Short Term Rental
Management

Surge offers local full service vacation rental management for busy vacation rental owners and Airbnb hosts in Newport, Tennessee

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Newport, Tennessee Short Term Rental Overview

Airbnb Market
Newport, Tennessee presents an exceptional short-term rental investment opportunity driven by its strategic position as the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, generating consistent year-round demand from the park's 12+ million annual visitors. Property owners can capitalize on average daily rates ranging from $150-$300 depending on property size and amenities, with occupancy rates typically exceeding 70% during peak seasons and maintaining 45-55% during off-peak periods, translating to potential annual revenues of $40,000-$80,000 for well-positioned properties. The market benefits from limited hotel inventory in the immediate area, creating a supply-demand imbalance that favors private accommodations, while Newport's proximity to outdoor recreation activities including white-water rafting, hiking trails, and fishing destinations ensures diverse guest demographics beyond traditional park visitors. Additionally, the area's relatively low property acquisition costs compared to nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge—often 30-40% lower—combined with Tennessee's favorable tax environment and absence of state income tax, creates superior cash-on-cash returns that frequently exceed 15-20% annually for optimized properties, making Newport an undervalued market poised for continued appreciation as tourism infrastructure develops.
Short Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rental regulations in Newport, Tennessee involve a complex web of local zoning ordinances, business licensing requirements, and tax obligations that can vary significantly depending on your property's location and classification, with violations potentially resulting in hefty fines, forced closure of your rental operation, or even legal action that could jeopardize your investment. The regulatory landscape is constantly evolving as the city adapts to the growing short-term rental market, making it increasingly difficult for individual property owners to stay current with changing permit requirements, occupancy limits, safety standards, and tax collection responsibilities. However, partnering with a professional short-term rental management service eliminates these compliance risks entirely, as experienced managers handle all aspects of licensing, permit renewals, tax collection and remittance, zoning compliance verification, and ongoing regulatory monitoring, ensuring your property operates legally while you enjoy peace of mind and maximum rental income without the stress of navigating Newport's complex and shifting regulatory requirements.
Occupancy Rates
Newport, Tennessee experiences distinct seasonal patterns in Airbnb occupancy rates, with peak tourist seasons occurring during summer months (June through August) when families visit the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park and during fall foliage season (September through October) when leaf-peepers drive demand for short-term rentals. Spring months (March through May) represent a moderate shoulder season with steady but lower occupancy as outdoor enthusiasts begin hiking and fishing activities, while winter months (November through February) typically see the lowest occupancy rates due to reduced tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities. Professional revenue management becomes crucial during these fluctuations, requiring dynamic pricing strategies that maximize rates during peak demand periods while offering competitive pricing during slower months to maintain occupancy levels. Successful Airbnb operators in Newport must implement sophisticated pricing algorithms that account for local events, weather patterns, national park activities, and regional tourism trends, adjusting rates weekly or even daily to capture revenue during high-demand weekends and holidays while preventing extended vacancy periods during the quieter winter season.
Vacation Rental Management
Managing a vacation rental in Newport, Tennessee presents unique operational challenges that can quickly overwhelm property owners, particularly given the area's proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park which creates intense seasonal demand fluctuations and rapid guest turnover cycles that require precise coordination of cleaning crews, maintenance teams, and supply restocking between same-day checkouts and check-ins. The 24/7 communication demands become especially burdensome when dealing with guests from different time zones who expect immediate responses to questions about local attractions, emergency situations, or property issues, while owners must simultaneously juggle their primary careers and personal lives. Maintenance challenges in Newport's humid climate and mountainous terrain are compounded by the difficulty of finding reliable local contractors who can respond quickly to HVAC failures, plumbing issues, or storm damage that could devastate guest experiences and trigger negative reviews. Without professional property management handling these complex logistics, owners face the impossible task of maintaining the consistent, white-glove service standards necessary to compete with the area's numerous high-end cabin rentals, ultimately jeopardizing their 5-star ratings and transforming what should be passive income into a demanding second job that threatens both profitability and guest satisfaction in this saturated vacation rental market.
Attractions and Amenities
Newport, Tennessee's tourism centers around four primary attractions: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with its hiking trails and scenic drives, Douglas Lake offering boating and fishing opportunities, the Appalachian Trail for long-distance hikers, and the historic downtown district featuring local shops and restaurants. To maximize revenue from guests visiting these specific destinations, properties must offer essential amenities including secure gear storage for hiking equipment and fishing tackle, outdoor equipment cleaning stations with hoses for muddy boots and camping gear, high-speed Wi-Fi for guests researching trail conditions and sharing outdoor experiences, hot tubs or spa facilities for post-hiking recovery, early breakfast options or grab-and-go meals for dawn fishing trips and trail starts, boat trailer parking and lake access information for Douglas Lake visitors, laundry facilities for extended hikers on the Appalachian Trail, and local area maps with insider knowledge about the best fishing spots, lesser-known trails, and downtown dining recommendations that demonstrate the property owner's expertise in serving outdoor enthusiasts and cultural tourists.

Why choose Surge?

Surge is local Airbnb management that’s reliable, affordable and the best for your property.
Cost
Guest communications
Host Communications
Insurance
Contract
Cost
Starting at 15% fee
Guest communications
Guest response within 10 minutes, 24 hours a day
Host Communications
Designated host call in phone line
Insurance
Full damage protection for every reservation
Contract
No annual agreements
Other Property Mangers
Cost
25-40% fee
Guest communications
Sporadic guest communications
Host Communications
Bot response assistants
Insurance
Unreliable insurance coverage
Contract
Contract lock-ins

Understand Your STR Income

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Surge is geared towards maximizing potential

Be at ease with the knowledge that your vacation rental is being optimized to its fullest potential.
30%
In gross revenue
150 M
Potential guests
4.9
Superhost status
7+
Booking platforms
1
Property manager
The house was great. It accommodated our large group nicely. The owner was responsive and checked in on us throughout the trip. The gate around the home added privacy and security. The beds were comfortable as well. Extra linen, towels and washcloths. We are looking to book this home in the future!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
We really appreciated Surge. He was responsive, attentive, and went above to make sure our stay was seamless. You can tell he takes pride in providing a clean/organized place. Everyone loved the pool table and shuffleboard. This place is also very close to great restaurants. The place we went to had the best catfish. Would definitely rent from Surge again!!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Our group really enjoyed our long weekend stay here! The property was very clean and spacious but also provided some privacy to accommodate our large family. Surge was responsive when we reached out to them and also accommodated an early check-in. We felt secure given that the property was gated and had smart locks on both entry doors. We strongly recommend this property and would love to stay here again!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
My family and I were here for my daughter’s graduation from UofH. Surge was very upfront, kept us informed and accommodating. The place was clean and fit my entire family comfortably. We have already made plans to come back. Great location, private and safe environment. Would highly recommend! Thank you Surge for making this stay memorable and stress free for our family!
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
Great stay that accommodated all our needs for a successful for trip to Houston, i hope to Book in the coming future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers
The host was great, he responded quickly when needed and checked in on us from time to time throughout the whole day. He was awesome and the place was great for my family of 16. Definitely will book with him in the future.
Airbnb Guest Hosted by Surge
Head of Design, Layers

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about the product and billing.
Does Surge Property Management allow pets in its short term rentals?
Surge Property Management leaves that decision to the property owner. While allowing pets can be a big perk for some guests, Surge does not have any requirements for the property owner to allow it. Service animals are a different case. Surge is prohibited to refuse a reservation, charge pet fees, hold guests to different rules, apply differential treatment or use discriminatory language if a guest is accompanied by a service animal. A guests service animal must not be out of control, un-housebroken, left alone at the listing without prior approval, allowed into areas that are considered unauthorized by the guest and allowed in a public space without being harnessed, leashed, or tethered and not under the guests control.
Do I get access to an owner portal?
Surge Property Management has a tech leading owner portal to keep its property owners in the loop, instead of on the outside looking in. In the owner portal you can reserve days for personal use, see pending reservations, nightly pricing rates, owner statements, expense receipts, guest messaging and more!
Do you screen the guests that are staying in my property?
Our intelligent Guest Screening technology allows us to screen vacation rental guests before they enter your property, making it easier to keep bad guests out. We proactively assess the risk posed by each guest, through legal, non-discriminatory checks. Guests will be asked to submit some personal details including their name, date of birth, physical home address and contact details. We then verify by having the guest take a live selfie and submit a photo of their ID(either a drivers license or passport). This information will then be processed to determine the true identity of your guest, including whether the ID is fraudulent and if the provided details match those on the ID. This process will generate a risk report for us to review before the guest arrives.
Do you provide insurance for guest damages?
We partner with the premier provider of short term rental protection also offering guest screening and comprehensive insurance coverage. Our partner brings confidence and peace of mind to both Surge Property Management and its clients(homeowners). Our third party partner has protected over 60 billion in homeowner liability coverage and 1 million guest nights. Ask your Surge sales representative for more details.
What happens if there is guest damage to my property?
Each guest is required to make a $500 security deposit. Any damage above $500 we are able to document, submit, and follow a claim through on your behalf with our short term rental insurance partner covering up to $5,000,000.
How does Surge compare to a national provider like Vacasa?
While both Surge and Vacasa both have a full service model designed to be hands off from the property owner, Surge stands out above the rest by being more intentional and selective with the properties we decide to accept into our management portfolio. This allows us to give the required attention to the properties we manage instead of just "setting it and forgetting it" like the other property managers do. Once you go onboard with them you just become another number.
Does Surge handle the maintenance of the vacation rental?
Yes, Surge is able to handle any property maintenance(including hot tub & pool) for your property. We have a large network of service providers, additionally, if you have a preferred vendor we can assign and coordinate maintenance with them as well.
What services does Surge Property Management offer?

Surge is a full-service property manager and provides the following service to property owners:

  • Listing creating and management across multiple channels
  • Calendar management
  • Cleaning
  • Laundry
  • Restocking
  • Maintenance
  • Dynamic Pricing
  • Lock automation
  • Guest Portal
  • Owners Portal
  • Listing optimization
  • Photography
  • 24/7 guest communication
  • Check-in/out support
  • and more!
Is Surge Property Management a Superhost on Airbnb?
Yes, Surge Property Management is a Superhost on AirBNB. Airbnb defines a Superhost as a Host who goes above and beyond to provide excellent hospitality. Guests can easily identify a Superhost from the badge that appears on their Airbnb listing and profile. Superhosts have more visibility and earning potential.
How and when do I get paid?
Surge Property Management initiates ACH payment to its property owners once a month by the 10th day of the next month. Along with the ACH deposit sent to you, you also receive a highly detailed statement for review.
Are there any hidden fees?
Surge Property Management has the most transparent pricing in the industry. Our property owners are our Partners in business which is why we hold transparency at a very high standard. With your monthly statements you will be able to trace every dollar from when the guest paid for their reservation to when it was deposited into your bank account. Contact your Surge sales rep for a personal walk through of our statement structure.
Can I still use my property?
Yes of course. The biggest perk of a vacation rental is still retaining personal use of the property for your personal use. Inside of our Owner’s Portal you can reserve days for personal use.
How do you market my property?

We list your property on the major platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, Google Vacation rentals and more! We also allow direct bookings very popular among returning guests. Our integration technology is second to none and was awarded the following:

  • Airbnb Preferred + Software Partner
  • VRBO Elite Partner
  • Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner
How do you handle complaints or disputes?
We aim to resolve issues quickly and fairly, protecting both the guests and the property owner’s interests. We mediate disputes and ensure a smooth resolution process.
How do I get started with your service?
Contact us to schedule a consultation. We'll discuss your property, our services, and how we can help you achieve your rental goals.
How do you handle waste management?
We coordinate with local services to ensure proper waste disposal and recycling, maintaining cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
What safety measures do you implement?
We ensure the property has functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and complies with all local safety regulations.
What does Surge’s full service property management mean?
Surge's comprehensive property management service allows property owners to be completely hands-off with the daily operations of their Airbnb properties. Surge takes care of all the daily tasks, including listings, guest interactions, cleanings, restocking, and maintenance, ensuring a stress-free experience for the property owner.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Get in touch
(713) 853-9573