Breaking Records: Germany's Vacation Rentals Boom via Online Platforms
Overnight stays booked digitally reach 60.4 million in Germany's tourism sector - Overnight Accommodation Bookings: 60.4 Million Reservations Made in Germany Through Digital Channels
Germany is witnessing an unprecedented surge in vacation rentals booked through online platforms, with the 2024 figure outstripping the pre-COVID-19 levels of 2019. Previously, both domestic and international guests made 37.2 million overnight stays bookings via these platforms. The numbers released by the statistical office indicate that these online sites primarily caters to smaller providers.
These online platforms make up to 95% of bookings for holiday apartments or houses, the majority of which are managed by businesses with fewer than ten beds. Often, these providers are private landlords. The data collated from these online platforms provides supplementary information to the monthly official tourism statistics that only take into account accommodations with at least ten beds. It's worth noting that around 95% of the 60.4 million overnight stays booked through platforms are not captured in the traditional tourism statistics.
Compared to the previous year, the number of overnight stays booked by domestic guests increased by 23.6%, reaching 42.1 million. The growth for international guests was slightly lower at 20.3%, amounting to 18.4 million. Since the pandemic, these figures have skyrocketed, with international guests booking overnights 33.8% more in 2024 compared to 2019. For domestic guests, the increase is even more substantial at 78.9%.
The Netherlands, Poland, and the USA dominate the list of frequent international guests. Unsurprisingly, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony are among the top regions with most bookings made via platforms. Conversely, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern sees 92.9% of overnight stays booked by domestic guests, while Berlin is a clear favorite among international guests.
As the European vacation rental market, which exceeded USD 32.11 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow, Germany is predicted to follow a similar upward trajectory. The global vacation rental market is projected to reach upwards of USD 148.22 billion by 2037. The increased demand for personalized, home-like travel experiences and technological advancements, such as AI-integrated booking platforms, play a significant role in this growth.
- Online Platforms
- Holiday Apartments
- Tourism
- Germany
- Airbnb
- Booking.com
- TripAdvisor
- Expedia
- Coronavirus Pandemic
- European Vacation Rental Market
Sources:
- "Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland: Übernachtungen in Immobilien für den Wohnzweck bei Onlinebüchern 2024." (Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland, 2025)
- "European Vacation Rental Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Market, By Country And Segment Forecasts, 2025 - 2030" (Market Study Report LLC, 2025)
- "Global Vacation Rental Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis Report, By Product, By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2025 - 2030" (Market Study Report LLC, 2025)
- "The impact of technology on the vacation rental market in Europe" (TechCrunch, 2022)
- "How AI is changing the vacation rental industry" (VentureBeat, 2023)
- The surge in vacation rentals in Germany, facilitated by online platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Expedia, has propelled the country's tourism sector, contributing significantly to Germany's record-breaking overnight stays in 2024.
- As the growth trajectory of the European vacation rental market continues, with the global market predicted to reach over USD 148.22 billion by 2037, the increased demand for personalized travel experiences and advancements in technology, such as AI-integrated booking platforms, will likely drive further competitiveness among these digital service providers, shaping the lifestyle and finance landscape in the future.
