ban airbnb rentals

The Northern California town of Tiburon has joined several cities in the state which ban Airbnb rentals. The ban extends to all short-term rentals, including those arranged through VRBO.

The Tiburon Town Council voted 3-2 on Wednesday to amend the zoning ordinance to ban rentals fewer than 31 days. The city will determine penalties for infractions before the amendment becomes effective on Oct. 2.

For years, the council has received complaints from residents about noise and other disturbances, as well as parking shortages allegedly caused by short-term renters. The council has been reviewing these and other issues surrounding short-term rentals since March.

Supporters of short-term rentals in the town point to their growing popularity, claim that they bring a lot of money into the community and contend that only a few of the renters have caused problems.

The city of Belvedere, adjacent to Tiburon, has never permitted vacation rentals. Sausalito, directly across Richardson Bay, also bans Airbnb rentals and its City Council recently approved $50,000 in funding for an enforcement officer to field complaints and monitor listings to find rogue rentals. Thirty-day cease-and-desist notices will be issued to violators and a 12 percent transient occupancy tax will be collected retroactively on rentals. Violators will face fines ranging from $100 to $500.

Another nearby city, Mill Valley, introduced short-term rental regulations in August 2015 that include a $50 registration fee, $16 business license and 10 percent transient occupancy tax.

Several Southern California cities—including Hermosa Beach, Laguna Beach, Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica—ban Airbnb rentals.

Websites such as Airbnb and VRBO have given rise to a sharing economy in which people rent their places while away or provide an extra room to a stranger. Critics complain that some listings on these websites fall foul of local housing laws and regulations. They also contend that property owners are exploiting the sudden popularity of the sharing economy to turn their properties into mini-hotels that are rented out only on a short-term basis, with rentals as brief as two days.

Cincinnati

As anyone following my Twitter feed or the landing page for it on smartmeetings.com knows, I was recently hosted in Cincinnati to explore the burgeoning downtown district there. The urban center is seeing a tremendous amount of rejuvenation thanks to more than $2 billion invested by the city and local businesses.

The latest infusion came partly in preparation for the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game that Cincy hosted in mid-July, though the rejuvenation is mostly due to an incredible sense of pride of place I observed among locals in the Midwest city—which is steeped in more American history than I ever would have imagined.

An example of that pride (and history) is the lingering artwork promoting baseball’s mid-summer classic, from signage around Great American Ballpark, where the Mid-Summer Classic was played, to the mustache-shaped benches that promoted the coming of the game and still support locals and visitors who need a rest while walking along the downtown sidewalks. The benches are in homage to the old mustachioed, baseball-headed mascot of the Cincinnati Redstockings, America’s first all-professional baseball team. Many individuals and businesses have purchased the benches since the game, either to have in their homes or keep outside their offices.

To paraphrase one of my hosts from Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau talking about the all-star signage outside the baseball stadium, they’re going to keep it up there until it falls apart. People selling peanuts on the streets near the ballpark to throngs of fans dressed in red and white before a game—even when the Reds are pretty much out of contention—shows how much Cincinnatians love and are engaged with their sports culture.

Beyond sports, the Queen City has helped invest in a plethora of revitalizations that brought new restaurants, rooftop lounges, parks and more. Spots such as Moerlein Lager House in the Banks entertainment district showcase not only inventive entrees such as squash wellington, but also sweeping views of the Ohio River and the gorgeous John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge which has spanned the river since construction completed in 1866—and was an inadvertent prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge. (There’s that sense of history again).

The craft beer scene has exploded in Cincinnati over the past few years, and intersected with the city’s history at Taft’s Ale House in the burgeoning Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Taft’s is set in what was once a humongous church that had fell into such disrepair that the roof collapsed. The bar’s owners rebuilt the venue to its exact previous specifications, and pours house brews such as Nellie’s Keylime Caribbean Ale and Belgian Banger with gavel-shaped draught handles that represent Cincy native and former U.S. President Howard Taft’s days as a justice of the United States Supreme Court.

This, of course, is in addition to tremendous event spaces. Downtown’s Duke Energy Convention Center boasts more than 750,000 sq. ft. of space, 3,500 adjacent hotel rooms and easy access to 100 downtown restaurants in the easily walkable city center. Sharonville Convention Center, about 16 miles from downtown, offers more than 65,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space in a sleek setting that’s improving with more high-tech services. Options abound beyond the convention centers, including the baseball and football stadiums. Outdoor areas such as Smale Riverfront Park—which was completed just in time for the All-Star Game—also lend to the scenic beauty of the city for offsite adventures.

One of the local sayings is that if you haven’t seen Cincinnati in the past year, you haven’t seen the new Cincinnati, and with phase three of the overwhelming revitalization still underway, the same will likely be true for years to come.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Baha Mar is again facing setbacks as Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is seeking to drop out of the $3.5 billion resort and casino project in Nassau, Bahamas. Last Wednesday, the luxury hotel requested to pull its licensing agreement with the five-hotel complex.

Rosewood filled a legal document with a Delaware bankruptcy court to void plans for a 200-room hotel, effective immediately. The motion is based on a series of delays and impediments surrounding the developer of Baha Mar Ltd. The resort was supposed to open in December 2014. It subsequently missed announced openings in March, May and June of this year, to the dismay of guests who had already booked rooms.

The latest hindrance came in June, when Baha Mar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Chairman and CEO Sarkis Izmirlian claimed that filing for bankruptcy was the only way to work with creditors and re-secure financing of up to $80 million to continue paying workers, suppliers and vendors. Meanwhile, China Construction America alleged that Baha Mar owes contractors $140 million.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts based its decision on the recent filings. The brand contends Baha Mar misstated that it remains the legal owner of the purchased property. It also cites Baha Mar’s limited access to funding and an inability to meet certain obligations under the Rosewood hotel agreement.

Baha Mar is in the process of fighting for recognition of its Chapter 11 filing. The Bahamian government initially opposed the motion, preventing the resort from moving forward. However, the court granted Baha Mar the ability to appeal its decision earlier this month.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is not the only group to withdraw from the embattled hotel complex. In 2014, Morgans Hotel Group yanked development of a 300-room property over a management dispute with Baha Mar Ltd. Current plans include Baja Mar Casino Resort & Spa with 1,000 guest rooms, a 707-room Grand Hyatt, a 300-room SLS Lux, a 694-room Melia Hotel. The Baha Mar project is the largest in the Bahamas to date.

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Cincinnati’s RenaissanceSmart Meetings is getting a firsthand look at the reinvention of the historic Midwest city of Cincinnati. New entertainment districts and a fresh dining scene bring more visitors to Cincy than ever, mixing with old character neighborhoods and venues to complete a stunning transformation. We’ll also explore part of Cincinnati’s long history with sports—fresh off the Rogers Cup tournament, the top-ranked players in Tennis will be facing off at the Cincinnati Masters Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Hundreds of millions of dollars have gone into Cincinnati’s makeover, and the city’s convention and visitors bureau has invited us out to explore everything that’s new, old and improved.

Follow Smart Meetings social media posts this week to see all that Cincinnati and its revitalized central business district offer planners and meetings attendees, and keep track of Senior Content Producer Paul Love’s adventures in the Queen City here and at @SmartMtgsPaul.

Last Updated August 21, 2015 – 9:15 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martin Wormullsmart moves

Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach has appointed Martin Wormull as general manager of the property, opening early 2016. Wormull brings more than 30 years of experience to the 296-room resort, where he will manage day-to-day operations. Prior to his new position, he was a senior director of luxury brand performance management for Hilton Worldwide and general manager of Conrad Miami. Wormull is a member of International Luxury Hotel Association, Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.

 

Michael Rayburnsmart moves

Suncadia, a Destination Hotel announced Michael Rayburn as its director of sales and marketing. Rayburn, with more than 15 years of experience, will head initiatives to grow group and leisure sales as well as increase exposure for the 254-room resort. He began his career at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Missouri and went on to serve Vail Marriott Mountain Resort in Colorado. Rayburn is the recipient of two “Sales Team of the Year Awards” from Sage Hospitality and Renaissance Hotels.

“Michael’s proven track record with building strong teams and successfully achieving sales goals makes him a perfect fit for Suncadia,” said Scott Spann, general manager of Suncadia. “He truly understands the diversity of opportunities our resort possesses, and he has the experience and motivation to help us establish ourselves as the go-to resort destination here in the Pacific Northwest.”

 

Royston Bradysmart moves

Bonaventure Resort & Spa welcomes Royston Brady as general manager of the 500-room property. Brady’s 20-year career in hospitality began at Alpha Recruitment, a consultancy and recruitment company specializing in hotels and tourism. Most recently, he was general manager for the Empryean Club at Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Brady holds an Associate Degree in hospitality management from the Irish Institute of European Affairs. He was once a member of Dublin City Council and served as Lord Mayor of Dublin.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Bonaventure Resort & Spa team, especially as we enter the peak winter season at our premier destination resort in South Florida,” said Brady. “I am eager to deliver memorable experiences to our leisure and business guests while contributing my industry experience to lead the resort’s experienced team.”

 

Linda Chinsmart moves

Linda Chin was named director of operations at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. In her new role, she will oversee more than 900 guest rooms and 500 staff members who serve 70 Park Avenue, Eventi, Ink48 and The Muse hotels located in New York City. Chin has more than 18 years of experience specializing in upscale and luxury properties. She has held various management, sales and marketing positions in a number of Kimpton properties, including The Muse Hotel, Nine Zero Hotel and Summit Lodge & Spa. Chin is an active member of Kimpton Mentor Program and helped form the Boston chapter of Kimpton Women’s Group.

“Each Kimpton hotel in this city has been uniquely successful with high guest satisfaction scores and equally positive employee experiences that keep us listed on Crain’s New York “Best Places to Work” year after year,” said Chin. “My vision, as I take on this new role, is to develop an even stronger collaboration among the four properties to further elevate Kimpton’s presence in this dynamic and fast moving city.”

Patrick Hattonsmart moves

Patrick Hatton was appointed as general manager of Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, where he oversees day-to-day operations. Previously, he was regional vice president of operations at The James Royal Palm. He has also held positions at The James Chicago, Wyndham International and Hotel Nikki Chicago.

 

 

Will Farrowsmart moves

The Hotel Terra in Jackson Hole welcomes Will Farrow as hotel manager of the 132 –room LEED Silver property. Farrow joins the staff with 15 years of experience in managerial positions at The Inn at Jackson Hole, The Lodge at Tiburon, Topnotch Resort & Spa in Stowe, Vermont and The Beverly Wilshire. In his new role, he will help oversee all hotel operations.

 

 

Jay Marsellasmart moves

Jay Marsella has been appointed as director of sales and marketing at Marriot Marquis Houston, opening in January 2017. In his new role, he oversees all sales and marketing efforts for the 1,000-room property that is connected to George R. Brown Convention Center. Marsella has 25 years of leadership experience within the Marriot brand. Most recently, he was director of sales and marketing at Fort Lauderdale Marriot Harbor Beach Resort & Spa.

 

Nick Andersonnick-anderson

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel promoted Nick Anderson to associate director of sales, where he will oversee booking for small meetings and all accounts in the New York and New Jersey markets. Anderson joined the hotel in 2014 as group sales account director. He has previous managerial and director level experience serving convention hotels in Las Vegas. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel offers 2,265 guest rooms and more than 329,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Scott Slocumsmart moves

Scott Slocum joined Walnut Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau as regional director of sales and marketing. Slocum is a native of Northern California and has worked in group sales at Orchard Hotel locations in San Francisco, Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley and DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Berkeley Marina. He holds a master’s degree in hospitality management from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and is a member of Meetings Professionals International.

“We’re thrilled to have Scott join our team,” said Eddie Adair, WCCVB president and Walnut Creek Marriott general manager. “He understands Walnut Creek’s magic and knows how to sell it – a winning combination for the city.”

Brian Honansmart moves

Trump SoHo New York, an AAA Five Diamond 391-room property, welcomed Brian Honan as its new director of sales and marketing. Honan spent the last six years as director of marketing at New York Palace Hotel, where he developed strategies and managed sales and catering relations. Prior to that, he was the director of marketing at Four Seasons Hotel New York and also served at Hyatt International, Nikko Hotels International and The Ritz Carlton New York, Central Park.

“With more than 30 years of experience, Brian is perfectly positioned to lead the sales and marketing team,” said Gary E. Schweikert, managing director of Trump SoHo New York. “His knowledge of the industry ensures the property will continue to provide an elevated luxury hospitality experience.”

mandalay-bay-convention-center-expansionMandalay Bay Resort and Casino is a major player in the Las Vegas meetings scene and is building on that reputation with 350,000 sq. ft. of new convention center space that will debut this week. Amid a $70 million expansion that began in October 2014 and will be completed in January 2016, Mandalay Bay will christen its newest area by hosting Magic, the world’s largest fashion marketplace featuring the latest trends in apparel.

“The opening of our convention center expansion is another exciting milestone in the multiyear transformation of our resort,” said Chuck Bowling, president and COO of Mandalay Bay. “The response to booking the space has exceeded our expectations, and we believe this investment will increase visitation to Las Vegas, driving incremental business to MGM Resorts’ portfolio and the city overall.”

The expansion includes new exhibit space, a 20,000-square-foot foyer and underground parking. The project also calls for the transition of existing space into a 70,000-square-foot carpeted ballroom. When the project is complete, Mandalay Bay Convention Center will feature more than 2 million sq. ft. of space and 900,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space. The expansion will elevate Mandalay Bay to No. 5 in North America for total square feet and exhibit space.

ChuckBowling_StephanieGlanzer_TonyCalanca_MandalayBayConventionExpansionEventStephani Glanzer and Tony Calanca

“In addition to the convention center expansion, we recently announced and are undergoing our 3,000-room remodel,” said Stephanie Glanzer, vice president of sales at Mandalay Bay. “These updates combined with numerous other new offerings and venues solidify Mandalay Bay as a top choice for corporate groups and trade shows of all sizes. One of our larger shows, Magic, is a valued loyal customer and we are pleased to welcome them as our first group into the new space.”

Mandalay Bay is a green leader, recycling more than 80 percent of all convention materials. Best practices include sustainable service ware, organic, sustainable menus and zero waste recycling. The convention center is getting an additional rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) array spanning 8 acres, which will be complete in the fall.

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Florida Tourism

Florida Tourism is booming. The state has set a new record; welcoming 54.1 million visitors in the first half of 2015. This is the largest number in any six-month period in the state’s history, according to Visit Florida.

The number represents a 5.8 increase over last year. The period from April through June was particularly busy—25.8 million travelers made trips to the Sunshine State, an increase of 5.5 percent from 2014.

“I am proud to announce the Sunshine State continued our record-breaking success and welcomed the most visitors in Florida’s history over the first half of the year,” said Gov. Rick Scott. “Our growing tourism industry employs over 1.2 million Floridians and is helping us meet our goal of becoming the best place in the world for jobs. We are excited to mark the first half of 2015 with our biggest second quarter ever, and we look forward to exceeding our goal of 100 million visitors to Florida this year.”

Where Are The Tourists Coming From?

Visit Florida estimates that 1.2 million Canadians and 2.7 million other travelers from overseas came to Florida in the second quarter of 2015. Florida is also a popular destination for Americans. It is estimated that 21.9 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in the second quarter of 2015; a 6.8 percent increase over the previous year.

In the first half of 2015, statistics indicate that Florida welcomed 45.7 million domestic visitors, 5.5 million overseas visitors and 2.9 million Canadians, an increase of 6.7 percent, 1.7 percent and 1.1 percent respectively.

“The continued growth of tourism for the second quarter, including a record number of tourism related jobs, puts Florida on pace for a fifth consecutive record-breaking year,” notes John Tomlin, chairman of the board of Visit Florida. “These records also emphasize the power of tourism as an economic leader and job creator for the state. Results like these are the direct result of the vision and support of the governor and legislature, as well as world-class strategies and execution by the Visit Florida staff.”

Florida tourism is good for the state’s hotel industry. In the second quarter of 2015, the average daily room rate rose 4.7 percent, the occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 2.9 percent and the demand in rooms sold grew 4.4 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014.

“With all indicators continuing to climb, Florida tourism has strong momentum,” said Will Seccombe, president and CEO of Visit Florida, adding, “we are well on our way to making Florida the No. 1 travel destination in the world.”

air-travel-complaints-2Delays, missed connections, lost or damaged luggage, boarding bottlenecks… The list of things airline passengers grumble about could go on for days—especially since air travelers lodged more complaints in the first half of 2015, according to a new study released last week from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In total, 9,542 passengers made their voices heard about issues with flight experiences from January through June, up just over 20 percent compared to the same period in 2014, when 7,935 people complained). Conversely, 13 passengers contacted airlines to compliment their services during the first six months of 2015.

Air travel complaints were broken down by category, with flight problems (delays, cancellations and misconnections) leading the charge at 33 percent (3,107 complaints—405 more than in 2014). Baggage issues came next, with 1,417 complaints (15 percent) about lost or damaged luggage.

Other issues included:

-Reservations/ticketing/boarding (1,282 complaints)
-Customer service (1,121 complaints)
-Airfares (870 complaints)
-Refunds (751 complaints)
-Disability issues (364 complaints)
-Overbooking (290 complaints)
-Frequent flyer problems (130 complaints)
-Advertising (92 complaints)
-Other (88 complaints)
-Discriminations (29 complaints)
-Animals (1 complaint)

Looking at air travel complaints by carrier in the United States, Southwest Airlines came out looking the best, with only 0.52 complaints per 100,000 passengers (meaning just 0.0005 percent of passengers felt strongly enough to voice disapproval). Spirit Airlines was on the other end of the spectrum, with .01 percent of flyers registering complaints (11.2 out of every 100,000—still not too bad in the grand scheme of things). Spirit supplanted Frontier Airlines at the bottom of the list, though Frontier’s rate of complaints went up from 3.53 to 10.17 out of every 100,000 passengers.

While this report focuses on number of air travel complaints, it’s important to look at the numbers in greater context. Keep in mind that, among U.S.-based carriers, only 6,412 out of 339,583,826 passengers lodged complaints. At that rate of just 0.002 percent of passengers with complaints, the airlines appear to be doing a pretty good job overall.

Benchmark HospitalityOn Aug. 13, several members of the Benchmark Hospitality team dropped by the Smart Meetings office in Sausalito to share the latest news about their group of resorts and hotels. Our visitors, pictured above,  included (l-r) Jeff Overgaard, sales manager for Cheyenne Mountain Resort & Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado; John Annicchiarico, director of sales and marketing for Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida; Teresa Winfield, director, global accounts for Benchmark Hospitality International; and Brynn Kessler, senior sales manager for Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz, California.

While all Benchmark properties are different and have their own unique personalities, they are linked by a philosophy that emphasizes staff training and a focus on high quality guest service.

Winfield was particularly excited to announce the unveiling of Hotel Zelos in San Francisco. It just opened in what was formerly Hotel Palomer SF. The boutique property, centrally located downtown in Union Square, is hip and sophisticated. It features 202 guest rooms, 5,000 sq. ft. of event space, a heated patio and Dirty Habit restaurant, a local hotspot.

Kessler discussed the complete guest room renovation at Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz, where the 156 guest rooms are being lightened up and given a more contemporary look and feel. Tech improvements will include flat screen TVs and easily-accessible charging stations. Room renovations are also planned in early 2016 for the 316 guest rooms at Cheyenne Mountain Resort & Club. The breathtaking Colorado Springs resort, which features 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, opened a new spa in June, and renovated the lobby and bar area.

There is also lots of excitement at the Villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando. John Annicchiarico points out that the high-end luxury resort and renowned golf mecca has completed a thorough renovation of its meeting space, with the anticipation that it will be a showcase in an upcoming expansion of the already impressively large resort. A re-branding of the property is anticipated in October.

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