Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance Unanimously Opposes Short-Term Rental Bills, Calls for Equitable Funding for Pure Michigan

Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Pursue Comprehensive Reform that Addresses Tourism Promotion Funding Crisis

​Lansing, MI - The Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance, a collaborative of statewide and select regional organizations representing hospitality and tourism-related industries, today announced its unanimous opposition to a new package of short-term rental bills (House Bills 5138-5140), citing the legislation's failure to address critical funding needs for Michigan's tourism promotion efforts and create equitable contribution requirements for short-term rental properties.

The 13-member MHTA Board of Directors released the following statement:
“The Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance stands in unanimous opposition to House Bills 5138-5140 as introduced. These bills represent a missed opportunity to address the Pure Michigan funding crisis facing Michigan's tourism industry.
 
Short-term rentals have directly benefited from tourism marketing efforts without paying equitable taxes or assessments to support them, and while reaping the rewards of increased visitation and demand. As the Pure Michigan campaign faces ongoing budget challenges, comprehensive short-term rental regulation should require all lodging properties to contribute to the tourism promotion that generates demand for their businesses. Instead, these bills propose a new general government tax that does nothing to strengthen Michigan’s local businesses or address tax parity.
 
The Alliance urges state leaders to reject these bills and pursue legislation that creates equitable funding for Pure Michigan and truly maximizes the potential of Michigan's visitor economy.”

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​Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance Board of Directors:

• Sarah Gonzales, Delta Airlines
• Scott Graham, Michigan Brewers Guild
• Ken Hayward, Visit Detroit
• Tim Hygh, Mackinac Island Convention & Visitors Bureau
• John Lindley, MI Assoc. of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds
• Sarah Miller, Destination Ann Arbor
• Tom Nemacheck, Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association
• Mike Panich, Michigan Snowsports Industries Association
• Julie Pingston, Choose Lansing
• Doug Small, Experience Grand Rapids
• Trevor Tkach, Traverse City Tourism
• Liz Ware, Mission Point Resort (Michigan Travel Commission Designee)
• Justin Winslow, Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association

About the Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance
The Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance is a collaborative of hospitality tourism-related statewide organizations created to promote hospitality, travel and tourism in Michigan through a unified voice. The Alliance aspires to educate stakeholders, elected officials and industry leaders of the importance of the hospitality and tourism industry to Michigan’s overall economy and to advocate for appropriate funding streams to ensure its future success. 

For more information, visit http://themichiganalliance.org/.
 
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