging trends, and strategic advice for navigating 2026.
While the data runs deep, my experience at the conference boiled down to two major takeaways: the undeniable power of visual marketing to reach peak performance, and the necessity of a strong local team to deliver excellent experiences. If you want another perspective of the STR market, check out my 2026 outlook here!
1. Presentation is Profit
One of the industry’s leading pricing tools, PriceLabs, introduced new features allowing property managers to better optimize and rank listings. However, the data made one thing clear: aside from pricing and revenue strategy, the number one factor driving bookings is listing presentation.
Professional photography, compelling copywriting, and optimized titles are paramount for visibility. Top managers are beating their markets by pairing a professional revenue management strategy (driven by local demand) with a listing that looks and sounds incredible.
How Haven Does It: At Haven, our property onboarding process is built to check every one of these boxes.
- Visuals: We work with trusted, high-end photographers to capture what we believe are the highest-converting images for your property.
- Optimization: It doesn’t stop at onboarding. We focus on ensuring your listing is optimized for the highest conversion rate throughout its entire lifetime.
- Social Proof: Reviews are equally important. Listings that consistently score high in guest satisfaction perform the best across all platforms.
2. The Power of “Local” in a Consolidating Industry
My second big takeaway was the critical importance of having a strong local team to serve both owners and guests.
We are seeing a trend of private equity groups purchasing management companies, often replacing leadership or outsourcing core functions. While this model can work, it makes it incredibly difficult to maintain a “local pulse” on the market when the core business functions are disconnected from the destination.
The Haven Difference: To provide the highest level of value, we rely on our Owner Relations Team. This is a team local to the Smokies, not a remote call center. We are also a locally owned and operated business here in the Smokies.
- Relationships: We maintain single-point-of-contact relationships. You will know their name, have their number, and they will know the intimate details of your property.
- Education: We constantly train our team on revenue and market trends. This allows them to interpret data at the property level, having informed conversations with you and making smart decisions about your property’s performance.
Insights from the Team
Our Head of Owner Relations, Summer Mathews, was with our team at the conference and shared her thoughts on where the market is heading:
“While supply climbs and investor churn increases, especially in the middle and budget markets, luxury properties are set to thrive in 2026. With interest rates holding high and new investors delaying entry, the real differentiator becomes clear: trust-backed communication is what builds lasting owner partnerships.”
Looking Ahead
DARM 2025 was a fantastic opportunity to see how the industry is evolving and how top managers across the country are innovating. Our team has returned to the Smokies with fresh ideas and a renewed focus on providing value, education, and revenue growth to our homeowners at Haven.
Talk to us about management here!