New Localbird data highlights a major pre-arrival revenue opportunity, with guests at premium properties spending an average of $1,000 on experiences per stay
Tel Aviv, 25 August 2026 — Almost three quarters (74%) of short-term rental (STR) experience bookings are made before check-in, highlighting a major pre-arrival revenue opportunity for operators according to new data from Localbird, a digital concierge platform for the STR industry.
Localbird’s State of STR Experiences 2026 report, analyzing more than 7,500 bookings across the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica, found that guests are making significant spending decisions well before they reach the property. Higher-value experiences such as private chefs, boat charters and guided tours are typically booked further ahead, meaning operators who wait until check-in to promote them risk reaching guests after their plans and budgets have already been decided.
The opportunity is particularly lucrative at the premium end of the market. At STRs charging $500 or more per night, 44% of guests engage with the digital concierge and 18% go on to book, with average spend reaching $1,000 per stay. By comparison, properties charging under $100 per night see 35% engagement and just 4% of guests go on to book.
The data suggests guests choosing higher-end accommodation have a much greater appetite to spend beyond the stay itself. Families are also the most engaged guest type, accounting for around 31% of digital concierge engagement, followed by groups of five or more adults at 24%, highlighting the value of experience services for larger parties planning activities together.
In-property services are particularly valuable, generating average order values 27% higher than experiences outside the rental. Private chefs lead the category, averaging $464 per booking.
Transportation accounts for the largest share of bookings at 39%, but only 18% of revenue. Adventure and land tours (16% of bookings), water activities (13%) and vehicle rentals (9%) each generate a greater share of revenue relative to their booking volume.
Ben Levy, CEO and Co-Founder of Localbird, said: “This data confirms something we’ve believed for a long time: the guest experience doesn’t start at check-in, it starts the moment someone hits ‘book.’ Operators who treat the property as the whole product are leaving money and loyalty on the table, because guests are already planning their trip well before they arrive. Operators should begin curating the entire journey, using technology to understand a guest’s profile early, tailor recommendations before check-in, and build a relationship with each guest. This is especially true for premium properties, where guests are already telling us through their spending that they expect a fully curated stay.”
About Localbird
Localbird is the first digital concierge service for vacation rentals. It connects hosts and property managers with a curated network of local experiences and vetted vendors, and handles the recommendations, bookings, and on-the-ground coordination for their guests so hosts earn more from every stay with less effort, and guests discover the best of a destination. Founded by brothers Ben and Joseph Levy, Localbird launched in 2023 and is expanding rapidly across the US and Latin America, with wide coverage in Costa Rica and Mexico. Learn more at www.localbird.com
