Most STR market coverage right now is doom and gloom — oversupply in Sunbelt cities, platform fee hikes, demand that didn't materialise. That narrative is real in some markets. But it's masking some genuinely impressive performance elsewhere.
We pulled live occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR data across six major U.S. STR markets this week (source: STRmetrics live data). Three of them are putting up numbers that should turn heads.
1. Miami, FL — The Volume Monster (74% Occupancy)
If you want proof that coastal demand is still insatiable, look at Miami right now.
- 90-day forward occupancy: 74%
- Median ADR: $176/night
- RevPAR: $131
That 74% occupancy figure means three out of every four nights are already sold — in a city with one of the most competitive STR landscapes in the country. Miami hosts aren't winning on price; they're winning on volume. At $176 ADR with that level of utilisation, a well-run 2-bedroom is generating $3,000–$4,000/month in revenue before expenses.
What's working: Consistent international demand (Latin America, Europe), proximity to events, and a strong long-weekend travel market that books 45–60 days out.
The risk: Supply keeps growing. Miami hosts who aren't tracking forward occupancy weekly are flying blind.
2. Denver, CO — The Year-Round Steady Eddie (69% Occupancy)
Denver doesn't get the flashy headlines. That's exactly why it's interesting.
- 90-day forward occupancy: 69%
- Median ADR: $130/night
- RevPAR: $90
Denver's strength is consistency. While leisure markets spike and crash with seasons and events, Denver benefits from a durable mix of outdoor tourism (ski season → hiking season → ski season), business travel, and remote workers extending trips. A 69% forward occupancy rate suggests very little seasonal hole in the demand curve.
The $130 ADR is lower than glamour markets — but the occupancy more than compensates. RevPAR of $90 puts Denver ahead of Scottsdale ($88), San Diego ($75), and Nashville ($32) this week.
The opportunity: Denver is underloved in the STR data conversation. Few hosts are monitoring it closely, which means less competitive pricing intelligence — and more edge for those who do.
3. Scottsdale, AZ — The Premium Pricing Play ($256 ADR)
Here's the counterintuitive one: Scottsdale has the highest ADR in our dataset at $256/night despite occupancy sitting at just 34%. That sounds bad until you do the math.
- 90-day forward occupancy: 34%
- Median ADR: $256/night
- RevPAR: $88
This is peak shoulder season for Scottsdale — summer heat suppresses leisure demand, and the Spring Training / golf crowd won't return until late Q1 2027. Hosts who understand this cycle aren't panicking about 34% occupancy. They're holding their pricing for the right guests (events, corporate retreats, snowbirds booking early) and protecting ADR.
Key insight: Scottsdale hosts who drop rates in summer to chase occupancy often destroy their RevPAR and train price-sensitive guests to book during high season at discounted expectations. The disciplined approach is to hold the rate floor and let occupancy fluctuate.
The Full Market Comparison — Q3 2026
| Market | Occupancy | ADR | RevPAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 74% | $176 | $131 |
| Denver, CO | 69% | $130 | $90 |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 34% | $256 | $88 |
| San Diego, CA | 30% | $251 | $75 |
| Austin, TX | 38% | $144 | $54 |
| Nashville, TN | 21% | $153 | $32 |
Nashville at 21% occupancy and $32 RevPAR is the cautionary tale — a market that over-supplied into event-driven demand and is now working through the hangover. Austin is showing a similar pattern, though at better occupancy.
What Separates Hosts Who Are Winning
The data is clear: hosts doing well in 2026 share three traits:
- They track forward-looking data, not just historical. Last month's occupancy tells you what happened. 90-day forward occupancy tells you what to do today about pricing and availability.
- They understand their market's demand driver. Miami is international leisure. Denver is blended. Scottsdale is seasonal with a premium corporate layer. Each requires a different strategy.
- They treat STR like a business, not a side hustle. Weekly data review. Dynamic pricing tuned to the specific market. Understanding the RevPAR levers.
Data sourced from STRmetrics — live occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR tracking across U.S. STR markets, updated daily from public Airbnb listings.