We are writing to register our support for allowing Airbnb and similar home sharing companies to operate in the City of Richmond.

There are multiple benefits to the City of Richmond and its residents by allowing Airbnb and similar sites to operate in the City of Richmond.

For one, Airbnb is great for tourism. There is a whole class of tourists that avoid staying in chain hotels because they want to experience the local culture by living in a local neighborhood. Having a diversified stock of properties available throughout the city, allows tourists to get to know and enjoy Richmond’s many great neighborhoods and come back again to visit a different neighborhood.

Airbnb allows the City of Richmond to increase its stock of tourist accommodations with minimal impact to the city's character and well being. Allowing citizens to make use spare capacity in their homes instead of having to make tax concessions to a hotel corporation for the privilege of having them build and operate a big box hotel in our city is a better choice. Homeowner's pay property taxes as well as taxes derived from rent because Airbnb issues a W-4 tax document. More importantly, homeowner's who call the city home, will show their love for the city more than an impersonal hotel corporation.

The impact on parking would be minimal since parking considerations were taken into consideration when homes were built in the city. The reduced carbon footprint of increasing tourist accommodations without having to build a new hotel is an additional benefit.

Airbnb tourists typical spend their money locally in the neighborhood they are staying in bringing revenue to those neighborhoods in the City that in turn promotes businesses, jobs, increased tax revenues and a neighborhood's vitality.

Airbnb allows homeowners to earn some extra income from property that they own which helps them afford the cost of housing, maintaining the property and living in Richmond. For many people, the extra supplemental income is welcome. Homeowners also act as ambassadors for the City of Richmond guiding tourists to the sights and activities going on in the City.

The majority of people renting out their homes on Airbnb would embrace the opportunity to pay taxes on their earnings and conduct their rentals legally and above ground. Airbnb has worked with the State of North Carolina and local county governments to collect the proper taxes on short term rentals.. As of June 1, 2015 Airbnb has agreed to collect lodging taxes for the state and counties and remit them directly to their respective offices. I am sure Airbnb would do the same for Richmond.

For the City, the increased revenue from taxing these short term rentals would help the City budget while increasing economic activity at little cost to its taxpayers. Richmond has done a great job promoting tourism and can count on Airbnb and other such services to help further promote tourism and economic growth in our city.