Guesty, the artificial intelligence platform for short-term rentals, has completed its acquisition of Smily, formerly known as BookingSync, a leading property management system and channel manager in France. Announced on September 17, 2026, the deal adds fifteen years of French property management expertise to Guesty and strengthens its footprint in the world's second-largest short-term rental market. The move signals a significant acceleration of Guesty's growth strategy in Europe and its commitment to serving French property managers with advanced technology.
A Strategic Expansion in France
France represents one of the most important short-term rental markets globally, with more than one million active listings and nine billion dollars in gross booking value generated across online travel agencies over the past year. The acquisition reflects Guesty's intention to deepen its presence in a market where local expertise and regulatory knowledge are essential. By combining Smily's established trust with Guesty's global resources, the company aims to create a stronger offering for property managers across the country.
Smily's Proven Platform
Smily's channel manager was originally built in 2005 by Sébastien Grosjean to operate his family's rental business, among the first in the vacation rental industry. It opened to paying customers in 2010 and has since grown into a full-featured property management system trusted by managers across France and Europe. The platform offers channel management, centralized communication, direct booking websites, payments, and task management tools.
A Founder's Perspective
Founder and CEO Sébastien Grosjean said his family has been in vacation rentals for more than forty years and that the industry is part of who they are. Since 2010, Smily has helped customers grow from a handful of properties to hundreds and sometimes thousands, processing EUR 3.3 billion in bookings for 13 million travelers. He noted that joining Guesty, the clear world leader, is the better path given the speed of change in the industry and its technology.
Leadership Views on the Acquisition
Guesty Co-Founder and CEO Amiad Soto emphasized that France is one of the fastest-growing short-term rental markets in the world and that Smily has earned operator trust for more than fifteen years. He said bringing Smily into the Guesty family builds on that trust and highlighted Guesty's position as market leader in size and innovation, with more than 300 new features shipped in 2026 alone. Many of those features came directly from customer requests, he added.
Integration and AI Roadmap
With the acquisition complete, the two teams will now combine product, engineering, and customer support resources behind one best-in-class platform for the French market. The focus is on moving faster, investing deeper, and setting a new standard for the technology that French property managers can build their businesses on. The teams will also work closely with Smily customers as artificial intelligence reshapes how short-term rental businesses operate, bringing Guesty's AI capabilities and Agent Hub to a market with significant potential.
Transaction Terms
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. All five of Smily's founders and a group of its shareholders are reinvesting part of the proceeds in Guesty equity, a step that signals confidence in the combined company's direction. This alignment of interests is expected to support a smooth integration and strengthen long-term collaboration between the two teams.
The acquisition of Smily positions Guesty to compete more effectively in France while offering local property managers access to a broader suite of AI-driven tools and global resources. By integrating fifteen years of French market experience with Guesty's innovation engine, the company aims to raise the standard for property management technology in Europe. As the short-term rental landscape continues to evolve, this deal underscores Guesty's commitment to becoming the clear technology leader in every major market it serves.