Guest nights in EU short-term rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking or Expedia rose 5.3% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier, Eurostat reported on October 2. For professionals choosing accommodation for work, the figures are a reminder that a large rental market still needs to be assessed property by property.
The Eurostat release counts 258.8 million guest nights between April and June, up 13.1 million from the same period of 2025. These are nights booked through the named platforms, not a count of business travelers or proof that any particular destination is experiencing the same growth. The regional figures in the release refer to the first quarter, a different period.
Define the working day before the room
A business rental has to support the trip’s purpose. Start with arrival time, the location of meetings and the hours when you will need a quiet place to work. A listing can look attractive while leaving those practical questions unanswered. Write down what is essential before comparing photographs and nightly prices.
For a trip built around video calls, ask about the workspace and connection rather than treating a general amenity label as a performance guarantee. For early appointments, check the likely journey from the actual address. If accessibility matters, request specific details about entrances, lifts and the route to the room instead of relying on a broad description.
Price the whole stay
Compare the complete cost for the required dates, including mandatory charges and any additional transport implied by the location. Add the terms for changing or cancelling the booking. A lower nightly price may come with a different level of flexibility, and the right choice depends on how settled the work schedule is.
For employees, check the employer’s travel rules before committing. Confirm which booking channels, receipts and payment arrangements are accepted. A property may suit the traveler but create an avoidable reimbursement problem if its documentation does not meet the organization’s requirements.
Plan for arrival and interruption
Ask how access works if a flight or train is delayed. Identify the contact for a problem at the property and check whether that person is available when you expect to arrive. Store the address and instructions somewhere accessible during the journey, subject to the employer’s information-security rules.
A backup should be proportionate to the trip. For an important remote meeting, know where you could work if the room is unavailable or unsuitable. For a short overnight visit, a simpler plan may be enough. The point is to understand the dependence before a problem occurs.
The tourism figures describe activity, not a quality rating for accommodation. They do not establish that a rental is cheaper, more productive or more appropriate than a hotel. A sound business-travel decision connects the specific listing to the working day, the complete cost and a usable support arrangement. That comparison remains necessary even when the wider market is growing.
For questions to put to a travel adviser, read our report on GTC’s business travel council.
Illustrative bedroom; not a listing on the platforms covered by Eurostat. Photo: Curtis Adams / Pexels.
