The Here to Stay Industry Awards Are Open
Applications for the 2026 Here to Stay Industry Awards are open now and close on Friday 18 September 2026 at 11:59pm. Shortlisted nominees will be announced on 9 October, and winners are announced at the Here to Stay Industry Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 22 October at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast.
Applications are submitted online at heretostayconference.com/astra-awards/. Entry is open to ASTRA members.
This article covers every category, what each one is looking for, and how to put together an application that does justice to your business.
Why these Awards exist
Short-term rental in Australia and New Zealand has spent the last decade professionalising. The operators driving that shift are, almost by definition, not the ones talking about it. They are running properties, building teams, retaining owners, absorbing regulatory change and quietly raising what guests expect from the sector.
The Here to Stay Industry Awards exist to make that work visible. They are presented by ASTRA – the Australia and New Zealand Short Term Rental Association, the only not-for-profit dedicated exclusively to short-term rental in this region – and judged against published criteria rather than popularity.
For a sector still arguing its case with governments, recognition matters more than it might in a mature industry. Every credible award is evidence that short-term rental is a professional industry with standards, not an unregulated side hustle. That is the argument ASTRA makes in Canberra and in every state capital, and the Awards are part of the evidence base.
The 2026 categories
Excellence in Guest Experience (Hosts and PMCs)
Recognises outstanding guest service and exceptional hospitality, celebrating those who provide unforgettable experiences. Judged on positive guest feedback, deliberate actions to enhance guest experience, effective use of feedback, guest retention rate, and innovation in guest services.
This category is open to individual hosts and property management companies alike. Scale is not the measure – intention is. A single-property host who has designed a genuinely memorable stay is competitive here.
Best STR Property Management Company
Celebrates the most effective and well-run PMCs, split into two subcategories: Emerging PMC (100 properties or fewer) and Established PMC (101+ properties). Judged on positive guest and property owner feedback, community engagement, advocacy for the STR industry, quality standards, operational efficiency, staff and team engagement, and vision and mission.
STRA Industry Partner of the Year
Acknowledges industry partners who have made significant contributions to the STR ecosystem – software, insurance, maintenance and amenity providers among them. Judged on industry engagement, client feedback, product innovation, future-focused vision, and contribution to the STR ecosystem.
STRA Industry Team Member of the Year (PMCs or Hosts)
Celebrates an individual who has shown extraordinary dedication and excellence in their role, whether in customer service, operations or leadership. Judged on excellence in service or operations, problem solving, leadership and team collaboration, guest and team impact, and commitment to professional development.
This is the category most often left empty, because the people who deserve it do not nominate themselves. If you run a business, this one is your job.
Advocate of the Year
Recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to advocating for the STR industry. Judged on contribution to advocacy efforts, collaborative efforts, visible impact, and long-term commitment.
How to write an application that lands
Each criteria point allows up to 300 words. Judges read many submissions. The ones that stand out share four habits.
- Answer the criterion, not the category. Each point is judged on its own. Write to the point in front of you rather than restating your business overview five times.
- Lead with the specific. ‘We introduced a 48-hour post-checkout follow-up and lifted repeat bookings from 9% to 17% across twelve months’ beats ‘we are passionate about guest experience’ every time.
- Show the decision, not just the result. Criteria like ‘deliberate actions to enhance guest experience’ and ‘effective use of feedback’ are asking what you changed and why. Name the change.
- Use the numbers you already have. Review scores, retention rates, occupancy, response times, staff tenure. You do not need new reporting – you need to go and read what your PMS is already telling you.
Set aside an hour. That is enough. The 300-word cap exists so that running your business is not a disadvantage in applying.
Who can enter
Entry is open to ASTRA members. The Awards are judged against standards the association sets and defends, and membership is what connects an operator to that work – the advocacy, the standards, the research that gets put in front of governments on the industry’s behalf.
If you are not currently a member, joining before you apply is the sequence. Membership delivers value well beyond the Awards, including the member rate on conference registration, which on its own offsets a meaningful share of the cost. Details at myastra.com.au.
Key dates
- Applications open: now
- Applications close: Friday 18 September 2026, 11:59pm
- Shortlisted nominees announced: Friday 9 October 2026.
- Here to Stay Industry Awards Gala Dinner: Thursday 22 October 2026, RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast
Apply at heretostayconference.com/astra-awards/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do applications for the Here to Stay Industry Awards close?
A: Applications close on Friday 18 September 2026 at 11:59pm. Shortlisted nominees are announced on 9 October 2026.
Q: What categories are in the 2026 Here to Stay Industry Awards?
A: There are five categories: Excellence in Guest Experience (Hosts and PMCs); Best STR Property Management Company, split into Emerging PMC (100 properties or fewer) and Established PMC (101+ properties); STRA Industry Partner of the Year; STRA Industry Team Member of the Year (PMCs or Hosts); Advocate of the Year.
Q: Can individual hosts apply, or is it only for property management companies?
A: Individual hosts can apply. Excellence in Guest Experience is explicitly open to hosts and PMCs, and Industry Team Member of the Year covers both. The Best STR Property Management Company category is for PMCs, with a separate subcategory for emerging businesses of 100 properties or fewer.
Q: How long does an application take?
A: Responses are capped at 300 words per criteria point. Most applicants complete a strong submission in about an hour using data they already hold – review scores, retention rates, occupancy and team metrics.
Q: Where are the winners announced?
A: Winners are announced at the Here to Stay Industry Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 22 October 2026 at RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast. Gala Dinner tickets are $175 per person and can be added when you register for the conference.
Q: Who is eligible to enter the Here to Stay Industry Awards?
A: Entry is open to ASTRA members under the Awards terms. Operators who are not yet members can join and then apply – membership also provides the member rate on conference registration, along with year-round advocacy and resources. Membership details are at myastra.com.au.
Q: What is Here to Stay 2026?
A: Here to Stay 2026 is Australia’s national short-term rental conference, presented by ASTRA. It runs 21-23 October 2026 at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, bringing together 400+ STR operators, hosts, property managers, platforms, suppliers and industry leaders across three days of sessions, workshops, roundtables and networking.
Q: What is ASTRA?
A: ASTRA – the Australia and New Zealand Short Term Rental Association – is the only not-for-profit dedicated exclusively to short-term rental in this region. It advocates for the industry with government, develops standards across the sector, and provides resources and community for operators. Revenue from Here to Stay funds ASTRA’s advocacy and member programs.
