The Shortyz 2026 winners revealed

Title: The Shortyz 2026 winners revealed Publication: Short-Term Rentals Link: https://shorttermrentalz.com/news/the-shortyz-2026-winners-revealed/

The seventh annual Shortyz Awards took place in London on April 21, 2026, celebrating 21 winners across the global short-term rental (STR) industry. The event, hosted by ShortTermRentalz editor Priya Khaira and broadcaster Amber Sandhu, recognized excellence in both technology providers and property management companies.

An independent panel of industry experts judged the majority of the categories, while five specific awards—including "Innovator/Disruptor" and "Rising Star"—were decided by thousands of public votes from the ShortTermRentalz readership. Major industry players like SuperControl, Key Data, and Guesty sponsored the gala.

For STR operators, these awards serve as a vetted shortlist of top-tier service providers and peer benchmarks for operational excellence. For technology vendors, the results highlight which platforms are gaining market share and social proof. The inclusion of categories for AI, sustainability, and ancillary services indicates where the industry is directing its capital and attention as it matures.

• PMS Market Leadership: Guesty secured "Best Property Management System," while Hostaway won for "Best use of AI and technology," suggesting a distinction between core infrastructure and cutting-edge feature sets.
• Data Dominance: KeyData’s CEO Jason Sprenkle received the "Pioneer / industry leader" award, and AirDNA won for "Best sales and marketing," highlighting the continued importance of data-driven decision-making.
• Operational Specialization: The separation of "Best Urban" (Nestor) and "Best Leisure" (Supercalla) property management awards underscores the different tech and service needs for specific asset classes.
• AI Integration: The emergence of Hostbuddy AI as "Best Ancillary service provider" points to the rapid adoption of specialized AI tools for guest communication and support.
• Safety as a Standard: Breezeway’s win for "Best safety and security initiative" reinforces that property operations and risk management are now central to professionalized STR management.

The 2026 Shortyz winners reflect a market that has moved past the "growth at all costs" phase into a "sophistication" phase. While established names like Guesty, AirDNA, and Hostaway continue to dominate their respective categories, the success of niche winners like SuiteOp (Best App) and Villa Finder (Sustainability) shows that there is still significant room for specialized challengers. Operators should note that the winners list includes several companies focusing on the "middle-ware" of the industry—tools that bridge the gap between basic booking management and high-end guest experience.

https://shorttermrentalz.com/news/the-shortyz-2026-winners-revealed/