Canadian travellers are booking record numbers of vacation rentals, a new report says. And that makes for another challenge for traditional travel agents.

CanadaStays, Canada's largest vacation rental marketplace, this week released its 2017 Canadian Vacation Rental Year in Review, highlighting the country's growing demand for vacation rentals. The number of trips taken on the platform increased by over 74 per cent in 2017, with Canadian travellers booking more vacation rentals across Canada and internationally.

While much of the demand for vacation rentals was fuelled by the rise in staycations owing to Canada's 150th birthday, a weak Canadian dollar, and political uncertainty south of the border, CanadaStays also reported an 11 per cent increase in American visitors to vacation rental properties throughout the country.

In a recent story on vrmintel.com, it was stated that a study from Phocuswright showed that 32 per cent of U.S. travellers stayed in a private home in 2015, up from eight per cent in 2010. Given the growth in vacation rentals, that figure is almost certainly closer to 50 per cent by now.

The growth in the vacation rental market creates another challenge for travel agents who already face obstacles in the industry.

In a story posted on TravelPulse three weeks ago, officials at tripping.com predicted a large increase in the vacation rentals business.

“Travelers today want the best price, location and amenities and are more inclined to include a vacation rental in their accommodation search,” noted the report.

One issue with sites like VRBO or Air BnB, or any OTA for that matter, is the lack of personal attention; which is one of the most valuable tools agents have at their disposal. It’s not quite the same thing, but Expedia and KLM are said to have increased their use of chatbots, allowing customers to at least communicate in some kind of way with their booking sites.

By the end of 2017, more than 40 per cent of properties on the platform were instantly bookable: a trend that is expected to continue through 2018, in response to traveller demand for immediate booking confirmations over more traditional, 24-hour approval periods.

The report from Canada Stays found that 2017's most in-demand Canadian destinations included Canada's major city centres, but also featured many local hot spots, including Blue Mountain, the Kawarthas and the Muskoka region in Ontario; Kelowna, Victoria and Canmore out West, and Mont Tremblant in Quebec.

* Muskoka, ON
* Toronto, ON
* Whistler, BC
* Montréal, QC
* Vancouver, BC
* Mont Tremblant, QC
* Blue Mountain, ON
* Kawartha Lakes, ON
* Prince Edward Island
* Ottawa, ON
* Tobermory, ON
* Kelowna, BC
* Niagara Falls, ON
* Nova Scotia

* Whistler, BC
* Blue Mountain, ON
* Toronto, ON
* Kelowna, BC
* Montréal, QC
* Victoria, BC
* Canmore, AB
* Mont Tremblant, QC
* Calgary, AB
* Prince Edward County, ON
* Gravenhurst, ON
* Vancouver, BC
* Niagara Falls, ON
* Ville-Marie, QC
* Sun Peaks, BC