Skift Short-Term Rental Awards: Meet the Winners
Skift Take
Key Points
- The Skift Short-Term Rental Awards recognized outstanding contributions in the short-term rental industry across categories like Individual Hosts, Best Properties, Responsible Travel, Guest Experience, and Property Management.
- Winners included innovative properties such as Villa Kuro for Luxury Vacation Rental and Invisible House for Unique & Unusual Stays, emphasizing luxury, uniqueness, and exceptional guest experiences.
- The awards also highlighted sustainability and community impact initiatives, with projects like Bob W Kaarti and Sykes Holiday Cottages achieving recognition for their contributions to responsible travel.
Summary
The Skift Short-Term Rental Awards celebrated excellence in the short-term rental industry, awarding winners in categories such as Individual Hosts, Best Properties, Responsible Travel, Guest Experience, and Property Management. Notable winners included Villa Kuro and Invisible House for their unique and luxurious offerings, while projects like Bob W Kaarti and Sykes Holiday Cottages were recognized for their sustainability and community impact efforts.
From over 100 submissions, we are delighted to announce that the winners of the Skift Short-Term Rental Awards have now been confirmed.
From exceptional hosts to innovative properties, forward-thinking property management companies and on the ground suppliers and providers, this year’s Skift Short-Term Rental Awards finalists showcased a unique understanding of guest needs, consistent delivery of exceptional service, and extraordinary offerings that leave a lasting impression.
The categories were split across five criteria groups:
- Individual Hosts: Celebrating individual hosts who are driving the short-term rental industry forward.
- Best Properties: Excellence in short-term rental experiences that cater to varied traveler needs and preferences.
- Responsible Travel: Initiatives that prioritize environmental stewardship, community engagement and inclusivity.
- Guest Experience: Innovations that enhance traveler satisfaction and deliver exceptional guest experiences.
- Property Management: Initiatives that contribute to efficient and successful property management.
So, without any further ado, it is our pleasure to announce the inaugural Skift Short-Term Rental Awards winners!
INDIVIDUAL HOSTS
Category: Best Host
Moving Mountains
At Moving Mountains, a local team of hospitality professionals are dedicated to making guest stays exceptional. A curated selection of luxury mountain homes, and a personalized service ensures unforgettable vacations. From stocking your home with groceries to arranging a personal chef or recommending the best local spots, Moving Mountains handle every detail. An inside knowledge of the community and 24/7 availability mean the team are always on hand.
BEST PROPERTIES
Category: Luxury Vacation Rental
Villa Kuro
Featured in Architectural Digest, Villa Kuro is a tranquil, Japanese wabi-sabi-inspired retreat nestled in Joshua Tree. A true embodiment of luxury through simplicity, this desert sanctuary blends minimalism with warmth, inviting rest and reflection. Villa Kuro’s meticulously designed indoor and outdoor spaces, combined with impeccable service, make it the ultimate setting for a luxury retreat. From its quiet, secluded location to its stunning design and thoughtful details, it offers an unparalleled experience of comfort and beauty.
BEST PROPERTIES
Category: Long-Stay Rental
AKA Hotels + Hotel Residences: West Hollywood
AKA West Hollywood is a chic retreat that perfectly captures the essence of its vibrant location. The premier choice for extended stays, AKA West Hollywood offers accommodations of a week or longer to better serve the dynamic and creative community. On the iconic Sunset Strip, minutes from Beverly Hills and Hollywood theaters, AKA’s luxury serviced residences provide a refined living experience in a lively, walkable neighborhood.
BEST PROPERTIES
Category: Business Travel
Mint House
Mint House’s properties are located throughout the U.S. and designed with elevated apartment-style amenities and connected workspaces, offering personalized service and consistency for guests. Mint House’s model powers a feature-rich guest experience including mobile check-in and keyless entry, pre-stocked groceries, digital concierge services, on-demand fitness, smart thermostats, and shoppable spaces.
BEST PROPERTIES
Category: Unique & Unusual Stays
Invisible House/Fieldtrip
Among Fieldtrip’s distinguished properties is the Invisible House, widely regarded as Airbnb’s most iconic listing—endorsed by Brian Chesky himself. The Invisible House blends cutting-edge architecture with high-touch, personalized hospitality, delivered by a locally based, professionally trained team. Designed by veteran film producer Chris Hanley, the Invisible House has captured the imagination of artists and travelers alike.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Category: Sustainability
Bob W Kaarti
Bob W Kaarti is a sustainable hospitality project in Helsinki’s Kaartinkaupunki district, blending heritage and innovation. Housed in the former Rivoli Hotel, it combines local culture, art, and sustainability to offer a climate-neutral stay. The renovation up-cycled original features and used locally sourced materials, aiming for LEED Gold certification. Powered by 100% renewable energy and smart systems, it sets a new standard for eco-conscious design, catering to modern travellers seeking authenticity, comfort, and environmental responsibility.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Category: Community Impact
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Sykes achieved B Corp certification in 2023, marking a major milestone in the holiday let agency’s ambition to make a positive contribution to its people, the planet, and communities it serves. As part of the B Corp community, Sykes is constantly working towards a collective vision of business as a force for good and over the past 12 months, has had a laser focus on its environmental and social goals.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Category: Accessibility & Inclusion
Becoming rentABLE
Becoming rentABLE is revolutionizing the short-term rental market by advocating for and growing the inventory of accessible short-term rental properties, by expanding accessibility beyond wheelchair access to include all mobility, cognitive, hearing, vision and aging, and introducing a pioneering certification process that establishes accessibility standards and offers choices for all people with disabilities.
GUEST EXPERIENCE
Category: Best Booking Platform
Airbnb: Icons & Group Trips
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
GUEST EXPERIENCE
Category: Guest Communication & Support
Plum Guide
At Plum Guide, guest communication support is focused around offering exceptional, personalised service, prioritising genuine human care. Unlike other platforms, Plum Guide doesn't rely on offshore support or strict matrix based protocols. Instead, Plum Guide empowers its team, located across multiple time zones, to use empathy, initiative and flexibility to handle inquiries.
GUEST EXPERIENCE
Category: Best Digital Product
Beyond
Beyond’s Tally is a comprehensive payment processing solution tailored to the short-term rental industry, offering an intuitive and user-friendly interface. It simplifies financial transactions for both guests and property managers by providing seamless 1-click checkout options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. This ease of use extends to property managers, who benefit from transparent, cost-saving features that enhance the user experience.
GUEST EXPERIENCE
Category: Best Use of Technology
Guests
Guesty allows short-term rental businesses to automate and optimize every aspect of their operations. With purpose-built technology, industry-wide expertise, and a global team of 850, including 250+ R&D members, Guesty is transforming hospitality with innovative solutions that enable property managers to streamline and achieve growth while delivering the best value to guests.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Category: Property Management Solution
Guesty
Guesty is a comprehensive all-in-one platform for short-term rental businesses to automate and optimize every aspect of their operations. With purpose-built technology, industry-wide expertise, and a global team of 850, including 250+ R&D members, Guesty is transforming hospitality with innovative solutions that enable property managers to streamline and achieve growth while delivering the best value to guests.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Category: Property Marketing & Promotion
eviivo Collective 2.0
Through eviivo Collective 2.0, eviivo aimed to reinforce eviivo as the leading PMS provider for independent accommodations worldwide, highlighting the unique value proposition. Goals were to increase brand awareness within the sector, demonstrate a commitment to the industry, expand reach and engagement on Instagram and LinkedIn, and generate positive media coverage in relevant publications.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Category: Operational Efficiency
Avantio
Avantio offers a comprehensive vacation rental software solution integrating a PMS, Channel Manager, booking-engine websites, digital marketing tools, and best-in-class customer care all in one place. Making the global local, Avantio prides itself on the very best customer support provided by teams all over the world and fosters transparency with owners and guests through automated payments, smooth communication, and regular reports. Avantio is here to be your trusted ally in achieving success in the vacation rental industry.
Interested in taking part in Skift IDEA Awards? The 2025 Skift IDEA Awards are now open for submissions.
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