1. Sustainability award [sponsored by Beach Retreats]

This award is open to organisations, operators, agents and suppliers to the short-term rental sector that are leading the way in sustainability best practice. Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate they are putting sustainable, eco-conscious and ethical tourism at the core of everything they do, including implementing eco-friendly practices and helping preserve their communities for future generations. The award recognises achievement in managing social, environmental and financial obligations, sometimes known as the triple bottom line.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Identification of a sustainable market opportunity
2. How resources and staff were applied to maximise the opportunity and incorporate sustainability into the business model
3. Significant growth through new channels or innovative strategies
4. Managing major business change to become more sustainable
5. Strong commercial performance and financial results

Final shortlist:

• Beechurst Serviced Apartments
• David Phillips Group
• EnviroRental [WINNER]
• Hybrid Resi
• ICARE

3. Rentalpreneur Award – An individual educating new hosts [sponsored by Futurestay]

This award is open to anyone [individuals] who makes money from renting out a holiday property or properties as part of their business, including independent property managers, and is educating the rest of the industry on how they too can be successful.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. How the rentalpreneur has made their money from renting out a holiday property / properties, including increasing bookings
2. How they have scaled their portfolio and / or recorded strong financial performance in the last two years
3. Using their platform to educate other rentalpreneurs or new hosts e.g. through social media / speaking at events

Final shortlist:

• Andy Meddick, Stay Attention Vacation Rental Business Strategy Services
• Bill Faeth, Build Short Term Rental Wealth [WINNER]
• Dennis Goedheid, Casiola Vacation Homes
• Frank May, Timberroot Rustic Retreats
• Jenn Boyles, Direct Booking Success
• Melanie Kriel, Beachfront Apartments

5. Best urban property management company [sponsored by Beyond] 

This award is open to any property management companies with at least 10 units in their global portfolio, which are located in urban destinations. They must be able to demonstrate growth or retention of their portfolio; proactive and effective marketing; staff development and tangible benefits to clients.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Growth or retention of portfolio
2. Effective staff and customer engagement and satisfaction levels
3. Proactive or effective marketing strategies to boost revenue, occupancy and repeat bookings over the last two years
4. Delivering an exceptional guest experience and going beyond the duty of care
5. Innovation of product, amenities and customer service over the last two years
6. Strong commercial and financial performance over the last two years

Final shortlist:

• ALTIDO [WINNER]
• Minty Living
• My Getaways
• Pass the Keys
• Propr
• Rove Travel
• Urban Rest

7. Best app or website solution 

This award is open to businesses that have introduced, developed or enhanced a digital product in the last two years which has enabled improved relationships with customers, and which demonstrates an enhanced customer experience through cleanliness, security, safety, in room entertainment, gift and complimentary/value add services, online payment or personalisation.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Increased customer retention
2. Increased revenue per customer
3. Improved customer satisfaction levels
4. Simplicity of use

Final shortlist:

• Boostly [WINNER]
• Breezeway
• DACK
• RueBaRue
• Touch Stay
• Wheelhouse

11. Best OTA / online accommodation booking platform [sponsored by Minut]

Open to online travel agents, bespoke booking channels and other online booking platforms listing any kind of short-term rental inventory, this award recognises outstanding results in attracting and converting enquiries from leisure customers for short-term stays [30 days or under].

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Growth in short-term rental listings and bookings
2. Customer satisfaction
3. Raising awareness of the short-term rental sector among end users
4. Ease of use for provider and booker

Final shortlist:

• Despegar
• Edge Retreats
• Hopper
• Luxury Coastal
• Plum Guide [WINNER]
• Top Villas

17. Pioneer award – a true industry leader [sponsored by Vrbo]

This award is open to individuals who can demonstrate innovation and leadership in the short-term rental sector. The successful candidate will be a business leader with exceptional vision and leadership, a strong financial track record and who over the last three years or more can show evidence of success.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Ethical leadership and stakeholder engagement
2. Clear management systems and efficiencies
3. Strong financial and commercial performance
4. Successful initiatives launched

Final shortlist:

• Andrew Kitchell, Wheelhouse
• Bob Garner, EnviroRental
• Dale Smith, The SDDE Smith Group
• David Krauss, Rent Responsibly
• Justin Ford, Breezeway
• Margot Schmorak, Hostfully [WINNER]
• Steve Schwab, Casago
• Vanessa de Souza Lage, Sustonica

19. Best mobile rental accommodation company

This award is open to any company / marketplace with mobile inventory used for accommodation purposes, including boats, yachts, RVs, caravans, camper vans or any other type of motorhome. They must be able to demonstrate growth or retention of their fleet / portfolio; proactive and effective marketing; staff development and tangible benefits to clients. Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Growth or retention of fleet / portfolio
2. Effective staff and customer engagement and satisfaction levels
3. Proactive or effective marketing strategies to boost revenue, occupancy and repeat bookings over the last two years
4. Delivering an exceptional guest experience and going beyond the duty of care
5. Innovation of product, amenities and customer service over the last two years
6. Strong commercial and financial performance over the last two years

Final shortlist:

• Campiri [WINNER]
• Floatspace
• RVshare

2. Consumer champion award [sponsored by Breezeway]

This award is open to any company or organisation that acts firmly on behalf of consumers and prioritises the needs of guests and / or clients. This could be in the form of launching verification or accreditation to guarantee basic standards of cleaning / cleanliness or quality, or protection from disturbances such as noise or crimes including fraud or property damage. The judges will be looking for:

1. Explanation of accreditation / verification / standards
2. Proactively spotting a gap in the market
3. Successful roll out
4. Guest / consumer satisfaction

Final shortlist:

• Becoming rentABLE
• Emerald Stay
• Island Escapes [WINNER]
• MadeComfy
• Touch Stay
• TravelStaytion

4. Best leisure property management company [sponsored by PriceLabs]

This award is open to any property management companies with at least 10 units in their global portfolio which are located in leisure destinations, such as in rural or non-urban locations. They must be able to demonstrate growth or retention of their portfolio; proactive and effective marketing; staff development and tangible benefits to clients.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Growth or retention of portfolio
2. Effective staff and customer engagement and satisfaction levels
3. Proactive or effective marketing strategies to boost revenue, occupancy and repeat bookings over the last two years
4. Delivering an exceptional guest experience and going beyond the duty of care
5. Innovation of product, amenities and customer service over the last two years
6. Strong commercial and financial performance over the last two years

Final shortlist:

• AvantStay
• Beach Retreats
• Casiola Vacation Homes [WINNER]
• Luxury Coastal
• Moving Mountains
• Nox Cape Town

6. Most effective use of social media 

Open to individuals and businesses operating in, or agencies on behalf of clients supplying services to the short-term rental sector, this award recognises outstanding success and effectiveness, either in a one-off campaign or part of a sustained strategy, through social media.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Explanation of the target audience
2. Objectives of the campaign
3. Description of campaign deployed
4. Evidence of the creative/design elements of the campaign/s
5. Results achieved

Final shortlist:

• AvantStay #1 Vacation Pup Casting Call
• Guesty: Influencers campaign [WINNER]
• HostGPO
• Know Your Guest
• Luxury Coastal: LC LOVES LOCAL guides
• Skol Apartments Marbella

10. Best corporate accommodation booking channel 

Open to agents and specialist booking platforms offering short-term rental units to business travellers, this award recognises outstanding results in attracting and converting enquiries from corporate customers for short-term stays.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Growth in corporate business
2. Corporate customer satisfaction
3. Raising awareness of the short-term rental sector among corporate clients
4. Ease of use for provider and booker

Final shortlist:

• AltoVita [WINNER]
• ReloQuest
• TheSqua.re Serviced Apartments
• TrustedStays

14. Best ancillary services provider [sponsored by Orion Haus]

This award is open to businesses that have introduced a new service or product in the last two years which has delivered significant benefits in improving the guest experience, enhancing competitive advantage or adding value to the short-term rental sector in general. These may include companies providing data, sharing economy insurance, cleaning and laundry services, furniture rental, guest verification, noise detection technology, luggage storage, smart locks or key exchange services, revenue and pricing management, transportation to short-term rental accommodation, and more.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Innovation
2. Ease of use
3. Successful roll out
4. Positive user feedback

Final shortlist:

• AirDNA Property Performance Dashboard
• Beyond
• Duve
• Key Data
• PriceLabs [WINNER]
• Wheelhouse
• Ximplifi

18. Best subscription / membership model company [sponsored by Opago]

This award is open to any company that rents out accommodation operating with any form of membership or subscription model on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, while allowing guests to live and / or work from anywhere where necessary. This could include private travel clubs, home exchange or home swapping companies, timeshare or resort companies, or holiday home co-ownership platforms. Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Growth and retention of members using their platform
2. Effective marketing strategies to drive revenue
3. Strong brand identity, attracting a range of traveller demographics
4. Successful staff and customer engagement and support provisions
5. Strong commercial performance and financial results

Final shortlist:

• Golightly
• HomeExchange [WINNER]
• Landing
• Oasis Collections
• Zumper

20. Best holiday site operator [sponsored by Booking.com]

This award is open to any company or franchise managing holiday parks, resorts or sites with self-catered accommodation [e.g. lodges], campsites, glamping sites, treehouses, tiny homes, yurts, tipis or tents in one or multiple defined sites. Judges will be looking for evidence of:

1. Growth or retention of portfolio
2. Effective staff and customer engagement and satisfaction levels
3. Proactive or effective marketing strategies to boost revenue, occupancy and repeat bookings over the last two years
4. Delivering an exceptional guest experience and going beyond the duty of care
5. Innovation of product, amenities and customer service over the last two years
6. Strong commercial and financial performance over the last two years

Final shortlist:

• Acorn Glade Glamping
• Skol Apartments Marbella [WINNER]
• Smiling House Group
• Timberroot Rustic Retreats