Customer Alliance today released its 2025 report "The ROI of Guest Review Management for Short-Term Rentals", revealing that 83% of surveyed guests would be willing to pay more for properties with a higher number of positive reviews compared to similar properties.

The 31-page report, based on survey responses from 600 English-speaking guests across Germany, France, and Italy, provides detailed insights into how reviews influence booking decisions and price sensitivity in the short-term rental market

Get the report

This research helps property managers understand the specific ways reviews can impact their business. We found that guests are not just looking at reviews—they're actively willing to pay premium prices for highly-rated properties over comparable alternatives. Steffen Schmickler, CEO at Customer Alliance

The report answers critical questions for short-term rental operators, including:

  • What makes almost half of potential guests willing to pay 5-10% more
  • The 'review recency rule' that can eliminate you from 20% of potential bookings
  • How to influence 87% of booking decisions with one simple practice
  • What guests really look for in reviews (73% focus on this one factor)
  • The minimum review star rating demanded by 80% of guests
  • What really gets guests to leave reviews (and which methods to avoid)

The findings provide valuable context for short-term rental property managers looking to understand the relationship between guest reviews and booking decisions.

For property managers wondering whether investing time in review management is worthwhile, this research presents clear data on how guests use reviews throughout their decision journey, added Steffen.

The full report includes detailed breakdowns of the survey responses and considerations for property managers regarding review collection and management.

Property managers can download the complete report immediately to implement data-driven review strategies ahead of the summer booking season. Find it on the Customer Alliance website.

About Customer Alliance

Customer Alliance empowers hospitality businesses to turn guest feedback into strategic insight. Through AI-powered analysis and data-driven tools, hotels can identify what truly impacts satisfaction, track performance over time, and prioritize actions that drive loyalty and growth. From collection to execution, the platform enables smarter, faster decisions that elevate the guest experience and strengthen brand reputation.

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