In Brief: Short-term rentals are entering a new phase characterized by heightened regulatory attention and sustained expansion, prompting owners to reassess competitive strategies and monitor evolving compliance requirements in affected markets. Short-term Rentals Enter a New Phase of Scrutiny and Structural Growth - Image Credit UnsplashFollowing the post-pandemic boom years, the global short-term rental (STR) market has settled into a period of structural realignment. And on the demand side, evolving consumer expectations around trust, consistency and value are contributing to a rebalancing between short-term rentals and hotels. Rather than reflecting a recent spike, these figures point to a more established, structural role for short‑term rentals in European leisure travel. MethodologyPhocuswright's Global Short-Term Rentals 2026 report sizes the global STR market by region and distribution channel.