Yana Stoencheva, Svetoslav Deltchev
Abstract: This article analyzes a wide range of scientific publications and presents an original comparative assessment of the opportunities and limitations of the major online short-term rental platforms operating in the international market. The analysis reveals that these platforms provide substantial convenience for users and demonstrate a high degree of standardization in the information they offer. At the same time, several important differences are identified. In addition to accommodation services, Airbnb offers opportunities for a more comprehensive travel experience through supplementary services and local activities. Booking.com provides a considerably broader range of accommodation types, including hotels, apartment hotels, guesthouses, holiday homes, and private apartments. In contrast, Airbnb and Vrbo primarily focus on the listing of entire homes and vacation properties. Furthermore, the Vrbo platform does not offer a Bulgarian-language interface. The study also finds that none of the three analyzed platforms—Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo—provides access to aggregated statistical data suitable for comprehensive market analysis. As a result, researchers and practitioners must rely on specialized commercial data providers such as AirDNA, AirROI, Transparent Intelligence, and AllTheRooms Analytics. Another notable finding is that short-term rental platforms increasingly cooperate with local authorities in implementing regulatory measures aimed at preserving the availability of long-term housing for local residents. The study concludes that housing markets differ substantially across destinations, implying that effective regulation of short-term rentals should be tailored to the specific characteristics of each location. The areas most affected by short-term rentals are typically city centers and neighborhoods located near coastlines or in the vicinity of historical, cultural, and architectural attractions. Consequently, detailed spatial zoning of urban areas constitutes an important prerequisite for informed policy-making when considering the introduction of regulatory restrictions.
Key words: short-term rentals; online rental platforms; Airbnb; Booking.com; Vrbo.
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