Vacation Rental Amenities Groups Will Pay More For

What groups are really paying for

A group pays for the chance to spend time together in one place, so the amenities that earn are the shared ones.

A family of four can be happy in a condo with a pool down the hall. A reunion of 14 or a bachelorette weekend of 10 books a whole house because they want a table where everyone eats at once, a room where the teenagers can be loud, and a backyard where the adults can talk after dinner. That changes which amenities matter. A second espresso machine is nice. A pool table in a room away from the bedrooms is a reason to book.

It also changes how guests search. Airbnb's help center lists the amenity filters guests can apply, and they include "Pool," "Hot tub," "EV charger," "Pool table," "Game console" and "Dining table." A guest planning a group trip will often tick two or three of those before looking at a single photo. If your home has the amenity but the listing doesn't say so, that guest never sees you.

The four upgrades compared

Each amenity has a different cost and payoff, so compare them side by side before you choose.

The order matters. Start at the top of the table, where the cost is low and the appeal is broad, and work down only when the numbers support it.

The dining table: the cheapest upgrade that pays

A table that seats every guest at once is the upgrade with the best return for most group homes.

Groups book houses instead of hotel rooms largely to share meals. If a home sleeps 16 but seats eight at the table, half the group eats on the sofa, and that shows up in reviews. Listing photos of a long table set for the whole group tell a planner, at a glance, that this house works for a reunion or a holiday dinner.

You don't need one huge table. Two matching tables that push together, an extendable table, or a dining table plus a kitchen island with stools can seat 14 to 16. Add a second table outdoors if the climate allows.

Our guide on how to furnish a vacation rental for groups covers sizes, chairs and the kitchen inventory to match.

The game room: high appeal, modest cost

A game room gives a group a second place to gather, which is what keeps a house of 14 from feeling crowded.

The classic version is a pool table, a few board games, a card table, and a big sectional where people can watch as well as play. An arcade cabinet, a ping pong table or a game console adds to it. A garage conversion, a loft or a bonus room all work. Several of our own homes, in Roseville, Houston, Lake Anna and Kissimmee, list a game room, pool table or movie room among their highlights, because groups ask for them.

What to get right:

1. Location. Put it away from the bedrooms, or soundproof the door. A game room next to the grandparents' room causes complaints.
2. Durability. Commercial-grade or sturdy home equipment lasts far longer under group use. Replace felt, cues and controllers on a schedule, not when a guest reports them broken.
3. Seating. People who aren't playing want to watch. A sectional turns a game room into a hangout.
4. Rules. Post simple house rules: no drinks on the felt, quiet hours, kids supervised around heavy equipment.

The pool: the biggest draw and the biggest bill

A pool brings the most demand of any amenity in warm markets, and it costs the most to own every year.

In places like Kissimmee, a private pool is close to expected; homes without one compete mainly on price. In cooler markets a pool may only be usable a few months a year unless you heat it, and heat costs money every month you run it. Our Kissimmee home lists a private screened pool and a spa, and the Houston and Lake Anna homes list hot tubs, because in those markets groups filter for water.

Before you build or market a pool, count the yearly costs, not only the install:

• Heating, if guests expect a warm pool outside summer
• Weekly cleaning and chemicals, and repairs to pumps and heaters
• Insurance: tell your insurer, and check whether your liability coverage changes
• Safety devices and any local permit or inspection rules
• Lost bookings or refunds when the pool is down for repair

Safety is not optional. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's Pool Safely program recommends a fence at least four feet high on all sides of a pool or spa that children can't climb, access through a self-closing, self-latching gate, a door alarm between the house and the pool area, and drain covers that meet safety standards. It also asks families to name one adult as a "Water Watcher" who does nothing but supervise. Put that last point in your house guide and your arrival message.

See our guide to short-term rental insurance for owners before you add a pool or hot tub.

The EV charger: small cost, growing filter

An EV charger costs much less than a pool, and more guests are filtering for one.

Airbnb said in May 2024 that "searches using our EV charger filter grew more than 80 percent from 2022 to 2023," based on its own data. That is growth in searches, not proof that a charger raises your rate, but it does mean an EV driver planning a road trip can filter out every home without one.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center explains the two home options:

The AFDC also notes that some homes "might have insufficient electric capacity for Level 2 equipment," so get an electrician's opinion first. If a panel upgrade is needed, the cost can rise well above the charger itself.

Decide how guests pay for power. Many owners include it in the rate; others use a charger that tracks use. Either way, say so in the listing and post the charger rules in the garage.

How to decide what to add

Pick the amenity that fits your market and your guests, then check that it pays for itself.

1. Look at your guests. Read your last 20 booking inquiries and reviews. If families with kids dominate, a game room or pool will matter more than a charger. Friend groups and team trips care about a table and a place to hang out.
2. Look at your competition. Search your market with the group filters on, for your guest count. If every comparable home has a pool, you may need one to compete. If none has a game room, it can set you apart.
3. Price the full yearly cost. Include running costs, insurance, repairs and the nights the amenity is out of service.
4. Estimate the gain honestly. A higher nightly rate, more booked nights, or both. Our vacation rental income calculator helps you test the before and after.
5. Check the rules. Some cities and HOAs limit pools, hot tub hours, noise or occupancy. Our guide to short-term rental permits lists what to check.

How JekkyStay can help

If you want help deciding which upgrade fits your home, our owner services include property setup, local market analysis and dynamic pricing. The Essential and Premium packages on our pricing page list exactly what each one covers, and the Premium package adds interior design consultation. You can also get a quote and tell us about your home. For a broader check of your property, see is your home a good group vacation rental.

The bottom line

Groups pay for space they share. Start with a dining table that seats everyone and a game room away from the bedrooms, because both are cheap and appeal to almost every group. Add a pool only where the market expects one and the yearly costs still leave a profit, and fit it with the safety devices Pool Safely recommends. Add an EV charger if your panel can take it. Whatever you add, list it on every channel so guests who filter for it can find you.