Q2 2026
U.S. Short-Term Rental Market Report
Booking Curve Compression & Revenue Resilience
Table of Contents
27%
The Quarter in 3 Signals
Booking Windows Are Compressing Further
Average lead time is tracking 3-5% shorter YoY into Q2, which is continuing a trend that has started back in mid-2024. Demand is still there, but travelers are committing later.
ADR Growth Holds, Protecting Revenue
Forward ADR for Q2 arrival dates is pacing up 3 to 4% YoY. We’ve seen softer on-the-books occupancy, but pricing power is still strong.
Late-Stage Demand Is Where Revenue Is Won
Properties set up to capture last-minute bookings are outperforming those relying on early-bird volume. The booking curve compression is structural, not seasonal.
Market Pulse
Here’s a look forward at Q2 2026 with metrics reflecting on the books performance versus the same time last year.
Q 2026 vs Q2 2025 — Key Metrics
~47%
Pacing -3% YoY
Paid Occupancy
$312
Pacing +4% YoY
ADR
$147
Pacing +1% YoY
RevPAN
54 Days
Pacing -4% YoY
Avg. Booking Window
4.2 Nights
Pacing -3% YoY
Avg. Length of Stay
+0.03
Stable, edging positive
Demand Index
It’s important to note here that the pacing figures reflect on-the-books data captured at the start of Q2 and the final occupancy and RevPAN will be determined by late-stage pickup in May-June.
What This Means
Travelers now are booking fewer days out from arrival than they did in 2025, which means the window for early-bird volume is shrinking. Those of you relying on occupancy being built up 60-90 days in advance should plan to see softer early pacing and may risk premature discounting.
What To Watch
The real Q2 story will be written in May and June, when short-lead bookings flood in. Properties with healthy pricing and open availability in the 0-21 day window will capture a disproportionate amount of revenue.
BOOKING WINDOW TREND:
Average Days from Booking to Arrival
Period
2025 Avg. (days)
2026 Pacing (days)
YoY Change
April
61
59
-3%
May
65
62
-5%
June
72
69
-4%
Q2 Avg.
66
63
-4%
Strategic Implication
It’s important to remember that compression is not a crisis; its just a timing shift. Properties that keep pricing integrity and stay open for short-lead bookings will fill. Those that discount early to build occupancy may be leaving money on the table. Dynamic pricing that responds automatically to lead time and availability is the single best tool operators have in Q2 2026.
Regional Snapshot: Q2 2026
As we look at year-over-year change in key metrics based on on-the-books pacing, we won’t see full performance numbers until much later in the quarter because of late-stage pickup.
Region
Paid Occ. YoY
ADR YoY
RevPAR YoY
Mid-Atlantic States
+8%
+5%
+13%
New England
+6%
+6%
+12%
Western U.S.
0%
+7%
+7%
Southeast U.S.
+2%
+3%
+5%
Rocky Mountain States
-2%
+5%
+3%
Midwest U.S.
+5%
0%
+5%
Hawaiian Islands
-4%
+6%
+2%
All of these projections are based on available pacing data. The regions that have compressed booking windows should plan to see the most significant late-stage movement.
Outperforming
Mid-Atlantic and New England are the standout regions heading into Q2, with both occupancy and ADR pacing ahead of 2025. Strong demand fundamentals and pricing discipline are combining to produce double-digit RevPAR projections.
Watch Closely
Rocky Mountain and Hawaiian Islands are pacing with softer occupancy compared to last year. Both markets have demonstrated strong ADR gains, which limits downside, but late-stage demand pickup is crucial. Hosts and Property Managers in both markets should avoid premature discounting.
90-Day Commercial Implications
What the data means for property managers operating in Q2 2026.
Hold rate through April and May.
Soft on-the-books occupancy in the first half of Q2 does not signal weak demand. It signals later booking behavior. Operators who discount early to build volume will dilute RevPAN without improving final occupancy materially.
Enable and calibrate time-based pricing.
With booking windows compressing, the most effective way to capture short-lead demand at strong rates is automated time-based pricing that elevates rates as arrival approaches. Properties without this enabled are effectively discounting by default.
Relax minimum stays on shoulder dates.
Longer MLOS requirements are compounding the compression problem. On shoulder and mid-week dates, relaxing minimum stays and enabling gap-fill rules will capture incremental nights that would otherwise remain empty.
Defend peak-season rates aggressively.
Memorial Day, July 4th, and the broader summer peak are where Q2 and Q3 revenue is made or lost. Apply price floors and tighten availability rules on the 15-20 highest-demand nights in your market. Do not let early-summer momentum erode through premature discounts.
Prioritize Airbnb channel readiness.
With Airbnb growing to 54% of reservations and the platform disproportionately capturing short-lead demand, listing quality, instant booking eligibility, and review velocity matter more than ever. Channel mix optimization is now a revenue management lever.
Is your pricing set up to win Q2?
The Q2 opportunity is in the final weeks of May and June. Operators with dynamic pricing, flexible availability, and OTA-ready listings will capture the most revenue. Those without are already behind.
Run a free pricing health check with Beyond
About This Report
The Beyond Q2 2026 U.S. STR Market Report synthesizes on-the-books pacing data, prior-year performance benchmarks, and booking behavior signals across the U.S. short-term rental market. Market averages represent aggregated data across Beyond's customer base and publicly available STR market data. Regional projections are pacing-based and subject to change as late-stage demand develops through Q2.
Beyond is the industry leader in dynamic pricing and revenue optimization for short-term rentals. Our platform helps individual hosts and enterprise property managers price smarter, capture more revenue, and grow their business with confidence.