Short-term rental vision shows Palm Springs hospitality industry is ahead of the curve

Aftab Dada | Special to The Desert Sun

Show Caption Hide Caption Measure C: Residents and visitors give their 2 cents Vacation rentals in Palm Springs has become a hotbed issue recently. Measure C, if passed, will limit certain vacation rentals. Producer Daniel Simon and photographer Richard Lui went around the valley to ask people about their views on the topic.

The voice of Palm Springs was loud and clear on June 5, with about 7 in 10 voters saying "no" to Measure C – the ill-conceived attempt to ban short-term vacation rentals in Palm Springs.

The overwhelming vote numbers unequivocally prove the point that Palm Springs residents support a healthy and regulated short-term vacation rental industry. But one of the leading sources of support for preserving short-term vacation rentals may be surprising to some: Palm Springs hotels.

With dedication to protect local short-term vacation rentals, Palm Springs hoteliers have shown they are ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to tourism trends.

While the California Hotel Association and American Hotel and Lodging Association have been wringing their hands over trying to restrict short-term vacation rentals, Palm Springs hoteliers nearly unanimously have taken a different view altogether.

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Palm Springs hoteliers, joining restaurateurs and tourism leaders, have embraced short-term rentals as important alternatives to traditional lodging choices. Tourism leaders support short-term rentals as valuable contributors to the local economy and City revenues.

The fact is, short-term vacation rentals account for $200 million in benefits to the Palm Springs economy. In addition, vacation rental tourism is responsible for supporting hundreds of jobs and generating in excess of $10 Million of the city’s $128 million budget.

That is significant benefit for all of Palm Springs.

Vacation rentals offer an exciting, practical and cost-effective alternative lodging choice for families and couples choosing to visit our community. That translates into a significant boost to the popularity of Palm Springs as a world-class destination.

And, short-term vacation rentals work in Palm Springs. Why? They work because Palm Springs has tough vacation regulations based upon accountability and respect for the community.

Traditionally, hotels and tourism leaders in other destinations have resisted short-term vacation rentals because they believed the lodging alternatives compete with hotels for guests. However, it looks that trend may be changing.

A June 2018 report by Hotel & Leisure Advisors at the NYU Hotel Investment Conference highlights a new trend among hospitality leaders. The report indicates a new willingness among major brand hotels and hoteliers to accept short-term vacation rentals as complementary lodging as long as the short-term rentals pay taxes and comply with fair but tough regulations.

But that is not new to Palm Springs hoteliers.

Once again, with supporting short-term vacation rentals, Palm Springs hospitality leaders are way ahead of the curve in fostering successful tourism trends that benefit the local community as well.

With the issue of short-term vacation rentals decided, Palm Springs hospitality leaders will now focus on another issue important to the community. Just as Palm Springs hospitality leaders have been instrumental in creating the successful short-term vacation rental ordinance, we are now dedicated to a collaborative effort with the city and residents to strengthen enforcement of the Palm Springs Noise Ordinance to insure quiet desert neighborhoods among all types of homes.

Aftab Dada is president of the Palm Springs Hospitality Association. Email him at aftab.dada@hilton.com.