STR Data Lab™ by AirDNA
Why July Was So Strong for Short-Term Rentals
The U.S. short-term rental market is showing surprising strength—even as the broader economy sends mixed signals. In this episode of The STR Data Lab , Jamie Lane and Bram Gallagher break down July’s performance and explore what’s really driving growth across the STR market. U.S. RevPAR jumped 7.2% in July , with ADR emerging as the biggest contributor, while occupancy also moved into positive year-over-year growth. The conversation goes beyond the headline numbers to separate the impact of the 2026 World Cup from broader market trends. While World Cup host cities saw significant gains in both rates and supply, the rest of the country also delivered strong rate growth—and supply growth outside host cities remained below 2%. Looking ahead, Jamie and Bram discuss why higher interest rates could keep supply growth constrained, why improving occupancy and ADR could support strong unit-level performance through the rest of 2026, and what changing booking behavior means for pricing strategy. One of the most encouraging signals for operators is a reversal in the long-running trend toward shorter booking windows. Lead times have increased or held steady for four consecutive months, with coastal markets seeing particularly notable gains. For hosts and managers, that shift could create new opportunities to capture demand earlier and price more strategically. You don’t want to miss this episode if you’re planning your STR strategy for the rest of 2026. Key Takeaways RevPAR is accelerating: U.S. RevPAR increased 7.2% in July, driven primarily by stronger ADR and supported by improving occupancy. The World Cup boosted rates, but it wasn't the whole story: Rate growth was especially strong in host cities, but gains were broad-based across the country. Supply growth is likely to remain limited: Outside World Cup host cities, supply growth was below 2% in June and July, with high mortgage rates and expensive real estate continuing to constrain new listings. Longer lead times could change pricing strategy: Travelers are increasingly booking further in advance, reversing a years-long trend toward last-minute bookings. Hosts should pay attention to pacing and adjust pricing accordingly. The outlook for unit-level performance remains strong: With occupancy trending upward, ADR growth remaining healthy, and limited new competition expected, operators could see continued gains through the remainder of 2026. Sign up for AirDNA for FREE https://bit.ly/4j6s6qy ————— Connect with Jamie on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane ————— Connect with Bram on social media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bram-gallagher/ ————— Connect with AirDNA on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co ————— Episode 192
