As a short-term rental host, you likely take pride in welcoming a wide variety of travelers into your home or property. But, have you considered how accessible your space is to travelers with disabilities? This growing segment of travelers presents an opportunity to expand your reach while offering inclusive and welcoming accommodations.

Many people think of accessibility in terms of mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers. While these are critical for some, accessibility goes far beyond ramps and wide doorways. Disabilities can also include less visible needs such as autism sensitivities, vision or hearing impairments, chronic illnesses, or other conditions that may require thoughtful accommodations.

By making small, intentional changes, you can create a space that is not
only accessible but appeals to a broader audience. The truth is, you probably already have!

Why Accessibility Matters
Globally, disabilities are on the rise. In the United States alone, 1 in 4 adults live with a disability of some sort. This growing demographic represents a significant portion of travelers searching for accommodations that meet their needs. Making your property accessible is not just a good business move—it’s an opportunity to be part of a meaningful shift toward inclusion.

Simple Changes, Big Difference
Making your rental more accessible doesn’t always mean major renovations. Small changes can make a big difference:

Mobility Aids:
◦ Install grab bars in bathrooms
◦ Offer a shower chair or handheld showerhead

Autism and Sensory Sensitivities:
◦ Use blackout curtains to control light
◦ Ensure TVs, thermostats, and appliances have simple controls

Vision and Hearing Impairments:
◦ Install brighter lighting in hallways and stairs
◦ Offer visual fire alarms and vibrating or light-up alarm clocks

General Comfort and Safety:
◦ Include non-slip mats in bathrooms
◦ Provide detailed information about the layout and accessibility features of your property in the listing description and photos

Highlighting Accessibility in Your Listing
Make sure to communicate your efforts clearly in your listing. Use terms that apply in your case like "wheelchair accessible," "autism-friendly," or "accessible bathroom" in the description itself so travelers searching for these features on their favorite search engine can find your property.

Identify any amenities you have and include photos of the space
with a description of those features.

Join us on January 23rd to hear from RentABLE about how you can position your listing for success and receive an amazing offer for Host2Host members!

The Holiday Gathering and General Membership Meeting was a fun way to close out the year! We came together at the Travel Portland Visitor's Center and heard from Chief Marketing Officer, Greg Newland from Travel Portland about how some of the changes for the city and organization will impact short-term rental hosts. We also got a sneak peek into upcoming initiatives to promote Portland as a travel destination and some things we
can look forward to in 2025.

Next, it was time to take care of business. Host2Host Board President, Becky Burnett, led a brief discussion about proposed changes to organizational bylaws which included modifications to the Board of Directors leadership structure and committee types. Members present voted in favor of this proposal.

Then, it was time to officially nominate Lorell Miller to the Board of Directors for a two-year position beginning in January. She has been very involved in our organization and is a long-time member. We are excited about the local insights she can share and her perspectives as an experienced host and small business owner of midwifery care supply company Radiant Belly.

We loved catching up with everyone who could make it and hope
to see you again in January! Happy New Year!

BIG Changes are coming for Travel Portland and Host2Host! Come to the Holiday Gathering and General Membership Meeting on December 12th to learn more. We’ll hear from Jeff Miller with Travel Portland. He is their outgoing CEO and has been instrumental in uplifting and supporting Host2Host throughout the 19 years he has been with the organization. His positivity, resilience and steady guidance will be missed.

We are also looking forward to hearing from Travel Portland’s incoming executive to learn more about marketing activity and plans for 2025. We’ll also take a few quick votes as we modify our Bylaws and elect our next Board Member, Lorell Miller.

Host2Host was recently introduced to Meara McLaughlin, the Executive Director of MusicPortland. This non-profit is attempting to sustain and encourage musical performances in Portland. They are seeking to connect hosts with music venues for referrals for bands traveling to the city. The groups will be of all sizes, so lots of different listings could potentially be appropriate for the musicians.

One key factor influencing guest housing decisions will be storage space where musical equipment can be secured. In the best case, this would be a

locking garage that allows for a van to be parked inside it. Obviously, this is a challenge in Portland given the garage sizes that are normal in the city. So, it could be time to get creative. Do you have sleeping space but your neighbor has the garage? Determine their charge for the garage and go in on the project together! If you want to participate, please email me!

Did you know about the Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR) requirement for all LLCs? The deadline for compliance is coming up fast, so take 5 minutes to submit your personal identification to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

The online form requires your company tax identification number, company address, and personal ownership information. You are also required to upload an unexpired passport photo or driver’s license as verification of identity.

Failure to comply may result in significant daily fines along with criminal penalties punishable by up to two years in prison. There are services that can file the report for you, but it is very easy to self-report. To reiterate, this is required of every LLC in the United States.

The tax time technicalities meetup in November is a perennial favorite. Our expert panelists Eve Davis of In and Out Tax Service Inc., Stephanie Solomon of Block Advisors, and Jaydra Perfetti from Paper Investigator Inc. were kind enough to share their time and valuable knowledge with us.

Together they offered insights into any upcoming changes in tax code for short-term rental hosts offering differing and unique perspectives on risk-taking and approach to various situations. One of the time-sensitive items they shared was the need for everyone with an LLC to complete the BOIR in a timely manner. You can make your online ownership report here for free. It should take less than 10 minutes.

Education Committee member Carlos Camarena and Board Member Anthony Rallo took plenty of questions from the audience and the chat box was filled with helpful links. Check out our Membership Resources page to watch the full video, gather the useful links in the chat, and access member discounts. Non-members can check it out on Youtube.

We’re thrilled to share highlights from our recent Hosted Home Tour, where attendees embarked on a delightful self-guided adventure across 11 unique short-term rental properties in the heart of Portland.

The day kicked off at Tiny Digs, where participants gathered to collect their exclusive swag bags filled with goodies, including insulated lunch bags, branded coasters, stickers, and even a vase to showcase the beautiful blooms they would collect from each property visited.

Each attendee received a special passport to collect stamps at each location. Those who completed their passports were entered to win exciting gift certificates. We’re proud to announce that 11 participants successfully stamped their passports, and we awarded five lucky winners with gift certificates from Portland Bottle Shop, Heroes American Cafe, and Escape from NY Pizza!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this event a success. To the hosts who prepared for the event and shared your experience hosting with those attending the tour, we are so very thankful for you. To those of you who donated untold hours and energy on the planning team to create something completely different and fun for our community... you are amazing! To everyone who took a chance and the time out of your Sunday afternoon to attend our self-guided tour, we appreciate you. Your enthusiasm and participation really brought the tour to life. We hope you enjoyed exploring Portland's vibrant rental scene.

We are so thankful for our wonderful and generous event sponsors who made something new and different possible, including Travel Portland, (w)here Real Estate, Hive Hospitality, Descansa Property Management, and SPIN Laundry Lounge. Guests were also treated to delicious ice cream sandwiches from Ruby Jewel and vegan chocolates from Missionary Chocolates. Check them all out when you have a chance!