Trending Amenities in 2026 that Will Get Guests to Click “Book”
Why “extra amenities” are now one of the strongest drivers of occupancy, repeat bookings, and new revenue
BY MIKEL HUBBARD
FORMER HGTV PRODUCER | CO-FOUNDER, THE HOST CO |
OWNER, TIMES EIGHT PROPERTY & DESIGN
We know what your guests want in Palm Springs. And Des Moines. And Dublin.
Here’s what they’re actually looking for in 2026, and why it matters if you host on Airbnb or VRBO.
Why we know this (and why it matters)
At The Host Co, we sit directly inside the guest decision-making moment.
Every month, thousands of guests browse, compare, and choose where to stay based on the extras offered alongside the nightly rate. And thousands more actively purchase upsells like spa services, private chefs, hibachi nights, late checkout, and mid-stay cleaning.
We power storefronts and add-on experiences for tens of thousands of listings across beach towns, desert escapes, ski markets, suburban hubs, and everything in between. That means we see what guests look at, what they click, what they buy, and what quietly influences their booking decisions, even if they never make a purchase.
The takeaway:
Amenities are no longer “nice to have.” In 2026, they play a significant role in how guests decide where to stay.
The big shift in 2026: time-poor, cash-rich travelers
Modern travelers are not just paying for space. They are paying to buy back time, reduce friction, and feel taken care of.
Guests don’t want more stuff. They want fewer decisions.
Now think about the person actually doing the booking.
Is it the mom planning the family vacation? Would she love it if you gave her a night off from deciding what the family is going to eat or which restaurant to choose? A private chef or hibachi night solves that instantly.
Is it the Type-A best man booking a bachelor trip? Would he like the rental house cleaned mid-week so things do not spiral by day four? That is a resounding yes.
Amenities work best when they reduce the mental load on the person planning the trip.
So here’s what to offer in 2026 to increase occupancy, repeat bookings, and revenue. And some of these will DEFINITELY surprise you:
1. TIME: The most valuable thing you can sell
While on vacation, guests are almost always time-poor and cash-rich. They’ll happily pay to extend, protect, or simplify their stay.
Top-performing time-based offers:
Early check-in (even 1–2 hours matters)
Late checkout (8 extra hours feels luxurious)
Mid-stay cleans (especially for families or week-long stays)
Extra night discounts (e.g. “add a night for 50% off”)
Flexible cleaner scheduling (priced transparently)
Important note: You don’t have to gouge. Even $10 per hour covers your time, your cleaner’s schedule change, and sets a clear value boundary.
Charging isn’t about being greedy—it’s about respecting the real cost of flexibility.
2. Reduced friction: “Please just handle this for me”
Guests will pay to avoid stress, embarrassment, or logistical pain—especially when traveling with kids, pets, or work obligations.
High-conversion friction reducers:
Extra rental damage protection
(Parents with twin toddlers know what’s coming.)Expedited package returns
(Stuffed animal + laptop + six-hour drive home = instant yes.)“Run an errand for me” services
(Game-day sweatshirts. Groceries. Last-minute gifts.)
These aren’t glamorous—but they convert exceptionally well.
Why? Because they solve a problem right now, when the guest is already emotionally invested in their stay.
3. Hibachi chef nights: the surprise hit of STRs
Trend alert 🚨
Hibachi is having a moment—and not just in restaurants.
Benihana is opening 10+ new locations
We’ve seen 3× year-over-year growth in mobile hibachi chef bookings inside short-term rentals
Why hibachi works:
It’s social and interactive
It turns dinner into a shared experience
It feels celebratory without requiring guests to leave the house
Guests don’t remember “a nice kitchen.” They remember the night the chef flipped shrimp into their mouths.
4. Wellness isn’t slowing down. It’s diversifying
Massage is still the #1 booked wellness service. But in 2026, guests want options, not just pampering.
Fast-growing wellness add-ons:
Private yoga & Pilates
Guided meditation
Sound baths
Breathwork sessions
These services appeal to:
Friend groups
Retreat-style travelers
Guests extending stays or returning annually
Even if only a small percentage books, offering wellness signals that your listing is intentional, restorative, and elevated.
5. The “splashy” offer that seals the booking (even if no one buys it)
Here’s the counterintuitive truth:
The amenity most likely to influence booking is often the one least likely to be purchased.
Think:
Yacht charter
Limo service
French-trained private chef
High-end concierge experiences
Most guests won’t book these.
But knowing they could will increase emotional attachment, signal the high quality of your brand, give you extra “oomph” for your marketing, and significantly boost re-booking rates.
The bottom line for 2026 hosts
If you want higher occupancy, more repeat bookings, and more revenue per stay, amenities are no longer an afterthought.
They are:
Decision shortcuts
Stress reducers
Planning tools
Marketing assets
Your guests are already telling you what they want. The hosts who listen and offer it will win in 2026.
Ready to put these trends to work?
If you want to package your experiences, sell add-ons without the back-and-forth, and make your direct booking site actually work for you, The Host Co is built for exactly this.
Create a shoppable store in minutes
Offer everything from early check-in to private chefs
Automate payments, scheduling, and guest communication
Embed your store directly on your website so it feels like part of your brand
Add services from vetted local partners or your own offerings
Earn more per stay without adding more to your workload
Whether guests are booking around concerts, planning a workation, or asking AI where to go next — you’ll be ready.
Start your store today: