Short-term rentals: B.C. Hotel Association accused of self-serving advocacy
Global News
After B.C. announced new short-term rental legislation, the Hotel Association sent out an email titled ‘Advocacy win!’
Restrictions on short-term rentals are something the B.C. Hotel Association has long advocated for, saying legislation introduced this month will free up badly needed housing for hospitality workers.
However, some short-term rental operators accuse the organization of being self-serving, saying B.C.’s new legislation is essentially wiping out the competition —something the B.C. Hotel Association denies.
“I think it’s important that the public knows what’s going on here. You know, it’s the B.C. hotel monopoly act,” said Susanne Young, who manages a short-term rental unit in downtown Kelowna.
The province says it introduced the legislation to help tackle B.C.’s housing crisis in hopes of turning short-term rentals into long-term ones.
After the legislation was introduced, the B.C. Hotel Association sent out an email titled “Advocacy win! BC unveils legislation to shift short-term rentals towards long-term housing.”
In the email, the Hotel Association said it’s thrilled the legislation “incorporates every recommendation that the BCHA has long championed.”
It also said the legislation “benefits both our industry and employees who have faced housing challenges.”
The B.C. Hotel Association denies the accusation that it advocated for short-term rental restrictions for its own financial gain.
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