I’m very troubled by some research did below on this. The next virtual committee meeting is on Oct 12 and I highly recommend many Airbnb hosts join. We should ask detailed questions about excluding Airbnb unless the committee agrees to adopt new rules that cease use of funds that directly benefit any specific hotel or cause any appearance of a conflict of interest. If they refuse, we should contact the media to run a story about the corrupt use of these funds Airbnb hosts are now being forced by the city to pay.
The funds collected are used for funding applications approved by a committee of hotel managers, selected by the hotel lobbying association (Sacramento Hotel Association). You can read the past meeting minutes on Visit Sacramento site.
There are dozens of examples that prove the use of funds is to directly benefit the hotels that sit on this committee. I read many that show funds used to market events hosted at specific hotels, support hotels to setup booths at trade conventions, transport hotel guests between over flow hotels. One shows they previously denied and/or reduced funding for events that benefit other hotels not represented in the Committee, such as Downtown Commons.
It’s not clear how an assessment collected by the city (government), but run by private business is legal and not considered taxation without representation. Anyone a lawyer here?
The most recent committee brought up Airbnb, and it was stated that a few hosts said they didn’t mind paying this “assessment”. There is another committee on Oct 12. I strongly believe hosts should attend and ask detailed questions about excluding Airbnb unless the committee agrees to adopt new rules that cease use of funds that directly benefit any specific hotel.
“The funding, raised by the hospitality industry, is directed by the hospitality industry. The funds flow directly into sales and marketing activities that will be reviewed and monitored by a Tourism District Committee of industry peers - hotel managers appointed by the Sacramento Hotel Association.”