New year, new you, right? That seems to be the motto of everyone at the start of the new year. With a new season upon us, it’s time to strive for consistency rather than perfection (although perfection is great when we can achieve it). If you haven’t quite written down that New Year’s resolution, let us offer you 10 hosting goals for your Airbnb in 2026.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
1. Revisit your competition
It’s always a good idea to revisit what other hosts are doing in your area. Check out what types of amenities they’re offering and for what prices. This pulse check will help you see if you’re sitting in the ballpark of where you need to be. It will help you determine if you’re perhaps undercharging (or even overcharging) for your rental.
2. Update your photos
When’s the last time you refreshed your photos? Now is a great time to take advantage of the Airbnb Pro Photography program. This program gets you great photos with no upfront cost. Updating your listing’s photos is particularly important if you’ve recently done any renovations or added new amenities. You always want your listing to look as accurate as possible in the photos.
3. Find ways to be more eco-friendly
You don’t need to go overboard with this. Even a small action can make a big difference in the greater scheme of life. Maybe it’s finally adding recycling to your property or even just investing in eco-friendly cleaning products. No need to go crazy, just a small, consistent change to help our planet.
4. Schedule that deep clean you’ve been putting off
Unfortunately, the nature of this business is such that we must invest heavily in cleaning. One of those cleanings that can’t be missed are the periodic deep cleans. Plan them in advance, get them on your calendar, and start budgeting for them now. This way, you have it on the calendar, and you know it’s going to get done. This is an investment in your guest satisfaction and ultimately your business.
5. Spend a night in your short-term rental
This one may feel a little weird. However, it’s important that you are in touch with the experience your guest is having. Make a booking, see how the automation flows, and experience your home like a guest. You’re going to be your harshest critic, and staying at your rental will be an excellent pulse check.
6. Get to know your fellow hosts
There are seemingly endless online communities for hosts out there. Check out some groups, or even just chat in the Airbnb Community Center. Engaging with others in the industry helps everyone, plus you’ll likely encounter other hosts who have the same challenges as you. You may even find some creative solutions.
7. Make a physical welcome book
It’s important to have a digital welcome book like the ones powered by Touch Stay. However, having a physical welcome book is also a wonderful touch that guests love. While it requires a more cumbersome updating process than a digital one, it is possible to create a more evergreen physical copy. There are lots of freelancers on platforms like UpWork who can do this, or create your own on sites like Canva.
8. Set up your direct booking site
While channels like Airbnb and Vrbo are great, you need to have a direct booking site. In 2025, Host Tools launched direct booking. With this update, hosts can easily create a site that allows them to accept direct bookings. No more losing on booking fees to third-party platforms!
9. Use email marketing
Host Tools recently partnered with Stayfi, which means those users now have access to free marketing tools. Learning to manage email campaigns is one of the most effective ways to secure repeat bookings and get guests to book directly rather than through a third-party.
10. Update branding materials
Let 2026 be the year you finally commit to your brand. Choose a logo, decide on a business name, select colors and fonts that represent your brand. Make sure all of these elements are consistent across your website and any Instagram or Facebook pages, etc.
Your 10 hosting goals for your Airbnb
Setting clear and achievable hosting goals for your Airbnb business is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You don’t need to tackle all of these goals at once this year. Choose one or two and focus on them. It’s about quality over quantity. One by one, step by step, you’ll elevate your business.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
