Most STR experiences booked before arrival, says Localbird

Source

Title: Most STR experiences booked before arrival, says Localbird Publication: ShortTermRentalz Date: August 25, 2026

What It Says

A new report from digital concierge platform Localbird, titled "State of STR Experiences 2026," reveals that 74% of short-term rental experience bookings occur prior to check-in. The study analyzed over 7,500 bookings across the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Key findings include:

• Premium Performance: Guests in properties priced over $500 per night are significantly more likely to book add-ons, with an average experience spend of $1,000 per stay.
• Service Location: In-property services, such as private chefs (averaging $464 per booking), see order values 27% higher than off-site activities.
• Volume vs. Value: While transportation accounts for nearly 40% of booking volume, it only generates 18% of total revenue.
• Demographics: Families and large groups (5+ adults) represent the majority of digital concierge engagement.

Why It Matters

For property managers, the "window of opportunity" for ancillary revenue is clearly front-loaded. Waiting until a guest is on-site to suggest tours, chefs, or transportation likely means missing out on the majority of their budget. The data also highlights a massive disparity in upsell potential based on the nightly rate; premium guests aren't just paying more for the roof over their heads—they are significantly more active consumers of local services.

Useful Signals

• Early Outreach: 74% of activities are booked pre-arrival, making automated pre-stay messaging critical.
• In-Home Advantage: Prioritizing "at-home" services like private chefs may yield higher margins than external tours.
• High-Value Segments: Premium properties (>$500/night) see an 18% conversion rate for experiences, compared to just 4% for budget-tier rentals.
• Engagement Leads to Sales: 44% of premium guests interact with digital tools, suggesting that modern concierge interfaces are a primary driver of these sales.

STR Tech Report Take

The Localbird data confirms that guest experience technology is moving from a "nice-to-have" amenity to a primary revenue driver, particularly in the luxury and mid-scale segments. For STR tech vendors, the focus should be on integrating experience marketplaces directly into the booking confirmation flow and early guest communications.

The high average order value for private chefs suggests that "hyper-local" and "convenience-based" services are more lucrative than "adventure" activities which may have more external competition. Operators should focus their manual curation efforts on these high-margin, in-home experiences while using automation to handle high-volume, low-margin requests like transportation.

Original Source

Most STR experiences booked before arrival, says Localbird