Short Stay Summit 2026 returns to London as regulation, AI and innovation reshape the sector | News

The Short Stay Summit 2026 returns to Old Billingsgate, London on April 22, bringing together key players from the short-term rental sector to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector’s next phase of growth.

The summit stage, organized by the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA), will feature speakers from key industry leaders to agenda-setting politicians. The exhibition hall will host more than 1,300 delegates, including executives from Airbnb, Expedia and Booking.com, alongside property managers, hosts and technology providers, for a day of insight, debate and industry announcements.

This year’s theme, “Tourism Reimagined: A People-Led, Forward-Looking Industry,” reflects an industry adapting to increasing regulatory scrutiny, changing guest expectations and the growing role of technology in operations and discovery.

The agenda will look at the UK regulatory outlook, the impact of AI on the sector, changing booking behavior and the role of social media in travel decisions.

In addition to the conference programme, the summit will also provide a platform for key industry announcements, with leading technology providers and operators sharing new products, data insights and strategic developments that reflect the ongoing professionalisation of the sector.

Many exhibitors will share updates with attendees ranging from new technology introductions, market expansions and operational innovations shaping the future of short-term rentals.

The STAA has big news to report at the summit with the change of Chief Executive. Outgoing CEO Andy Fenner will reveal the person who will take over this leading role in the sector in his opening remarks.

Hostaway will launch Booking Website Pro and upgrade its website capabilities with AI-powered marketing and SEO tools to help professional property managers diversify their channel mix, increase direct bookings and build stronger independent brands.

Key Data recently launched Dex AI, the short-term rental industry’s first AI-powered Data Experience Engine, designed to help property managers move from passive reporting to real-time, actionable decision-making.

Casago, a leading franchise vacation rental management company, has quickly transitioned nearly all of the former Vacasa markets to its franchise network, marking one of the fastest and most comprehensive ownership shifts in the industry.

Hospitable is launching the first $0 permanent property management software layer in the short-term rental industry, eliminating mandatory subscription fees and giving hosts access to essential tools like automated messaging and multi-channel calendar syncing at no upfront cost.

eviivo, the all-in-one property management system (PMS) for short-term rentals, has updated its Owner Manager module, significantly reducing the time property management companies (PMCs) spend creating owners’ financial statements.

Pass the Keys, a holiday rental franchise operating more than 1,700 properties in more than 65 locations across the UK and Spain, is celebrating its eleventh anniversary and more than a decade of high-quality professional property management.

Abode Worldwide will present insights from the 2026 Hospitality Tech Investment Index, which highlights trends from the more than $1 billion invested in hospitality technology companies over the past year.

PriceLabs will launch its Revenue Accelerator, a major platform upgrade that expands capabilities from a dynamic pricing engine to a complete revenue growth platform.

Smoobu will share findings from its latest data analysis, which shows that 41.7% of bookings now take place within seven days of arrival. The data reflects a shift to shorter booking periods and increasing demand for real-time pricing and automation.

Yale will demonstrate the Linus® Smart Lock L2 Lite, the latest smart access solution designed for simplified, keyless access to property. The device introduces KeySense™ technology and integrates with major smart home ecosystems for secure and flexible access control.

PriceAdvize marks its entry into the UK market, introducing its practical revenue management service for Guesty users with growing portfolios.

RentalReady introduces Maia Insights, a new AI assistant embedded in its property management platform that allows operators to interact with their data using natural language.

LiBi introduces the LiBi Collection, a dedicated B2B marketplace that gives short-term rental operators access to premium hospitality brands at trade prices.

Participant tickets are still available for the Short Stay Summit. Register here to secure your place.