Six years ago in January 2020, we listed our open basement on Airbnb for the very first time hoping for the best. Six years later, we are celebrating another successful year providing guests with unique stays across 20 of the best properties around Sioux Falls!
As we head into a new year, we’ve been spending a lot of time looking at patterns we’ve noticed across SoDak Stays properties and the Airbnb industry as a whole.
Here are our predictions for how the Airbnb world will continue to shift in 2026:
Trend #1: More temporary living; less “vacation rental” mindset
Airbnb isn’t just for vacations anymore — it’s becoming a solution for real-life transitions. Families coming to town for medical care, guests in between homes, traveling professionals, and extended stays will continue to grow.
Trend #2: Reputable hosts will matter more than the cheapest price
As the market stays competitive, we believe guests will increasingly choose experienced, trusted hosts over cheaper, unknown options.
Clear communication, consistency, and reliability are becoming more valuable than shaving a few dollars off the nightly rate. Remember, you can almost always save more money when you book directly on our website instead of sites like Airbnb.
Trend #3: The Instagram-perfect Airbnb era will start to fade
Pretty photos still matter (that’s why we get professional photos taken of every SoDak Stays property) — but function matters more.
Guests are prioritizing comfortable beds, blackout curtains, storage space, kid-friendly setups, washers and dryers, and more.
Trend #4: Guests will crave local, authentic experiences
Instead of generic, AI-generated recommendations, guests want insight from real locals.
They don’t just want to hear “visit Falls Park” — they want to know where locals eat, which coffee shop is worth it, and what to skip. This is why we recently revamped our Sioux Falls recommendation guide — created by yours truly, no AI needed!
Trend #5: Bookings will continue to happen closer to arrival dates
We already saw this trend in 2025, and expect it will continue into 2026. Guests are waiting longer to book, making flexibility, availability, and fast response times more important than ever.
Tell us your predictions!
To sum it up, here’s what we forsee happening in 2026:
- If you’re a guest, it means better stays (hopefully).
- If you’re a property owner, it means smarter strategies.
Whether you host your own short-term rental property or you’ve only been a guest at them, we’d love to hear about your recent experiences and what you see coming in 2026. Fill out our contact form or send me a DM on Instagram!
