Experiential travel trends are reshaping the short-term rental industry. In 2025, travelers are no longer simply looking for a place to sleep. Guests are searching for personalized retreat options, connections with nature, enhanced relaxation, and rejuvenation. For property managers, this shift in the future of travel offers an opportunity to make your portfolios stand out from the competition, increase ADRs and occupancy, and build long-term guest loyalty.
In this article, we’ll explore how experiential travel is evolving, why it’s important to your business, and how to curate high-profit stays that focus on wellness and immersive local connections. We’ll also show you how PriceLabs supports smart pricing and revenue management for health and wellness Airbnb listings.
What are Experiential Travel Trends?
Experiential travel, also known as immersion travel, refers to a type of tourism activity where travelers aim to experience a location by immersing themselves in the local culture, history, community, food, or environment. Experiential travel goes beyond sightseeing and visiting popular tourist attractions. It focuses on hands-on learning, personal transformation, and wellness activities that lead to improved physical health and mental well-being.
According to the 2024 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, in 2023, the wellness economy, of which experiential travel is part, reached a record size of $6.3 trillion. It is expected to grow to $9.0 trillion by 2028, indicating a continued growth in the experiential travel trend. Meanwhile, about 60% of people who traveled for health and wellness treatments in 2024 plan to do the same in 2025, highlighting the huge potential for Airbnb property management companies that cater to this type of traveler.
To bring this trend directly to the vacation rental industry, let’s take a look at what Airbnb reports. The platform has seen an increase in guest searches for experiential stays that are destinations in their own right. In the summer of 2025, 20% of Airbnb guests chose short-term rental accommodations over hotels for a local travel experience. As more and more tourists embrace self-reflection and self-care as a component of experiential travel, solo travel is also on the rise.
Experiential travel is closely related to another growing trend: ecotourism. Most experiential travelers seek eco-friendly vacation rentals and practices that promote sustainability. These developments in the travel industry signal major opportunities for short-term rental managers.
Why the Rise of Experiential Travel Matters to STR Property Managers?
Standard Airbnb amenities, such as a central location, fast WiFi, and a coffee maker, are no longer enough to boost your occupancy rate.
Amid new wellness tourism trends, in 2025, guests are looking for:
- Restorative features like gardens and spa-style designs
- Wellness offerings like yoga studios, fitness spaces, and healthy food options
- Mental rejuvenation like quiet zones and meditation rooms
- Local cultural engagement
Airbnb managers who adjust their strategies to meet the demand for experiential travel trends can benefit from:
- Higher nightly prices and Airbnb occupancy rates by offering additional guest services related to health and wellness
- Lower operating costs by implementing sustainable and eco-friendly practices
- Optimized revenue by tapping into high-end guest personas such as wellness travelers, digital nomads, and creatives
- Improved review scores from guests who indulge in superior wellness experiences
- Repeat customers whose lifestyle choices coincide with the mindfulness practices provided by experiential-stay properties.
How to Create Experiential Stays: Offering Health, Wellness & Experiential Stays
As a savvy vacation rental property manager, here are a few practical strategies that you can implement to take advantage of the growing experiential travel trends in the short-term rental space:
1. Find & Onboard Health, Wellness & Experiential Listings
Expanding your portfolio with wellness retreat properties begins with identifying the right markets and relevant opportunities there. Locations close to nature and in the vicinity of spa and fitness facilities are ideal for the purpose.
Then, focus your property management lead-generation efforts on homes with spacious outdoor areas or units that can easily accommodate wellness amenities. Use local market data and demand trends to prioritize acquisitions with property owners whose homes meet these criteria.
2. Augment Existing Properties with Wellness Features
Enhance your current Airbnb and Vrbo listings with amenities that appeal to guests looking for immersive experiences to unplug and recharge.
Some commonly demanded features include:
- Gardens, plant walls, and outdoor relaxation spaces
- Fitness corners with yoga mats and sports equipment
- Meditation rooms and calming decor elements
- Quality sleep upgrades like blackout curtains and white noise machines
Research to find the most in-demand wellness-related amenities in your area to optimize the occupancy and performance of your property.
3. Design an Experiential Stay
To respond to experiential travel trends, you can elevate guest experiences with:
- Welcome packages with wellness items and local healthy treats
- Self-guided local immersions for guests
- Discounts on guided meditations and walking tours
- Locally sourced amenities such as tea, shampoo, skincare, and art
4. Partner with Local Businesses to Offer Holistic Wellness Experiences
You can collaborate with local business owners to create integrated experiences for your experiential travel guests while implementing sustainable property management practices.
Partner with:
- Yoga instructors and wellness practitioners to offer on-site sessions
- Culinary professionals to provide in-home cooking or local cuisine-tasting events
- Local artists and craftspeople to organize local art-focused workshops or classes
5. Create Memorable Guest Experiences
Spoil your guests who come as a result of experiential travel trends with a seamless journey. This way you can increase ADR with guest experiences.
Focus on the following items:
- Polished pre-arrival communication with optional experience add-ons
- Integrated storytelling through property design and digital guidebooks
- Thoughtful sensory details, including aromatherapy, lighting, and music
- Goodbye package allowing guests to bring part of the unique experience back home
6. Price & Market Your Airbnb Health & Wellness Listing Right
Additionally, market your vacation rental properties as health, wellness, and experiential stays.
Optimize listings for your new target guests by using:
- Using high-converting keywords such as “tranquil escape”, “wellness retreat”, or local artisan experience”
- Highlighting emotional benefits like relaxation, rejuvenation, and connections with nature or the local community
- Listing all Airbnb wellness amenities that your rental offers
Finally, implement a smart pricing strategy that reflects the benefits of your health and wellness listings over those of your competitors, as well as market trends and seasonal changes. PriceLabs tools for property managers will help you with your dynamic pricing strategies.
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Integrating health and wellness features into your short-term rentals isn’t just about delivering good guest services; it is about conducting smart business. As experiential travel trends rise, property managers who adapt their listings to this demand can boost their bottom line.
PriceLabs for Property Managers empowers you to make data-driven decisions that drive profit growth. Optimize pricing for experiential stays, set your minimum stays, align with local demand movements, and stay ahead in the competitive landscape of vacation rentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Experiential Travel in Simple Words?
Experiential travel involves traveling to new places to engage in activities rather than simply viewing them. Experiential travel trends emphasize meaningful, interactive, and engaging activities that make guests feel immersed in and connected to the places they are visiting.
What Are Examples of Experiential Travel?
Some examples of experiential travel include visiting local farms, participating in yoga sessions, attending pottery classes, going on guided hikes, and cooking with a local chef.