Must-Have Property Management Software Features To Get More Bookings on Airbnb & Vrbo

Whether you call it property management software, vacation rental software, Airbnb management software or Vrbo management software, having the right property management system to manage your vacation rental operations is essential to your short-term rental business' success.

And the property management software you choose can make or break your business. This powerful tool enables you to streamline operations, automate repetitive tasks, boost guest satisfaction, and ultimately, get more bookings across booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.

If you're still trying to manage properties using spreadsheets, phone calls and calendar reminders, you're likely missing out on revenue and risking costly mistakes. In this article, we’ll explore the must-have property management software features that increase visibility, simplify short-term rental processes, improve guest experiences and drive profitability.

12 Features Your Property Management Software Must Have to Get More Bookings

1. Reservations management

Efficient bookings management forms the backbone of any powerful property management software.

This feature centralizes booking management across major OTAs, niche booking platforms and your direct booking website, ensuring smooth processes and eliminating the risk of double bookings.

A top-notch reservation management software will include a centralized calendar, tools to manage reservations and offer personalized guest experiences. Look for the ability to upsell to guests and re-engage previous ones with coupons and special offers.

Key benefits:

• Centralized booking overview

• Enhanced upselling capabilities

• Improved guest retention

2. Channel management

Channel management is a must-have property management software feature. Today’s leading solutions integrate channel management directly, eliminating the need for separate subscriptions.

A robust channel manager allows property managers to list and sync their properties across multiple OTAs while ensuring availability, pricing and details remain consistent. It will also allow for managing multiple properties, multiple units within a single property and cross-listings, so you can manage all iterations of vacation rental listings.

Key benefits:

• Increased listing visibility

• Eliminated risk of double bookings

• Improved booking conversion

3. Dynamic pricing

Optimizing vacation rental revenue requires pricing that is dynamic.

Built-in dynamic pricing features of property management software automatically adjust your nightly rates based on supply, demand, seasonality and competitor pricing. For instance, Hostaway’s dynamic pricing feature provides an average 20%+ higher revenue per listing and can be easily switched on and off for chosen days so vacation rental managers only pay for the listings and periods they need the boost.

Key benefits:

• Optimized occupancy

• Adaptation to market trends

• Revenue growth

4. Marketplace for integrations

A rich integrations marketplace is vital. In fact, 60% of vacation rental managers consider integrations critical to scaling their business.

Leading Airbnb and Vrbo management platforms offer a marketplace with a wide range of integrations, from guest screening services to housekeeping management and cleaning services, payment gateways and more.

This allows property managers to expand their toolsets easily and customize their tech stack to meet specific business needs as they grow, adapt and evolve.

Key benefits:

• Access to essential tools

• Enhanced operational flexibility

• Streamlined growth

5. Guest experience features

Great guest experience garners five-star reviews and drives bookings.

Property management software must offer features like automated guest messaging, self check-ins, guest portals and upselling tools so property managers can craft a delightful guest experience

Hostaway Smart Locks enables hassle-free self-check-in, improving guest satisfaction and safety. This, combined with real-time updates and automated communication, ensures smooth operations from start to finish.

Key benefits:

• Better guest satisfaction

• Higher OTA rankings

• Increased return bookings

6. Owner management

For property managers with one or multiple owners, robust owner management features are essential.

A dedicated owner portal that provides short-term rental homeowners with real-time insights into performance metrics, booking details, etc is a vital vacation rental software feature. With Hostaway, you can automate owner updates and grant access to key performance dashboards, improving collaboration.

Key benefits:

• Enhanced transparency and trust

• Better communication

• Stronger owner relationships

7. Housekeeping & maintenance management

Cleanliness and functionality directly impact guest satisfaction. That’s why your vacation rental property management software should support both housekeeping and maintenance management.

An unmade bed or a fuse that blows while a guest is in residence leads to bad reviews and cascading negative effects. An integrated management system helps property managers schedule cleaning, create maintenance requests, track repairs and ensure that properties are guest-ready at all times.

Manual and automated task creation based on reservations and subsequent changes together with calendar accessibility and triggered notifications for cleaning and maintenance tasks are important property management software features.

Key benefits:

• Guest-ready properties

• Reduced manual workloads

• Fast response to issues

8. Analytics & financial reporting

Financial visibility is essential for maintaining profitability and transparency with property owners. Your property management software should deliver real-time dashboards and automated accounting reports.

Hostaway makes keeping track of income, expenses and profits seamless and gives property managers the ability to easily generate customizable reports for key performance indicators like occupancy and to automate statements sent out to owners so they have a clear understanding of their property’s performance, simplifying your financial responsibilities. It even automated invoice generation.

Key benefits:

• Enhanced financial oversight

• Reduced administrative workload

• Improved financial analysis and insights

9. Direct booking website

To build a brand and avoid OTA commissions, a direct booking engine is a must.

That's why property management software must include robust direct booking features, bringing in bookings without commissions and building a strong online brand presence that is within the control of the property manager and not an OTA.

Hostaway provides a complete solution—an integrated booking website builder, payment gateway support and connection to Google Vacation Rentals.

This allows you to market your properties directly and collect guest data for remarketing efforts.

Key benefits:

• No OTA commissions

• Complete brand control

• Higher guest loyalty

10. Mobile app accessibility

A mobile application is an essential Airbnb and Vrbo management software feature, allowing vacation rental hosts to manage their multiple listings, bookings and guests on the go.

A property management software with a mobile app ensures supports maintenance requests, task assigning and tracking, guest communication, payment status and calendar updates, all from your phone.

Running a vacation rental business often means being on the move and a mobile app ensures short-term rental managers are never out of touch with their operations.

Key benefits:

• Increase flexibility

• On-the-go management

• Enhance productivity

11. Vacation rental insurance

Every property management strategy needs a safety net. Hostaway’s insurance powered by Safely provides coverage for damages, cancellations and liability, reducing financial risk for both owners and property managers.

The built-in service means you don’t need a separate vendor, streamlining coverage within your current management software.

Key benefits:

• Reduced risk

• Guest and property protection

• Fewer third-party contracts

12. Scalability and growth tools

As your portfolio grows, your property management software must scale with you. Hostaway is designed for scalability—whether you manage 5 or 500 units. Bulk updates, calendar syncing and reporting tools make scaling simple.

Key benefits:

• Built to grow with your business

• Designed for efficient operations

• Reduced onboarding time for new properties

Choosing the Right Property Management Software

Selecting the best property management software is more than just finding a tool — it’s about finding a partner that can handle your daily operations, grow with your business and empower you to make informed decisions.

Hostaway is the leading property management system, complete with the full suite of features a property manager, owner and guest needs. The intuitive platform includes powerful automation, a rich integration marketplace and exceptional customer support. From accounting and marketing to maintenance, payments and guest communication, it delivers a full stack of property management services in one unified platform.

Whether you manage one listing or a full portfolio of short-term rental properties, Hostaway’s combination of automation, insights and reliability makes it the smart choice for every ambitious property manager. Schedule your free demo now and experience how an all-in-one property management software can drive more bookings, save time and grow your business.