20 Best Short Term Rental Courses for Owners, Hosts, and Property Managers

Although there are no formal qualifications required to become a vacation rental host or property manager, success requires more than owning a property. Whether you're a first-time lister or an experienced host, there's always more to learn. Short-term rental courses are invaluable for avoiding common mistakes, improving business operations and staying ahead of trends.

A combination of hospitality, management, marketing and technical skills is needed to compete in the booming rental market. The best short-term rental courses for property managers, hosts and owners are curated in this article. These courses provide the knowledge and confidence much needed to succeed.

What is a Short-Term Rental Course?

A short-term rental course is an educational program for owners, hosts and property managers in the vacation rental industry. Led by experts, these courses cover essential topics such as property management, marketing strategies, guest management, pricing optimization, legal aspects and technology use. 

Top 11 Benefits of Following a Short-Term Rental Course

1. Gain a competitive edge

Short-term rental courses provide the tools needed to stand out in a competitive market. By mastering marketing strategies, operational skills and process improvements, you can increase occupancy rates, average daily rates (ADR) and overall revenue.

2. Scale better and faster

Education is crucial for long-term success in the vacation rental business. These courses help you stay informed about market trends and emerging opportunities, allowing you to scale your business efficiently and effectively, whether managing multiple properties or expanding into new markets.

3. Enhance your skills

Being a short-term rental host requires a variety of skills. Skills like accounting, inventory management, marketing and automation are taught in these courses.

4. Keep up-to-date

The vacation rental industry is constantly evolving with new technologies, customer expectations and economic conditions. Short-term rental courses keep you informed about the latest trends and how to adapt, ensuring you meet the emerging demands of travelers.

5. Flexibility

Online courses allow you to access materials anytime, anywhere. With this flexibility, you can learn at your own pace without having to travel for in-person events, making education accessible to everyone.

6. Gaining a deeper understanding

Learn the fundamentals of the vacation rental market, including best practices and advanced strategies. These courses cover everything from the basics to advanced techniques for increasing occupancy and revenue.

7. Gain professional skills

Develop key skills tailored specifically for short-term rentals, such as pricing optimization, customer service and marketing. These skills ensure guests have memorable experiences, leading to positive reviews and repeat bookings.

8. A higher profit margin

Implement effective management practices to optimize rental rates, reduce vacancies and maximize income. Learn revenue management, dynamic pricing and upselling services to boost your property's profitability.

9. Legal compliance

Stay informed about the latest regulations and legal requirements to ensure your business operates within the law. Courses provide valuable information on compliance issues like tax obligations, zoning laws and health and safety regulations.

10. Networking opportunities

Connect with industry experts and fellow rental operators to share experiences, seek advice and build relationships. Networking through forums, group discussions and events can be invaluable for staying informed about industry trends and finding new opportunities.

11. Technology integration

Understand how to use vacation rental software to streamline operations, improve guest experiences and enhance property management efficiency. Learn to leverage the latest tools and software to automate tasks and optimize your business.

How to Choose the Right Short-Term Rental Course for You

Identify your goals

Clarify what you hope to achieve from the course, whether it's boosting bookings, improving guest satisfaction or mastering operational efficiency.

Check the curriculum

Ensure the course covers topics that are relevant to your needs and interests.

Consider the instructor’s expertise

Look for courses taught by experienced professionals with a proven track record in the short-term rental industry.

Read reviews and testimonials

Learn from the experiences of past participants to gauge the course’s effectiveness and value.

Evaluate the format

Decide whether you prefer online, in-person or hybrid courses based on your schedule and learning preferences.

Assess the cost

Make sure the course fits within your budget while offering significant value for your investment.

Look for certification

Opt for courses that offer certification to add credibility to your professional profile.

The Best Short-Term Rental Courses for Owners, Hosts and Property Managers

The internet is full of short-term rental courses, but not all are created equal. Some are exceptional, while others are not. Below are a few of the best. 

1. VRMA (Vacation Rental Management Association)

As a prestigious professional association, the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) advocates for the vacation rental industry through education and networking This program aims to improve knowledge, skills and career advancement in the vacation rental industry. 

Topics covered include operations, marketing, guest relations and owner management. The program also provides an accredited professional property management company designation. Members can access webinars, archived sessions and events like the annual international conference.

2. Vacation Rental University (VRU)

For vacation rental managers who want to run a profitable business, Vacation Rental University (VRU) offers online education and training. The company offers courses for people of all levels, from those just getting started in the vacation rental industry to corporations trying to educate and train their staff. 

VRU offers courses across four levels: Basic, Masters, Enterprise and one-on-one consultation. The basic package is free to access and includes over 340 video lessons. The masters level is available at a one-time fee of $495 or a monthly fee of $49 and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Vacation Rental Secrets (VRS)

Under the stewardship of industry luminary Antonio Bortolotti, Vacation Rental Secrets (VRS) has emerged as a beacon of innovation and expertise. The fully booked formula, VRS’s flagship course, epitomizes its commitment to driving conversions and building brand prominence. 

Through interactive modules and comprehensive resources, participants gain invaluable insights into optimizing their listings and crafting memorable guest experiences. 

4. Short-Term Rental University (STRU)

Short-Term Rental University (STRU), spearheaded by Airbnb superhost Richard Fertig, offers a dynamic learning environment tailored to the needs of aspiring hosts and investors. Fertig’s cohort-based courses provide participants with hands-on guidance and personalized coaching, facilitating rapid skill development and business growth. 

Beyond formal education, STRU fosters a vibrant community through live sessions and free resources, ensuring that learners have access to ongoing support and networking opportunities. By empowering individuals to navigate the complexities of short-term rentals with confidence, STRU paves the way for sustained success in this fast-paced industry.

5. Udemy

Online learning leader Udemy makes education accessible to everyone, including those interested in short-term rental management. With a variety of courses for all skill levels, Udemy helps learners achieve success on their own terms. You can learn to optimize Airbnb listings or improve property marketing strategies. Udemy’s courses provide practical tips and techniques you can use right away, helping you unlock your full potential in the short-term rental business.

6. Transparent

Transparent, a leading provider of short-term rental data and insights, offers a specialized course on revenue management. Designed to equip learners with the fundamentals of revenue optimization, the course covers tactics to increase occupancy and maximize rate efficiency. 

Additionally, with quizzes, extra reading materials and a certification upon completion, Transparent’s course provides a comprehensive toolkit for revenue management success. The course costs £249, but users of certain property management systems and channel managers can avail themselves of discounts.

7. California Association of Realtors (CAR)

There is a wide variety of real estate educational courses, certifications and designations offered by the California Association of Realtors (CAR), a preeminent association dedicated to advancing professionalism and providing essential business services. 

A vacation rental management course offered by CAR counts towards the Property Management Certification and Property Management Masters certifications. CAR's exclusive authorization for vacation rentals, vacation rental agreements and management concepts are all covered in the course.

8. BNB Mastery

A comprehensive program tailored to meet the needs of aspiring Airbnb hosts, BNB Mastery is crafted by Airbnb experts James Svetec and Symon He. Throughout this 6-week online training program, you will learn everything you need to know about property management, income optimization and property maintenance. 

With a variety of tools, templates and personalized guidance, BNB Mastery empowers hosts to succeed in rental business and achieve financial independence. BNB Inner Circle offers one-on-one mentoring from experts and BNB Hosting Accelerator provides in-depth training.

9. VRMB (Vacation Rental Marketing Blog)

Founded by vacation rental industry expert Matt Landau, the Vacation Rental Marketing Blog (VRMB) offers a wide range of free resources to teach short-term rental owners and property managers. It aims to teach people “how to think about your craft in creative new ways” and not how to “get rich off Airbnb overnight.” These include podcasts, travel shows and a documentary project. There is also a free newsletter and a paid membership program. VRMB also functions as a worldwide online community of vacation rental professionals.

10. STR Certification

After receiving requests from public officials in Las Vegas, Julie Davies developed the STR Certification course. In 2017, the Nevada System of Higher Education tested the curriculum, and after receiving excellent reviews, colleges and universities in other cities have implemented it. There are four options for the college-level course: a 2-day live course, a self-study e-course with flexible enrollment, a hybrid course with live and online components and a 2-day afternoon-to-evening course.

11. Alterschool

Vacation rental education is transformed by Alterschool. Providing digital learning in Spanish, Alterschool works with professionals from Expedia, Booking.com, Transparent, AirDNA, Tripadvisor and Hilton, among others. A variety of master's degrees are available, including Entrepreneur Tech, Vacation Rental Growth, and Revenue for Pros. 

Each master includes free classes so learners can get a sense of the content before forking out €595 for the complete package. Even more interestingly, each program is taught over 15-minute classes to suit modern lifestyles.

12. VR Mastered

Founded by Alanna Schroeder, an owner and manager of 5-star vacation rentals, and Tyanna Marinck, a vacation rental photography expert, VR Mastered offers an in-person boot camp style training session. It covers a wide variety of topics, from storytelling and marketing to SEO and social media, productivity tools, communication tips and towel folding. Boot camps have been held in various locations including Nashville in the US and Mexico.

13. Cleaning Certification

Cleanliness is of primary importance to any vacation rental, and having your cleaners complete the cleaning certification course provides your vacation rental business with a verified badge. This badge can be displayed on your OTA listing descriptions, website and other marketing materials. Created in collaboration with OSHA and CDC and based on FDA, DOH, and WHO protocols, the Cleaning Certification course is run by the team at VRScheduler.

14. Short-Term Rental Profit Academy

To help short-term rental operators scale their business to over $10,000 per month, Short-Term Rental Profit Academy teaches the 6-Figure Host method. In addition to building real estate wealth without owning or leasing property, the course also covers automating your business, generating direct bookings, running it remotely and scaling it up. 

Operators of any experience level are welcome to attend the course, but intermediate-level operators and higher are recommended. The program costs $1,497 as a one-time payment or $1,996 split over four payments.

15. Fully Booked

Heidi Miget’s course, "Barely Booked to Fully Booked," teaches new homeowners how to succeed on OTAs like Airbnb and VRBO. The course includes free classes, e-books and a blog full of tips and tricks. Miget, a vacation rental digital marketing strategist, provides valuable insights to help you find your perfect guests and optimize your listings.

16. Google Digital Garage

Google Digital Garage offers a range of free learning content ranging from courses that are less than 2 hours in length to those counting over 20 hours. Its Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course is a 40-hour, self-paced training that the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University accredit. Created by Google trainers and packed with practical exercises and real-world examples, it also bestows a certification upon successful completion.

17. Coursera

Coursera offers various marketing courses, including "What is Social?" by Northwestern University. The course covers social media trends, big data, and integrated marketing approaches. Just like Udemy, Coursera partners with hundreds of leading universities and businesses to bring thousands of courses, professional certificates and degrees to learners.

18. Tax Smart University

This course, created by Thomas Castelli, teaches short-term rental investors how to reduce taxes and build wealth. Priced at $247, it includes boot camps for QuickBooks and tax strategy. The Short-Term Rental Tax Course is designed to help investors maximize their savings while avoiding critical mistakes.

19. Cashflow Diary

J Massey’s platform offers free resources like a short-term rental playbook, training sessions, a blog and a podcast. Paid options include consultations and one-on-one coaching. Cashflow Diary is a cornerstone resource hub for real estate investors and short-term rental entrepreneurs, providing a multifaceted approach to education.

20. Short-Term Sage

Julian Sage and Jon Bell offer courses for rental arbitrage, including an 8-week guide for starting an Airbnb business and an accelerator for established operators. They also host a podcast with tips for vacation rental investing. 

Their flagship 8-week VRM Formula course acts as a comprehensive roadmap for individuals commencing their Airbnb journey without property ownership. The course enables them to automate and optimize their business for maximum profitability.

Elevate Your Vacation Rental Business with Top-Notch Courses 

Success in vacation rentals doesn't happen accidentally—it takes effort and know-how. Short-term rental courses are your biggest advantage, whether you're just starting out or already a pro. The tools you gain from these courses will help you transform your business by leveling up your skills and industry knowledge.

To streamline your operations and wow your guests, you need vacation rental software like Hostaway. In addition to keeping everything running smoothly, Hostaway makes it easy to manage bookings, guest communication and optimize performance.

When you mix expert knowledge from these courses with Hostaway's powerful tools, you're set to take your business to new heights. Watch your rental operation thrive as you become more profitable, impress guests, and make more money. Ready to step up your game? Invest in the right courses, integrate Hostaway and take your business to the next level.