Research and data · 21 September 2026 · 3 minute read
Key Data has published DestinationData, a short-term rental data product designed for destination marketing organisations, tourism boards and government agencies. The release offers insight into how visitor accommodation data is being collected and used by more than 300 destination organisations across North America.
What the data release found
Key Data is integrated with more than 80 property management systems and receives direct-source data from more than 17,000 property managers, representing over 1.15 million vacation rental properties worldwide. This direct-source foundation is supplemented by OTA data from approximately 2 million Airbnb listings and 1 million Vrbo listings, creating what Key Data describes as unmatched visibility into destination performance.
Key numbers
- 1.15 million vacation rental properties represented in direct-source data
- 17,000 property managers supplying data
- 2 million Airbnb listings in the OTA data layer
- 1 million Vrbo listings included
- 300 destination organisations using the product
The product is designed to help destination organisations answer questions such as whether bookings are pacing ahead or behind the previous year, how vacation rentals and hotels are performing together, and whether visitors are staying longer or shortening trips. Key Data positions the tool as a solution for organisations balancing board expectations, tourism growth, stakeholder pressure, event planning and marketing performance.
Why it matters if you host
When destination marketing organisations and tourism boards invest in this kind of market-wide data, it signals that local authorities are paying closer attention to short-term rental performance and visitor behaviour. That scrutiny can translate into new regulation, licensing requirements or reporting obligations for hosts, particularly in areas where tourism growth is outpacing infrastructure. Understanding that your local council or destination agency may be tracking occupancy, booking pace and length of stay gives you context for policy changes before they land.
It also highlights the importance of accurate, up-to-date calendar management. If your local tourism board is drawing on aggregated STR data to make decisions about visitor accommodation supply, blocked-off dates and stale availability can misrepresent your property's contribution to the market. Keeping your Airbnb and Vrbo calendars synchronised and current ensures you are counted correctly in any market analysis your region conducts.
What to do this week
- Review your Airbnb and Vrbo calendar settings to confirm that availability, minimum stay requirements and blocked dates accurately reflect your hosting plan for the next six months.
- Check whether your local council or destination marketing organisation has published any short-term rental data reports or consultation documents in the past year, and note any trends or policy signals that might affect licensing or visitor levies.
- Audit your property management approach to ensure you are capturing booking data in a way that lets you compare your own occupancy and length of stay against any publicly released market benchmarks for your area.