North Country Leader

The short-term rental (STR) lodging market has evolved significantly in recent years, transitioning from a sporadic presence to a substantial marketplace. This observation comes from an official who traveled to various tourism locations last year to better understand the industry. The official is the ranking Minority member on the committee for Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development in the Assembly.

"There is a misconception about the industry as it is referred to frequently as Airbnb, which is similar to saying Kleenex instead of tissue," said the official. "There are many other booking platforms similar to Airbnb, such as VRBO or Booking.com; Airbnb is simply a brand name, while the industry writ large is STR."

In the past 12 months, the supply of short-term rentals outside New York City has surged by nearly 20%, reaching 31,043 units. Concurrently, the average daily rate has decreased by almost 5% to $281 due to increased supply. According to a report cited by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), the industry has grown by an astounding 800% since 2011.

Recent utilization statistics for these units indicate:

- An average of 26.8 bookings annually per unit

- 110.8 nights occupancy per unit annually

- A 30.46% annual occupancy rate

- A mean length of stay of four nights

The industry's revenue stands just under $1 billion annually.

"Short-term rentals have been a wonderful amenity in the tourism market to complement the hotel/motel industry," stated the official. "There must be fairness and parity in the industry across lodging choices."

The proposed legislation aims to provide essential information for local governments regarding this industry's impact on their communities. Key areas affected include housing, public safety, and infrastructure.

"Housing: It has tremendously impacted the housing market as residential housing is removed from the marketplace for accommodations and income housing settings," noted the official.

"Public Safety: Another critical reason for situational awareness is public safety. It is beneficial for first responders such as police, fire, or EMS to know they are going to a congregate setting versus a typical single-family residential setting."

"Infrastructure: It is also valuable for local governments to understand impacts on their jurisdiction for infrastructure such as water, sewer, septic systems, and roads," added the official.

The legislation requests an inventory of STR locations within the state—a task already maintained by booking platforms—to benefit all involved parties. Concerns about state handling of this inventory have been clarified; it does not equate to license issuances like bars or cannabis but merely involves registration.

"I proposed similar legislation this year, A8226, which called for information to go to counties rather than the state; ultimately achieving similar objectives," explained the official.

Assemblymember Fahy collaborated with this initiative resulting in A4130's passage. The legislation has garnered support from several associations including NYSAC, New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association, and New York State Tourism Industry Association.

"I have confidence they would not support anything that would harm the industry," concluded the official.

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