The Power of Automation in STRs: Turno’s Impact on Hosts & Managers

Managing a short-term rental (STR) is no small feat. From scheduling cleanings to handling maintenance and guest turnovers, hosts and property managers juggle a long list of responsibilities. What if you could put your short-term rental operations on autopilot?

In this episode of The STR Data Lab, AirDNA’s Chief Economist, Jamie Lane, sits down with Assaf Karmon, CEO and co-founder of Turno, to discuss how vacation rental automation is revolutionizing the industry. Turno is a platform designed to help STR owners and managers automate scheduling, source reliable cleaners, and ensure seamless property operations.

Jamie, a Turno user himself, shares his experience finding reliable cleaners for his rental in North Georgia, highlighting the efficiency and ease that Turno provides. Assaf details how automating your collaboration with Airbnb cleaning businesses can eliminate manual work, reduce scheduling headaches, and keep operations running smoothly—even in remote locations.

Here’s what you can expect from this episode:

How automation tools for vacation rentals help hosts find, vet, and manage professional cleaners.
Why vacation rental cleaning automation leads to better guest experiences and increased efficiency.
The importance of building a redundant cleaning team to avoid last-minute cancellations.
How automation extends beyond cleaning to maintenance tracking and inventory management.
The risks of over-automation and how to maintain control while leveraging technology.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to use automation to run your STR efficiently, giving you more time to focus on growing your business.

Episode Highlights

What is Turno?

Assaf explains how Turno simplifies vacation rental cleaning automation, helping hosts connect with experienced cleaners across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe. The platform also includes features like cleaner vetting, guest cleanliness scores, and automated scheduling.

How Turno solves the biggest pain points for STR hosts:

Hosts can find and hire pre-vetted, experienced cleaners who specialize in short-term rentals.
Cleaners receive automatic job notifications, eliminating back-and-forth scheduling.
Turno integrates guest cleanliness ratings from Airbnb to help hosts assess cleaner performance. Turno assigns cleanliness scores to the actual cleaner responsible for the job, helping hosts verify the quality of a cleaner’s work.

Beyond cleaning: The full scope of STR automation

Assaf details how Turno integrates with other property management tasks, such as:

Automated maintenance tracking – Assign maintenance tasks as needed.
Inventory management – Track and restock essential supplies like toiletries and linens.
Guest check-out verification – Detect when guests leave early and notify cleaners to start sooner.

The risks of over-automation and how to manage them

Automation is powerful, but relying too much on technology without human oversight can backfire. Assaf highlights common pitfalls that hosts should be aware of:

Cleaners failing to accept jobs on time, leading to delayed turnovers.
Last-minute cancellations from a cleaner without a backup plan.
Over-reliance on automation, assuming an STR will run indefinitely without human intervention.

Turno offers management-by-exception alerts to mitigate these risks. Hosts are notified if a cleaning hasn’t started on time or if no cleaner has accepted a job. Additionally, Turno’s support team can step in and manually source a cleaner in case of an emergency, ensuring that hosts never get stuck without a solution.

Success stories and takeaways

Assaf shares a real-world example of a host whose STR continued running seamlessly—even after they passed away. Turno ensured that cleanings, bookings, and payments continued without disruption, demonstrating how a fully automated Airbnb cleaning business can operate independently.

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Automate Your STR Today

Short-term rental automation isn’t just about convenience—it’s about freeing up your time to focus on scaling your business. Whether you manage a single property or oversee a large portfolio, Turno provides the tools to streamline your operations and eliminate unnecessary stress.

Resources & Links

Explore Turno: turno.com

Assaf Karmon on LinkedIn: Assaf Karmon

Learn with AirDNA: Direct Booking Glossary Entry

Connect with Us

Jamie Lane on LinkedIn: Jamie Lane
Follow AirDNA for more insights: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Listen On:

Up Next:

February STR Performance: Winners, Losers & What’s Next

Jamie Lane, Chief Economist at AirDNA, and co-host Scott Sage, SVP of Marketing & Customer Experience, discuss February 2025’s STR performance.

They explore the latest data, including a 5% year-over-year demand increase and a 6% rise in Average Daily Rates (ADR). They also touch on the challenges of declining bookings in early March and regional fluctuations. Highlights include the impacts of major events like the Super Bowl in New Orleans and Beyoncé’s concert tour on short-term rental performance.

Jamie and Scott dive into how macroeconomic factors, like tariffs and tax changes, are affecting the short-term rental (STR) industry. They also share insights on managing your property’s pricing strategy during periods of economic uncertainty.

Plus, discover how forward-looking data can help you stay ahead of shifting trends and keep your rental profitable, even in volatile markets.

Here’s what you can expect from this episode

Gain insights into February 2025’s STR performance metrics, including demand and supply trends, ADR increases, and growth in Revenue per Available Rental (RevPAR).
Discover how major events impacted local markets, driving booking spikes and higher revenue.
Learn how to leverage real-time data to stay ahead of market shifts and make data-driven pricing decisions.
Understand how macroeconomic factors may influence future STR performance and how to adapt your strategy accordingly.

Episode Highlights

Demand and Supply Trends

February saw a 5% increase in demand and a 3.9% rise in supply, suggesting market stabilization after years of rapid growth. However, some markets experienced negative growth, highlighting the importance of closely monitoring local trends.

Notably, rural and mid-sized markets demonstrated stronger performance compared to urban areas and ski destinations, where occupancy rates showed a marked decline. Hosts in high-performing areas were able to maintain competitive pricing strategies, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize bookings and maximize revenue potential.

Revenue and ADR Insights

RevPAR increased by 5%, while ADR rose by 6%, reflecting the hosts' ability to maintain competitive pricing despite market challenges. Notably, the Repeat Rent Index (RRI) also showed positive momentum, indicating that hosts are successfully pushing rate increases.

The RRI tracks the price changes of existing rentals and removes the effect of newly added listings. Without RRI, looking at ADR spikes alone can paint a misrepresentative picture of host pricing power. New listings can drive average nightly prices up or down, even if existing vacation rental hosts haven’t changed their rates.

The positive trend in RRI can be attributed to a combination of strong demand and the hosts' ability to adapt pricing strategies to the changing market conditions. By leveraging forward-looking data and staying proactive, hosts have managed to sustain profitability even as some markets face economic headwinds. Additionally, insights from AirDNA's advanced analytics have empowered hosts to make more informed decisions, helping them capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Event Impact on STRs

Major events significantly boosted local bookings and ADR, emphasizing the value of capitalizing on event-driven demand. In cities like New Orleans, where the Super Bowl drove ADR up by 35%, hosts who stayed vigilant and adjusted rates accordingly saw impressive gains.

Similarly, cities on Beyoncé’s concert route are experiencing a noticeable uptick in bookings, especially in regions like Atlanta and Houston. This demonstrates how monitoring event calendars and aligning pricing strategies with anticipated demand can yield substantial financial benefits.

Economic and Market Outlook

Jamie discusses the potential impacts of tariffs, taxes, and economic uncertainty on the STR market, stressing the importance of monitoring local data and adapting strategies accordingly.

With ongoing economic fluctuations and potential recession risks, maintaining flexibility and leveraging data insights are crucial for hosts aiming to secure stable revenue streams. By focusing on local performance metrics and staying ahead of economic shifts, hosts can build resilient strategies to weather unpredictable market conditions.

Key Takeaways

Be Data-Driven

Regularly monitor local STR performance metrics to identify trends and adapt your strategy. Use tools like AirDNA to access up-to-date insights that inform smarter pricing decisions.

Leverage Event Opportunities

Capitalize on high-demand periods by adjusting pricing to match surging interest. Events like major sports games or concerts can significantly boost revenue when managed strategically.

Stay Flexible

Maintain a proactive approach to economic changes and market-specific shifts that could impact performance. Build contingency plans to mitigate revenue risks during periods of uncertainty.

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn and Twitter:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagescott

Connect with AirDNA on LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airdna/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/airdna

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@airdna.co

Instagram: https://instagram.com/airdna.co