South Africa’s festive season is officially underway, and with millions of holidaymakers moving across the country, short term rentals are facing one of their busiest periods of the year. In 2023, approximately 2 million people stayed in Airbnb listings across South Africa, with 700,000 guest arrivals in Cape Town alone, generating an estimated R14.4 billion in economic activity. These figures reflect a broader boom in travel, with Cape Town recording its busiest tourist season ever in 2024, welcoming over 2.4 million visitors who spent around R25 billion.
With this surge comes rising pressure on property owners, particularly those managing Airbnbs or other short stay holiday rentals. Hosting over the festive season is no longer just a side income stream. For many, it has become a fast-paced operation that must run smoothly to maintain ratings and keep guests happy.
Cleanliness is the number one driver of guest satisfaction
Across all major platforms, cleanliness remains the top reviewed category for holiday rentals. Airbnb’s data shows that listings with an average rating of 4.8 stars or higher are consistently prioritised by travellers and tend to earn more. During the peak holiday season, when guests are paying premium rates and arriving with higher expectations, the margin for error becomes very small.
A mid-morning checkout followed by an early afternoon check in leaves hosts with a narrow window to reset their spaces. This includes cleaning, sanitising, laundering linen, removing forgotten items, restocking basics and presenting the property so that it feels fresh and inviting.
A seasonal trend toward outsourcing
This year, more hosts are turning to professional turnover cleaning services to bridge the gap. The rise of short-term rentals has created a growing need for cleaners trained specifically for high frequency, hospitality style resets.
Sweepsouth, one of South Africa’s leading home services platforms, recently introduced a dedicated Airbnb Cleaning category in response to this shift. While the service is not the focus of the trend, it offers insight into what many hosts are now prioritising during the festive rush.
Lourandi Kriel, CEO of Sweepsouth, says the demand reflects what hosts are experiencing on the ground. “December is the most exciting time for hosts, but also the most challenging. Guests arrive with high expectations, properties turn over quickly, and the pressure to maintain five-star standards is intense. We are seeing more hosts use support services during this period so they can focus on communication and guest experience while professionals handle the turnovers.”
What guests expect from holiday stays this season
Travellers today are looking for experiences that combine the reliability of hotels with the comfort of home. Fresh linen, spotless bathrooms and tidy living spaces feel more important than ever, particularly as families travel in larger groups and stay for longer periods.
Small touches also matter. Hosts who add festive decor, beach essentials, local welcome treats or well curated guidebooks tend to receive more positive reviews. But these added extras only make an impact when the fundamentals of cleanliness and order are in place.
Hosts are preparing earlier to keep up with demand
With South Africa’s summer travel season beginning as early as mid-November, hosts are adapting their operations. Many are updating listings with seasonal photography, adjusting pricing for high demand periods, and automating check in communication to keep response times low.
Cleaning, however, remains the most difficult part for hosts to manage alone. The fast turnaround between guests is a logistical challenge and a key reason many are building partnerships with professionals who can support them during these peak periods.
A festive season of opportunity for hosts and guests alike
As the short-term rental market grows, so does the support ecosystem around it. Professional turnover cleaning, once considered optional, is becoming a standard practice among hosts who want to maintain strong ratings and keep their properties fully booked during the busiest travel season of the year.
For guests, this means arriving to spaces that feel refreshed and ready for the holiday memories ahead. For hosts, it means navigating the high season with less stress and a greater chance of ending the year on a strong note.