To our valued partners,

As we move into fall, I want to share two updates that speak directly to your property’s performance and long-term value. 

First, our Q1 2026 pacing is strong: we’re currently tracking 15.7% ahead in paid occupancy and 3% ahead in ADR across our Hawai‘i portfolio compared to the same time last year. This is especially encouraging given forecasts from UHERO and Beat of Hawai‘i predicting a 5% drop in arrivals by mid-2026. Our focus on price competitiveness, improving listing quality and increasing direct visibility (through our content strategy, investment in paid search and social media, and promotions) is helping us stay ahead of market headwinds. In California and Washington, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to drive meaningful spillover demand for your properties driving occupancy and ADR higher. 

Second, a recent independent study by Hunden Partners confirms what we’ve long believed: short-term rentals are essential to Hawai‘i’s economy. In 2024, STVRs generated $710 million in lodging revenue on Hawai‘i Island, nearly equal to hotels, and drove hundreds of millions more in guest spending on local dining, shopping, and activities. I was personally heartened to see such clear data showing that short-term rentals don’t just serve travelers. They sustain local jobs, businesses, and communities. While this study focused on Hawai‘i, the same holds true across our Mainland markets, where well-managed vacation rentals provide flexible, family-friendly accommodations and meaningful economic benefits in the communities we operate.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership. We’ll keep working to protect your interests, grow your returns, and advocate for the value of responsible short-term rentals.

Marketing & Distribution 

Fresh Look For Our Meta Ad Campaigns

Last month we brought in a new graphic designer onto the team, and we’re already putting his talents to great use! As part of a major effort to boost our digital advertising presence, we’ve begun creating new individual Meta ads for each property in our portfolio. This is a big lift  for 500+ properties and we’re working through them at pace until every property has its own visually compelling, high-performing ad. Check out two examples that are live: Kaunaoa 7B at Mauna Kea Resort on the Big Island and Ka Hui Ana at Kukuiula on Kauai.

Fall Promotions (Oct. 1–Nov. 19)

Our fall promotional campaigns are well underway, with two offers currently running: one for short-term rentals (STRs) and one for 30-day properties. So far, we've generated $57k in revenue, representing over a quarter of our campaign goal, and the sales team is pushing hard to capture as much demand as possible for your properties in this slower shoulder season. 

Vacation Rental Industry’s Annual Conference

Each year, Gather attends the leading vacation rental industry conference (VRMA). This is an opportunity to connect with other VR professionals, examine emerging technologies or tools, learn best practices, and showcase what makes our properties, and our team, stand out. To help conference attendees get to know us ahead of time, we created a short video introducing Gather, which we also shared on LinkedIn, one of our key platforms for attracting top industry talent to the team. 

Market & Revenue 

As we work diligently to close out a strong 2025 performance, our focus remains twofold: capturing every possible dollar of revenue in 2025 while also keeping a close eye on what 2026 has in store. Our goal is to ensure that each and every owner is best positioned to succeed in the face of shifting market dynamics.

Hawaii

According to Beat of Hawaii, “sticker shock is not going away in Hawaii. Hotel rates, rental cars, and restaurant tabs are set to stay sky-high into 2026, even as fewer visitors arrive. UHERO, the State of Hawaii’s research arm, projects arrivals will drop about 5% by mid-2026, with costs for both travelers and residents still climbing.”

Despite these forecasts of a potential 5% decline in arrivals and the shortening of booking lead times, our Q1 2026 results show resilience. We are currently tracking 15.7% ahead in adjusted paid occupancy and 3% ahead in ADR compared to last year.

We’ve learned to navigate changing market conditions by taking proactive steps to keep our portfolio competitively positioned. While many industry tools apply broad pricing strategies, our team takes a more hands-on approach, carefully adjusting rates for each property to reflect local comparables and real-time market dynamics. This means evaluating pricing for every single day on the calendar for every single home: reviewing what it booked at historically; and assessing how current booking pace and projected demand may shift those trends. When a property has been upgraded or demand increases, we make sure rates reflect that added value. The same is true in reverse to capture bookings in softer periods. By constantly refining rates with this level of details, we ensure each property is positioned to maximize revenue opportunities in a fast-moving market.

Mainland

Looking ahead, California and Washington are expected to benefit from increased travel demand surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, with several matches scheduled across host cities in both states. Seattle’s Lumen Field is scheduled to host six matches in total, beginning with group stage play on June 15 and concluding with a match on July 6. In California, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will host eight matches, including the U.S. team’s opening match on June 12, and wrapping up with a quarterfinal on July 10. In addition, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara will see six matches, starting June 13 and running through the Round of 32 in early July.

While Gather destinations are not directly within the official host locations, their close proximity to these major venues positions our California and Washington markets to benefit from spillover demand. We anticipate guests will seek flexible short-term rental options in nearby areas, driving opportunities for increased occupancy and ADR as fans secure accommodations and extend their trips around this global event. While we don’t typically see summer demand materialize this early in our mainland markets, we are already seeing an encouraging uptick in bookings.

Travel & STR Industry Digest

A Tax Win for STR Owners

Thinking about upgrading your rental? Appliances, flooring, bathroom fixtures, and even outdoor amenities like patios, pergolas, and portable hot tubs may now qualify for 100% bonus depreciation. That means you could deduct the full cost of eligible improvements in the same tax year instead of spreading it out over several years, helping you boost cash flow while reinvesting in your property. Be sure to consult your tax advisor to confirm eligibility and maximize the benefit.

Hawaii Economic Insights: The Important Role of STVRs

A recent independent study by Hunden Partners found that short-term vacation rentals play a major role in Hawaiʻi County’s economy. STVRs generated nearly $710 million in lodging revenue last year, close to the $729 million brought in by hotels, and visitors staying in rentals contributed hundreds of millions more through local spending on dining, activities, shopping, and transportation. With over 40% of island visitors choosing vacation rentals, the impact extends well beyond lodging to support local jobs, tax revenues, and small businesses alike. 

For owners, these findings highlight the vital role your rentals play in keeping Hawaiʻi’s local economies thriving, while also emphasizing the value of balanced policies that support both short-term rentals and the communities they serve.

Helpful Owner Resources

The Gather Resource Center is a comprehensive collection of articles designed to provide valuable information and help homeowners quickly find answers to common questions.

The Track Owner Portal allows  homeowners to view reservations, access monthly statements, generate reports, and retrieve important documents like tax forms, ACH forms, and invoices.

We'd Love To Hear From You

As a valued owner and key stakeholder at Gather, your feedback is essential in shaping our services and ensuring our shared success. We’d love to hear your thoughts on what we're doing well, and where we can improve. Please take a moment to share your insights, and help us grow!