If you’re worried about your vacation rental expenses creeping up in 2025, you’re not alone. Everyone, irrespective of the industry, should be thinking about the impact of new tariffs – import taxes that are driving up the cost of all sorts of hospitality essentials. Everything from that stylish living room sofa to the crisp bed linens (and even the coffee and snacks you offer guests) could get more expensive due to these tariffs (​hotelmanagement-network.com). On top of higher, unpredictable price swings and frustrating shipping delays under new trade rules, travel as a sector may drop as consumers are most wallet conscious (hotelmanagement-network.com).

In short, running a vacation rental is becoming pricier and more complicated. But there’s good news: you’re not helpless against these changes. In this post, we’ll explore how HostGPO – a group purchasing organization for hosts – can help protect your business from the impact of rising tariffs. By leveraging HostGPO’s contract pricing and supplier network, you can keep costs stable and supplies flowing, even as the broader market hits turbulence. Let’s break down what’s happening and how you can stay ahead.

Tariffs in 2025: Why everything costs more in hospitality

Rising import costs: This year has seen a wave of possible tariffs (import taxes) introduced, and they could hit the hospitality industry hard. Tariffs on imported goods mean vacation rental operators paying more for many of the items that keep their properties running. Think about the imported goods you rely on: furniture, electronics, linens, appliances, food items, and more. New U.S. tariff policies – ranging from around 10% on some countries’ goods up to 25% or higher on others – have “escalated the costs of these essential items” ​(hotelmanagement-network.com). In practical terms, that could mean a patio set that cost $1,000 last year might cost $1,250 (or more) now purely because of tariffs.

Furniture and linens feeling the squeeze: Vacation rentals live and die by their furnishings and guest comfort. Unfortunately, a huge portion of furniture and textiles (sheets, towels, etc.) are imported, which makes them ground zero for tariff impacts. Hotels and rental properties alike are seeing “sharply rising procurement costs” for imported furniture and décor ​(harris-sliwoski.com). Likewise, nearly all hospitality-grade linens are sourced overseas (often from Asia), and many of those are now tagged with hefty import taxes. For example, industry analysts report that many imported textiles are facing around a 54% tariff – effectively adding more than half again to their cost ​(harris-sliwoski.com). It’s a one-two punch: you either pay a lot more for the same duvet covers and bath towels, or try to find alternative suppliers. Even food and beverage supplies aren’t spared; tariffs on items like coffee, wine, or imported snacks can easily make stocking your welcome basket more expensive (​harris-sliwoski.com). The bottom line is that tariffs are raising costs across the board, and vacation rental owners are feeling it in their wallets.

Price instability and supply chain woes for operators

Unpredictable prices: Beyond just making things cost more, tariffs have introduced a new layer of price volatility. The rules and rates can change with little warning as trade policies evolve, leaving suppliers scrambling. For owners, this might mean the price quote for a bulk linen order you got last month is no longer valid this month. Hospitality experts warn that these tariffs “add uncertainty to managing availability” of goods​ (harris-sliwoski.com). In other words, not only are prices high – they’re also unpredictable. This price instability makes it hard for vacation rental professionals to budget and plan. You might delay replacing that worn-out sofa or upgrading the kitchen appliances because who knows if prices will jump again next quarter? Unfortunately, delaying upgrades too long can hurt the guest experience, so it’s a real dilemma.

Shipping delays and supply disruptions: Tariffs have also thrown a wrench in global supply chains. Many hospitality items that used to arrive in weeks now take longer as manufacturers and importers adjust to the new trade environment. It’s not just anecdotal – reports confirm that recent tariffs “have disrupted these supply chains, leading to delays and increased costs” in hotel and rental operations​ (hotelmanagement-network.com). Perhaps you’ve experienced this first-hand: maybe that new set of dining chairs you ordered is stuck in port for an extra month, or your usual supplier keeps pushing back the delivery date for kitchenware. What’s going on is that tariffs can cause bottlenecks (e.g. extra customs checks, shifts to new suppliers in other countries, etc.), and those bottlenecks mean waiting longer for your stuff. For a vacation rental owner on a tight turnaround schedule, these delays are more than just an annoyance – they can impact your business. If a unit isn’t guest-ready because you’re missing furniture or essential items, that’s lost revenue. At the very least, it’s added stress and last-minute scrambles to find replacements.

Contract pricing: locking in stable rates with HostGPO

So, how can HostGPO help in this challenging environment? One of HostGPO’s biggest perks is contract pricing with maybe of the  major brands, which essentially means you get to lock in consistent rates for many of the products you need. HostGPO negotiates agreements with suppliers so that members benefit from pre-negotiated discounts and terms. This is a game-changer when market prices are seesawing. Instead of being at the mercy of retail price hikes, HostGPO members can for now purchase at a stable, agreed-upon price. In fact, HostGPO “contractually secures the lowest prices available for its members”​ (showplacehq.com). That guaranteed pricing not only saves you money, but also provides peace of mind. For example, if the cost of a certain mattress or sofa model goes up for the general public due to a tariff, as a HostGPO member you might still pay the lower contract rate you locked in. It’s insulation against the volatility.

To make this concrete, imagine you need 10 new sets of luxury bed linens. On the open market, the price per set might jump between $100 and $130 over a few months due to import cost changes. However, through HostGPO’s contract pricing, you might have a negotiated rate (say $50 per set) that stays constant throughout the season. You can plan and budget confidently. This kind of pricing stability is especially helpful for owners managing multiple properties or doing large renovations. You can furnish a new rental knowing your costs upfront, without nasty surprises halfway through the project. While it's not every vendor, and not all fo the time, HostGPO is often able to use the collective buying power of its members to lock in bulk rates that individual owners normally couldn’t get on their own – a huge advantage when tariffs are driving prices up elsewhere.

Established suppliers and flexible sourcing = fewer disruptions

Another major benefit HostGPO provides is access to established, reliable suppliers and flexible sourcing options. In a tariff-tangled world, who you buy from can be just as important as what price you pay. HostGPO has partnerships with many top-tier brands and vendors in the furnishings and hospitality space. We’re talking the same caliber of suppliers that big hotels use, but made accessible to independent hosts. In fact, some vendors – like Standard Textile (the linen supplier for Marriott and Hilton hotels) – only work with HostGPO when it comes to serving the vacation rental market​ (showplacehq.com). What does that mean for you? Quality and reliability. Large, established suppliers tend to have more robust supply chains. They often have domestic warehouses, diversified manufacturing locations, and the ability to navigate import hurdles better than small unknown vendors. By buying through these reputable brands via HostGPO, you’re less likely to encounter stock outages or interminable delays. If one source is constrained, an established supplier might shift production to another facility or prioritize orders for a big contract client (that’s you, via HostGPO).

Moreover, HostGPO’s broad network of partners gives you flexible sourcing options. If tariffs make one product line too expensive or hard to get, HostGPO often has an alternative vendor or product available at a similar member discount. This built-in diversity is key to resilience. Industry experts note that “diversifying sourcing options helps businesses avoid over-reliance on high-tariff markets and improves supply chain stability"​ (harris-sliwoski.com). In practice, this could mean if imported luxury sofas from Country A become cost-prohibitive, HostGPO might have a deal with a manufacturer from Country B or a domestically produced line that isn’t subject to that tariff. As a member, you can pivot rather than being stuck. Many independent rental owners don’t have the time or connections to find new suppliers on the fly when chaos hits – but HostGPO has done that legwork for you by vetting multiple suppliers.

It’s also worth noting that by pooling the orders of many members, HostGPO can give suppliers a more predictable demand, which helps keep the supply chain running smoothly. This kind of group purchasing approach promotes a stable supply chain because suppliers can plan inventory knowing there’s steady bulk demand​(vizientinc.com). The end result: HostGPO members are far less vulnerable to the kind of disruptions that leave others high and dry. You’ll be the host who has the new couches and comfy quilts delivered on time, while others are still waiting or hunting for a plan B.

Real-world example: Thriving despite tariff troubles

Let’s tie it all together with a relatable scenario. Meet Jane, a vacation rental owner with five beach cottages. In 2025, Jane decides to refresh the décor in two of her cottages and upgrade the bedding in all five. Normally, she’d hop online or visit a local store, and likely end up paying whatever the going rate is for sofas, dining sets, and linens. But this year, she’s shocked: the cost of the chic sofa she wants has jumped by a few hundred dollars since she last bought one. The retailer explains it’s because that model is imported and now carries extra import fees. Shipping times are also longer than usual – they quote 8-10 weeks, due to “supply backlog.” Jane also notices that the luxury cotton sheets she usually orders are priced higher, and her favorite brand is frequently out of stock or backordered. This is the ripple effect of tariffs and the resulting supply chain snags. If Jane weren’t prepared, her renovation timeline and budget would be in big trouble.

Fortunately, Jane is a HostGPO member. Instead of paying full price and waiting ages, she logs into her HostGPO account and browses the contracted suppliers. She finds that one of HostGPO’s partner furniture brands offers a very similar sofa to the one she wanted – and because of HostGPO’s pre-negotiated contract, it’s available to her at 40% off retail (and without the recent markup everyone else is seeing). Even better, the supplier has merchandise in stock at a U.S. warehouse, meaning delivery will only take two weeks. She clicks and orders with confidence, knowing she locked in a great price. For linens, HostGPO’s exclusive deal with a hospitality-grade linen supplier means Jane can buy high-thread-count sheets and plush towels that rival five-star hotel quality, at a fraction of the cost. Those items ship out immediately from the supplier’s distribution center. In the end, Jane completes her cottage upgrades on schedule and under budget, despite the tariff turmoil that threatened to inflate costs and derail her plans.

This example shows how leveraging a group purchasing organization like HostGPO can turn a potential crisis into business as usual. By tapping into contract pricing and a strong supplier network, vacation rental operators can continue to grow and improve their properties without getting sideswiped by global economic shifts.

Staying ahead of the game

Rising tariffs in 2025 have added a new layer of complexity for vacation rental owners and operators. Higher costs on imported furniture, linens, and food are squeezing margins, and supply chain hiccups are making it harder to get what you need when you need it (​hotelmanagement-network.com). It’s a challenging situation, but not an insurmountable one. With the right strategies and partnerships, you can protect your business from the worst of these impacts. HostGPO offers one such strategic advantage. By providing locked-in pricing on key goods and access to a wide range of reliable suppliers, HostGPO helps you sidestep the price instability and procurement headaches that many others are facing. Instead of riding the rollercoaster of tariff-driven price spikes, you gain predictability and bargaining power. Instead of scrambling when your usual supplier hits a snag, you have alternatives at the ready.

In an industry where controlling costs and ensuring guest satisfaction are paramount, these advantages can make a world of difference. Think of HostGPO as a safety net that catches the bricks being tossed into the hospitality market by tariff changes – before they can hit your business. By banding together with other hosts and operators in a buying group, you essentially form a united front that vendors take seriously. They reward that collective business with better terms, which in turn keeps your rental operations running smoothly even in rough economic weather.

The tariff situation may be out of your control, but how you respond is very much in your hands. Staying informed is step one – now you know why costs are up and where the pain points are. Step two is leveraging solutions like HostGPO to ease that pain. At the end of the day, vacation rental professionals are a resourceful bunch. By using tools like group purchasing, you can continue to provide great guest experiences and grow your business, tariffs be darned. So, don’t let the 2025 tariff storm scare you. With HostGPO in your corner, you can navigate rising costs and supply chain challenges with confidence, and keep your vacation rentals thriving no matter what the global economy throws your way.

Sources: Rising tariffs driving up hospitality costs​ hotelmanagement-network.com and causing supply delays ​hotelmanagement-network.com; industry analysis of tariff impact on furniture, linens, and food costs​ harris-sliwoski.com​harris-sliwoski.com; HostGPO contract pricing and supplier partnerships​ showplacehq.com​harris-sliwoski.com that help mitigate these issues.

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