GuestReady Expands Spanish Portfolio with Lightbooking Acquisition, Surpassing 4,000 Units Worldwide

GuestReady, a Swiss short-term rental management company, is expanding into the Canary Islands with the acquisition of Lightbooking, a Spanish vacation rental management and distribution operators.

This strategic acquisition will add more than 200 units to GuestReady’s Spanish portfolio and brings the group’s overall portfolio to over 4,000 units globally, evolving its position in the European hospitality market.

“This acquisition marks an important step in GuestReady’s European journey. Expanding into the Canary Islands strengthens our position among Europe’s leading professional hospitality operators. Under Gustavo’s leadership, Lightbooking has built a truly market leading platform in the Canary Islands, with deep local expertise and a strong reputation with both owners and guests. We’re proud to welcome such a strong team and portfolio into GuestReady,” says Alexander Limpert, CEO and co-founder of GuestReady​ and guest writer for EU-Startups.

In the wider European short-term rental, hospitality and property management landscape, recent activity from 2025–2026 shows continued capital flowing into technology-led operators adjacent to GuestReady’s model.

In Switzerland, Azuro raised €5 million to develop a user-owned portfolio of smart vacation homes, reflecting growing interest in alternative ownership and professionally managed holiday accommodation. In Germany, Berlin-based Buena secured €49 million to digitise and automate residential property management workflows using AI. At the larger end of the market, Dutch hospitality software provider Mews raised €255 million in January 2026 to expand its automation and payments platform for hotels and serviced accommodation.

While none of these announcements relate directly to a Spanish short-term rental operator, together they indicate approximately €309 million invested into hospitality and PropTech platforms across Europe over the period.

Against this backdrop, GuestReady’s acquisition of Lightbooking appears consistent with a broader shift towards scale, consolidation and technology-driven operations in the European short-term rental ecosystem.

“What impressed us most about GuestReady was the professionalism of their operating model and the strength of their technology platform. RentalReady is truly best-in-class, and we see a strong opportunity to scale our portfolio under a unified management approach while delivering outstanding value to both owners and guests,” adds Gustavo Guevara, CEO of Lightbooking.

Founded in 2016 and 2015 respectively, GuestReady and Lightbooking operate in closely aligned markets with shared objectives, making the acquisition a natural strategic fit within the short-term rental ecosystem.

Already operating in key Spanish urban markets such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, GuestReady offers a fully integrated vacation rental management solution and currently operates in seven countries across Europe and the Middle East, managing more than 4,000 properties in over 50 cities with an average occupancy rate of 78%.

Lightbooking complements this footprint with a strong presence in Southern Europe, particularly the Canary Islands and Andalucía, providing end-to-end services ranging from multi-platform listings and dynamic pricing to guest communication, check-in processes and property maintenance, all aimed at maximising returns for owners while ensuring a smooth booking experience for travellers.

This acquisition is GuestReady’s 12th since the company was founded, and the third completed over the last 12 months – it also represents a major milestone for GuestReady, nearly doubling the company’s presence in Spain. GuestReady now manages approximately 400 active apartments nationwide.

The company now operates close to:

• 170 properties in the Canary Islands
• Around 50 properties in Andalusia

In the Canary archipelago, the portfolio is spread across Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, El Hierro, and La Gomera. In Andalusia, GuestReady operates in key cities and destinations including Seville, Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, Huelva, and Córdoba.

In terms of asset mix, approximately 70% of the portfolio consists of entire buildings, while 30% is owned by individual landlords.

“In the short term, our focus is on integrating teams and building a shared culture, as both organisations come from different backgrounds.

Our objective in the foreseeable future is to efficiently utilize resources, achieve sustainable growth, and establish ourselves as a prominent authority in professional property management in the Canary Islands. We are committed to providing consistent, top-notch services to property owners and guests,” states Lorenzo Ritella, Country Manager at GuestReady.

With an increasing number of property owners exploring alternatives to conventional tour operator models that often restrict flexibility and hinder profitability, GuestReady aims to offer a dynamic and professional approach.

GuestReady will introduce its advanced technological platform and scalable processes, which include:

• The AI-powered Short Term Rental PMS, RentalReady
• Automation tools and AI-driven solutions
• Standardized operational procedures crafted to enhance performance and enhance guest satisfaction

Looking ahead, GuestReady’s target is to manage 600 active apartments in Spain by 2026 through a combination of organic growth, portfolio expansion, and strategic initiatives like the acquisition of Lightbooking.

The Canary Islands will play a pivotal role in this strategy, particularly through the management of entire buildings and bungalow-style complexes, enabling efficient and sustainable scaling.

EU-Startups has been closely monitoring GuestReady’s progress over the years through editorial contributions, event participation, and coverage of significant milestones.

In 2025, Alexander Limpert, CEO and co-founder of GuestReady, shared his insights and opinions through three detailed articles on EU-Startups.

The company has been actively involved in the EU-Startups Summit, participating in panel discussions and speaker sessions to discuss the future of Airbnb management and short-term rentals.

EU-Startups has also reported on GuestReady’s financial achievements and expansion, including funding rounds and strategic acquisitions.

Alexander Limpert has also been a featured speaker at the FutureTravel Summit, showcasing his expertise in the industry.