In March, our team attended Strive Conference Australia 2025 — an event that brought together founders, faith-driven leaders, creatives, and business professionals for two days of learning, connection, and purpose-led inspiration.

Below, we’re excited to share five key highlights that resonated with us at AuBnB — and how these insights will help shape the future of the short-term rental industry.

1. Know your goal clearly

Whether you’re leading a startup or scaling a property portfolio, clarity is key. One of the strongest messages from Strive was this: Know exactly where you want your business to go. Vision isn’t just a buzzword — it’s your compass. Without it, it’s easy to get caught up in trends or short-term wins that don’t move you forward.

For us, it was a great reminder to stay focused on our bigger picture: building a guest-first, tech-enabled property management brand that delivers consistently high-quality stays across Australia.

2. Make the stay sharable

In a world driven by social proof and storytelling, your guest experience should be something worth sharing — not just booking. Whether it’s a beautifully styled interior, a welcome gift, or just thoughtful little details, creating “Instagrammable” moments pays off.

Sharable stays not only boost guest satisfaction but also amplify word-of-mouth marketing — turning every guest into a potential brand ambassador.

3. Long-term outlook: international guests are coming back

Another encouraging insight from the event was around the gradual return of international travellers. While domestic travel has been strong, the forecast is clear: global visitors are making their way back to Australia — especially for cities like Melbourne, Sydney, and coastal hotspots.

It’s a good time for hosts and operators to prepare — optimising listings in various languages, offering flexible check-ins, and being ready to welcome a diverse mix of guests again.

4. AI isn’t optional — it’s an advantage

One panel explored how businesses are starting to leverage AI across operations, marketing, and guest communications. For short-term rental operators, the opportunity is real: AI can help automate responses, streamline scheduling, optimise pricing, and even enhance guest personalisation.

The message was clear — don’t ignore the tools that can give you back your time. Tech isn’t here to replace hospitality — it’s here to strengthen it.

5. Styling still matters

Styling might not always feel like a priority in the day-to-day running of a short-term rental — but it came up time and time again at Strive as a key differentiator.

A well-styled property doesn’t just look good — it photographs beautifully, creates an emotional connection, and leads to stronger reviews and better rates. Most importantly, it directly impacts your nightly price point. 

As we scale, we’re reminded that styling isn’t an afterthought — it’s an investment in guest satisfaction and brand perception.

Final Thoughts

Strive Conference 2025 gave us more than just strategies — it gave us space to reflect on how and why we do what we do. In an ever-evolving industry, combining purpose with innovation is not just possible — it’s essential.

We’re diving back into our work with fresh clarity, actionable ideas, and a renewed sense of mission.

If you’re a host, operator, or founder building something aligned — we’d love to connect.