Study: Americans Pick Hotels Over Airbnb for Holidays

UNITED STATES — American holidaymakers continue to rely on traditional hotels when they hit the road, favoring predictable amenities and loyalty perks over the home-sharing model that Airbnb popularized, according to a press release by Upgraded Points.

Hotels Still Rule the Holiday Roost

Upgraded Points, a travel-rewards and data-analysis firm, released its latest consumer sentiment survey on accommodations just as the peak Thanksgiving-to-New-Year travel window begins. Although short-term rental platforms have reshaped the lodging landscape during the past decade, the company’s study shows that most U.S. travelers remain more comfortable booking hotels for their end-of-year getaways. The research measured traveler preferences on factors such as price, cleanliness, safety, rewards programs, and ease of booking. While exact percentages were not provided in the announcement, the headline finding is unambiguous: a clear majority of respondents indicated they would choose a hotel over a short-term rental for holiday travel.

Why Travelers Gravitate Toward Hotels

Several themes emerged from the study that explain the tilt toward traditional lodging:

• Consistency and Standards. Major hotel brands operate under strict corporate guidelines, giving guests confidence that the mattress, bathroom fixtures, and fire-safety systems will meet a baseline standard no matter the city.
• Loyalty Rewards. Points, elite-status benefits, free-night certificates, and complimentary breakfast remain powerful motivators. Travelers who vacation in December often try to squeeze in final stays to pad their yearly point totals.
• On-site Amenities. Gyms, pools, business centers, and 24-hour front desks are amenities that independent short-term rentals rarely match.
• Simplified Pricing. Short-term rentals can show surprisingly high cleaning fees and service charges at checkout. Upgraded Points said many respondents see hotel pricing as more transparent.
• Customer Service. When flights are delayed or families arrive late at night, knowing a staffed reception desk is waiting can reduce stress.

Where Short-Term Rentals Still Win

The study also acknowledges the advantages that keep Airbnb and its competitors in the game:

• Space and Privacy. Families traveling with children often appreciate extra bedrooms, private yards, and kitchens.
• Local Character. Renting in residential neighborhoods offers a sense of immersion that hotels on commercial strips cannot replicate.
• Group Economics. Splitting a multibedroom house among several couples can still beat the cost of booking multiple hotel rooms.

Holiday Travel Landscape in 2023

Airlines are forecasting record passenger counts this holiday season, and U.S. hotel occupancy rates have been tracking close to 2019 levels for most of the year. Meanwhile, short-term rental demand has softened in some urban markets because of new local regulations and upgraded Points notes that these shifting conditions could be nudging travelers back toward more familiar brands when vacation time is scarce and budgets are tight.

Tips for Travelers Deciding Between Hotels and Airbnb

1. Price out the full stay. Compare the hotel’s nightly rate—including resort fees—against the rental’s base cost plus cleaning and platform fees.
2. Factor in loyalty value. If you earn or burn points, calculate the rebate you effectively receive from a branded hotel stay.
3. Check cancellation policies. Hotels frequently offer refundable rates up to 24 hours in advance; many short-term rentals remain nonrefundable.
4. Read local regulations. Some cities cap the number of rental nights or require hosts to hold permits. Non-compliant listings risk last-minute cancellations.
5. Match the property to the trip type. Solo travelers on a tight schedule may prefer a hotel’s central location, while extended families attending a week-long reunion might favor a rental home’s communal spaces.

The Road Ahead for Lodging Choices

Even with a stable preference for hotels during the holidays, the hospitality sector continues to evolve. Large hotel companies have entered the short-term rental space with “apartment-style” brands that try to blend loyalty benefits with residential layouts. At the same time, Airbnb is adding traditional guest-suite options that look more like hotel rooms. Where travelers ultimately choose to sleep may boil down to how deftly each segment adapts to consumer demands for flexibility, cleanliness, and value. For this year’s holiday rush, however, Upgraded Points’ data indicates that the hotel front desk will remain the first stop for most Americans once their flights touch down. — Source: Upgraded Points press release