PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE VISITORS INDUSTRY

WHEREAS, communities throughout the United States rely on local hotel taxes to promote travel and tourism and support the local visitors industry; and

WHEREAS, local hotel taxes often fund convention and visitors bureaus, convention centers, sports arenas and sports teams; and

WHEREAS, local hotel taxes often support local cultural programs including music, film, gaming, visual arts, dance and more; and

WHEREAS, short-term rental of homes can often be subject to hotel taxes; and

WHEREAS, short-term rental of homes can provide a flexible housing stock that allows family travelers spending longer periods of time in a community a safe accommodation while contributing to the local economy; and

WHEREAS, short-term rental of homes can provide homeowners an opportunity to hold property as an investment, for a better sales market, or for future planning; and

WHEREAS, fair regulation of short-term rentals ensures greater compliance and greater receipt of local hotel taxes; and

WHEREAS, regulations of short-term rentals that establish a reliable way for a municipality to identify and contact the short-term rental owner, make the tax collection and remittance obligation clear and treat the short-term rental owner the same as long-term rental owners can achieve the highest level of compliance; and

WHEREAS, onerous regulations of short-term rentals can drive the industry underground, thus evading local regulations and local hotel taxes;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors urges support for economic development opportunities through the visitors industry by encouraging regulations of the short-term rental industry that (1) establish a reliable way for the municipality to identify and contact the short-term rental owner; (2) make the tax collection and remittance obligations clear to the short-term rental owner; and (3) treat short-term rental tenants the same as long-term rental tenants. Regulations that accomplish all three can achieve a high level of compliance, and are highly effective.