The DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) is entering 2025 as one of Europe’s most vibrant vacation rental markets. This article explores the top travel trends 2025 in the DACH market, shaping the region by drawing on exclusive insights and live data from the PriceLabs DACH Market Trends & AI-Powered Pricing webinar. It provides actionable strategies for vacation rental property managers to stay ahead.
1. DACH Vacation Rental Market: Growth & Maturity
According to PriceLabs data, Germany is now Europe’s fifth-largest vacation rental market, with a remarkable 23.1% year-over-year growth and an average of over 232,000 active listings for 2024–25. Austria and Switzerland also show robust expansion, averaging 47,389 and 47,875 active listings, respectively, with year-over-year growth rates of 12.1% and 8.9%.
Despite rising travel costs (e.g., a 6% increase for early March 2025 ski holidays in Switzerland), demand remains strong. Surveys show that 25% of Germans plan to spend more on travel in 2025, prioritizing vacations over other forms of discretionary spending.
Actionable Tip:
Use tools like PriceLabs Market Dashboard to analyze regional supply, demand, and pricing trends before expanding or investing in new areas. The dashboard allows you to track up to 10,000 properties in your area, giving you a clear view of pricing, occupancy, and amenity trends.
2. Shift Toward Dynamic, Data-Driven Pricing
While 65% of DACH listings are managed by individual hosts or small companies (2–10 units), a significant portion of the market remains under-optimized: 41% still use static prices, and only 7% update prices daily. The table below shows that listings with high dynamic pricing adoption achieve the highest occupancy (42%), proving the value of moving away from static pricing.
Actionable Tip:
Leverage dynamic pricing powered by AI. PriceLabs’ HyperLocal Pulse algorithm recalculates your “sweet spot” price daily, analyzing up to 350 nearby listings and local demand to maximize both occupancy and revenue. Property managers should move away from static pricing and adopt automated solutions to avoid leaving money on the table.
3. Shorter Booking Windows & Flexibility
- Guests are booking closer to their travel dates, and last-minute bookings are increasing. This will lead to flexible cancellation and minimum-stay policies by property managers.
- The PriceLabs Occupancy Graph helps you compare your booking pace with the local market and adjust prices or minimum stays in real time.
Actionable Tip:
Use dynamic minimum-stay rules and last-minute discounts to fill gaps and boost occupancy. PriceLabs allows you to set date-specific overrides or adjust minimum stays for low-demand periods, helping you capture more bookings without manual intervention.
4. Focus on Relaxation, Comfort & Wellness
- According to Hilton’s 2025 Trends Report, rest and recharge is the primary motivation for leisure travel among Germans (58%), with a strong generational difference: 42% of travelers aged 18-34 prefer to relax only in the hotel and not leave the resort, compared to just 21% of those aged 65 and older—younger guests, in particular, value amenities such as pools, spas, and 24-hour service. The report also highlights that mental health and self-fulfillment are key priorities for the 18-34 age group.
- Travelers are increasingly seeking personalized, home-like stays with a local flavor, moving away from generic hotel experiences. Amenities such as kitchens, living areas, and wellness features are highly valued, especially among families and groups.
Actionable Tip:
Upgrade your amenities- think high-quality bedding, wellness facilities, eco-friendly toiletries, and seamless Wi-Fi. Highlight unique amenities and local experiences in your listings. Use the Market Dashboard to identify which amenities are trending in your area and update your offerings accordingly.
5. Experience-Driven and Social Media-Influenced Travel
According to a March 2025 Skift Research study, social media platforms have surpassed official travel websites, review platforms, and traditional media as the most influential source of travel inspiration. Instagram and TikTok are among the most popular among younger travelers (ages 18–34), who are also the most open to booking high-priced activities directly through social media.
Actionable Tip:
To stay aligned with the top travel trends 2025 in the DACH market, invest in professional photography and create Instagrammable spaces. Encourage guests to share their experiences online. Offer flexible bedding options and communal or private workspaces to cater to diverse guests.
6. AI and Automation: Top Travel Trends 2025 in the DACH market
- AI-driven tools are now essential for performance optimization. PriceLabs integrates both “narrow AI” (for pricing) and generative AI (for interpreting market data and providing actionable insights).
- Generative AI can summarize complex pricing and occupancy graphs, making it easier for property managers to identify opportunities and risks without requiring deep data expertise.
Actionable Tip:
Use AI Insights in PriceLabs to quickly interpret market graphs, identify demand spikes or dips, and receive actionable recommendations. This will save you time and improve your decision-making..
7. Market Monitoring & Portfolio Analytics
- The Market Dashboard and Portfolio Analytics tools enable property managers to benchmark their performance, identify under- or over-performing units, and compare results year over year or month over month.
- PriceLabs Report Builder streamlines market monitoring and portfolio analysis by allowing property managers to create custom, automatically updated reports that consolidate key performance metrics and market data, such as occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR. This enables easy benchmarking against market trends and tracking progress toward business goals.
Actionable Tip:
Use PriceLabs Report Builder to regularly review your portfolio’s performance against the market. Adjust your base price or strategies when significant deviations or new competition emerge.
8. Responding to Events and Sudden Demand Changes
- The DACH market is sensitive to local events, such as concerts, festivals, and conferences. PriceLabs updates prices every 24 hours, but you can manually override prices for special dates to capture event-driven demand spikes.
Actionable Tip:
Monitor your local event calendar and use PriceLabs’ manual override feature to adjust prices ahead of big events. Set temporary price increases that automatically revert when the event passes, ensuring you maximize revenue without missing bookings.
Conclusion: Travel trends 2025 in the DACH market
The DACH vacation rental market in 2025 is defined by rapid growth, increasing competition, and a shift toward data-driven, guest-centric management. Property managers can optimize occupancy and revenue by embracing dynamic pricing, leveraging AI-powered insights, and staying agile in response to market shifts.
Key Steps for Property Managers:
- Transition from static to dynamic pricing.
- Monitor local market trends and adjust strategies regularly.
- Use AI and automation to save time and boost results.
- Highlight unique amenities and authentic experiences.
- Stay flexible with booking and cancellation policies.
- Leverage analytics to benchmark and improve performance.
Stay ahead in 2025 by letting advanced tools do the heavy lifting, so you can focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences and growing your business.