Otamiser Unveils AutoRank, Mexico City Targets Short-Term Rentals, Landfolk Launches Visual Search

Otamiser Launches “AutoRank” to  Automate Airbnb Listing Optimization

• Otamiser, an OTA ranking and revenue management solution for hotels, has officially entered the short-term rental market with its latest AI-powered tool, AutoRank. AutoRank is designed to optimize Airbnb listings, ensuring that properties remain highly ranked and visible to potential guests. 
• It continuously analyzes Airbnb search trends and guest behavior to update listings every 48 hours based on real-time data.
• This includes dynamic, SEO-friendly descriptions that highlight a property’s unique features, nearby attractions, top amenities, and key selling points.
• The tool also adapts to seasonal changes, local events, and traveler preferences, keeping listings fresh and aligned with what potential guests are searching for.
• AutoRank also adjusts content during peak booking periods, enabling property managers to charge higher Average Daily Rates (ADRs) without losing visibility in search results.
  

About Otamaiser

Otamiser is a specialized platform designed to enhance the visibility and ranking of hotel and vacation rental listings on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) such as Booking.com, Airbnb, and Expedia. It offers two key products: Booster optimization tool for hotels & now AutoRank.

Snigdha’s Views:

• Otamiser’s leap into the short-term rental market with AutoRank builds on its flagship tool, Otamiser Booster which works like SEO for hotels and uses 951 ranking factors to boost hotel listings. Now, Otamiser is bringing that same AI muscle to Airbnb.
• Backed by $3 million in funding, Otamiser has launched AutoRank to help property managers stay visible on Airbnb’s crowded marketplace.
• With over 7 million listings on Airbnb, properties that aren’t consistently optimized often struggle to attract bookings, resulting in lower revenue.
• AutoRank automates listing updates to keep properties aligned with guest preferences and market trends, ultimately driving better reviews and repeat bookings.
• However, this optimization only works when it accurately represents what the property can truly offer; otherwise, it risks creating guest dissatisfaction.
• While AutoRank saves property managers the effort of manual updates, it may reduce the personal touch and creativity that some guests value.
• As more property managers adopt AutoRank, competition on Airbnb could intensify.
• Its flexible subscription model charges only for active properties, with reduced costs as portfolios grow, and a 30% discount for annual subscriptions.

Short-Term Rentals Face New Restrictions in Mexico City as Hotels Gain Protection

• Mexico City has rolled out new rules to rein in short-term rentals, led by Martí Batres Guadarrama, the substitute head of government, and passed in a local congress session.
• The new rule puts a cap on landlords, limiting them to renting out their units on platforms like Airbnb for more than 50% of the days in a year.
• The reform also shuts the door on turning government-built social housing into Airbnb hotspots for tourists.
• The push for this legislation comes in response to the rapid rise of digital tourism in Mexico City, driven by platforms like Airbnb.
• César Emilio Guijosa Hernández from the Morena party points to digital tourism as the culprit behind gentrification, soaring rents, and fewer affordable homes for locals.
• Hernández added that the regulation would “safeguard the interests of hotel establishments and avoid the saturation of accommodation intended exclusively for tourism”.

Snigdha’s View:

• Many cities, worldwide, such as Barcelona, New York even Europe, 

have also imposed similar regulations on short-term rentals to curb gentrification.

• Gentrification is when higher-income residents and businesses move into a neighborhood, raising costs and often displacing long-time, lower-income residents.
• Mexico’s approach seems to be taking a more explicit stance: tipping the scales in favor of traditional hotels.
• It aims to support hotels and address housing issues but may reduce income for property owners relying on short-term rentals.
• Property managers should evaluate the impact of these regulations on their listings and consider strategies like blending short-term and long-term rentals. 
• Diversifying income sources or enhancing property value to attract longer stays, becomes crucial in light of these restrictions.
• Something similar unfolded last year when New York’s Local Law 18 required short-term rental hosts to be permanent residents and register with the city to tackle the housing crisis.
• A year on, Airbnb argues it hasn’t worked, pointing to an 83% drop in listings but no change in vacancy rates, still at 3.4%. Meanwhile, hotel prices have surged 7.4%, surpassing the national average. 
• Restrictions and bans might not always be the answer; a balanced approach is what’s truly needed.

Daisy by Landfolk Offers a New Way to Search Vacation Rentals by Feel and Theme

• Landfolk a vacation rental company has launched Daisy, a new visual search function designed to change how users find holiday homes. 
• Rather than using traditional filters like dates or amenities, Daisy lets users search by emotions or themes, such as “cozy cabin by the lake” or “seaside escape with sunset views.
• This AI-driven tool visually connects users to bookable properties that match their vision, aiming to make the search process more intuitive and visually engaging.
• Currently, Daisy focuses on visual and emotional cues and plans to incorporate practical filters like dates, amenities, and locations in the future.
• This approach can make the booking experience feel more personalized and engaging, appealing to a wider range of travelers.

About LandFolk

Landfolk is a Danish vacation rental company offering holiday homes in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Germany. Founded in 2021 by former Airbnb employees, Landfolk focuses on providing a selection of unique homes in scenic locations while building a community for hosts. The company aims to differentiate its offerings from standard vacation rentals by emphasizing distinctive properties.

Snigdha’s View

• Landfolk’s visual search tool, Daisy, does bear similarities to Airbnb’s category-based search that organizes homes by themes.
• This connection is not surprising, given that Landfolk was founded by a group of seven co-founders, all of whom previously worked at Airbnb. 
• Daisy enriches the user experience by blending visual appeal and emotional connection with functional search, creating a more engaging and seamless process.
• Daisy’s concept can offer inspiration to property managers aiming to improve their direct booking websites. 
• Integrating a similar visual search feature could differentiate their platforms, letting guests explore stays by themes or moods.
• Creating themed experiential stays can allow property managers to turn listings into unique experiences, making them stand out and driving more direct bookings from the search process.
• While Daisy offers a fresh approach to holiday home searches, it has its limitations. For example, a search for a ‘seafront view for one on a Greek island’ found seafront properties but no one-bedroom options.
• This stresses AI’s limitation: it’s only as good as the data it’s built on.
• It’s also possible that solo travelers aren’t Landfolk’s focus, as families and larger groups bring in more revenue.
• Landfolk seems to be leveraging its technology also to strategically shape its portfolio. As they put it, “We also believe this technology will assist us internally, making it easier to acquire new homes that match Landfolk’s unique vibe.”​