Realtor Connection

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Nicholas Muus

Manager of Business Development

Dear Partners,

As we wrap up the second quarter of 2025, we’re excited to share fresh insights into the Whitefish vacation rental market. Q2 can be a nuanced period in the short-term rental space here in Whitefish. It kicks off with April and May, which tend to be part of the quieter shoulder season and only captures a small slice of the peak summer travel rush in late June. Booking patterns are historically softer in early Q2, with guests holding off on travel until the school year ends and Glacier National Park fully reopens.

However, we continue to see strong signs of market resilience and upward momentum. Traveler interest is building earlier in the season, with more guests booking spring getaways, early hiking trips, and national park visits. As guest expectations increase and high-quality inventory grows more competitive, the homes that are professionally managed and proactively priced are the ones winning bookings. In this Q2 Report, we highlight key metrics, emerging trends, and how Natural Retreats continues to outperform the broader market, even in those more challenging months.

Q2 2025 Key Performance Indicators


The Data

This data was sourced from KeyData, a third-party short-term rental analytics provider sourcing authoritative data from 37 property managers and from privately managed rentals with +/- 650 properties in total.

Average Daily Rate (ADR)

Average Daily Rate (ADR) Q2 2025 Whitefish

 

Average Daily Rate (ADR):

The Whitefish market experienced a healthy 10% year-over-year increase in ADR, rising from $250 in Q2 2024 to $275 in Q2 2025. This lift is significant given that Q2 is typically a transition period where rates can be harder to hold between winter and peak summer. The increase shows strong guest willingness to pay more for well-located, well-appointed homes. Demand is highest for properties that deliver a full experience; think outdoor living spaces, updated interiors, and proximity to the park or downtown. The rise in ADR is also being driven by better calendar management and pricing discipline among top-performing operators. Many properties pushed minimum stay requirements to drive higher nightly yields, especially around high-demand June weekends. The return of larger family groups and longer booking windows contributed to stronger pricing power. For homeowners, this suggests that investing in premium amenities and leveraging dynamic pricing tools is key to maximizing ADR in slower shoulder months.

Adjusted Occupancy Rate

Adjusted Occupancy Rate (ADR) Q2 2025 Whitefish

 

Adjusted Occupancy Rate:

Adjusted paid occupancy for the broader Whitefish market landed at 27.4% in Q2 2025, down modestly from 31.2% the previous year. While this represents a year-over-year softening, it’s largely a reflection of evolving traveler behavior, namely shorter booking windows and a shift toward concentrated mid-to-late June activity. April and May continue to be some of the more challenging months to fill, particularly for homes without flexible minimum stays or standout location advantages. That said, occupancy was far from stagnant. Homes that adjusted pricing in real-time, offered compelling last-minute deals, and leaned into mid-week travel trends were able to stabilize bookings even during slower periods. There’s a clear pattern forming: the homes that adapt quickly to pacing signals are the ones that perform best.

Adjusted Revenue per Available Rental (RevPAR)

RevPar (ADR) Q2 2025 Whitefish

 

Adjusted Revenue per Available Rental (RevPAR):

RevPAR held steady year-over-year, closing Q2 2025 at $75, just a slight dip from $78 in Q2 2024. While at first glance this flat performance may seem static, it’s a win given the broader occupancy drop and the limited peak days in the Q2 calendar. The increase in ADR helped offset lower average occupancy, keeping total earnings per available rental in line with last year’s numbers. Additionally, RevPAR metrics are being bolstered by guest upsell options, concierge services, and extended stays.

Looking Ahead

We’re entering Q3 with strong momentum. July is pacing ahead of last year (in fact, we were able to achieve over 90% occupancy for Independence Day weekend and 100% occupancy for Under The Big Sky), and August bookings show high demand for multi-bedroom homes near Whitefish Lake and downtown. Travelers are increasingly planning longer summer visits with greater flexibility in arrival and departure dates.

Our team is focused on maximizing peak season returns and then prepping properties for fall foliage travel and early holiday inquiries. Our revenue strategy remains nimble to adjust to demand curves while still capturing peak rate periods.

KEY-DATA KPI DEFINITIONS

Glossary

 

  • ADR (Average Daily Rate) measures the average Unit Revenue paid by guests for the Guest Nights in a given time period. ADR = Unit Revenue (Nightly) / Guest Nights.
  • Adjusted Paid Occupancy calculates the percentage of Guest Nights out of the total nights available for guests to book, or the Nights Available. Adjusted Paid Occupancy = Guest Nights / Nights Available.
  • Adjusted RevPAR (Revenue Per Available “Room”) is calculated by multiplying the Adjusted Paid Occupancy % by the ADR. A critical KPI for measuring revenue performance, Adjusted RevPAR takes into account both the average rate at which you booked the property (ADR) and the number of nights it was booked less owner nights and holds (Adjusted Paid Occupancy).  This provides a better indicator of overall performance when compared to looking at the ADR or the Occupancy alone. Adjusted RevPAR = Adjusted Paid Occupancy % x ADR (or) Total Unit Revenue / Total Available Paid Nights in a given period.
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Partner with Natural Retreats

We are actively working with real estate professionals across the Flathead Valley to provide:

• Complimentary rental revenue projections
• Pre-listing rental income assessments
• Seamless onboarding for new homeowners
• Guidance on short-term rental zoning and regulations

Our unmatched local knowledge, backed by national scale and resources, makes us the ideal partner for your clients seeking to optimize their vacation home investments.

If you’re working with buyers looking to invest in a short-term rental, or current owners wanting to optimize performance, let’s connect.

We’re here to help your clients earn more, stress less, and make the most of their Whitefish properties.