Submitted by Angela Kockler, Host2Host member and host in SE Portland

On an absolutely beautiful, blue-sky 68° day on Saturday, March 16th, local short-term rental hosts from the Portland metro area teamed up to remove litter from an Inner-Eastside neighborhood of Portland, OR. In 2 short hours, 10 volunteers picked up an estimated 84 pounds of trash!

The weather and the company couldn't have been more perfect for accomplishing our mission, which included several things: generating Neighbor and City goodwill, socializing with other short-term rental hosts, and beautifying our city to help inspire tourism. All of this helps to strengthen our short term rental businesses and collective success. 

As we gathered to start the day, we introduced ourselves, the locations of our rentals, and one operational improvement we are hoping to make this year. Then folks paired off with some new acquaintances, and I overheard more than one promise to follow up and continue the conversations they were having when the event concluded. 

This is an example of a win – win – win type of event. One where we are helping ourselves, helping each other, and helping our broader community. We hope this can become a periodic event for Host2Host, and that we can also use this as an example to demonstrate the value of short-term rental businesses when we advocate with the city of Portland at large.

It also just feels really good to be picking up trash off of our streets so that it's more pleasant on our eyes. I'm grateful to all of the volunteers who showed up. We hope this event will continue to grow over time. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for future litter cleanups feel free to contact Angela Kockler.

In February, our Education Committee coordinated a truly informative online meetup featuring three of Host2Host’s favorite photography experts, Carlos Camarena, Amina Moreau, and Jared Whitney. 

This meetup focused on providing hosts with actionable tips they could use to create compelling images for their short-term rental listings.

Complete with a ton of visual references, our panelists provided guidelines to hosts on best practices for lighting, perspective, and staging. 

Our casual and fun roundtable discussion then focused on the relevancy of captions for photos, bulb warmth variance, easy-to-use editing software, and even whether drone images are appropriate for rental properties.

Members of Host2Host can review the webinar on our Members Resources page and check out the links that were included in the chat. For more information about special offers for the Host2Host community, check out their profiles in our Member Directory.

Thanks to all of our panelists for imparting a wealth of knowledge in such a short time and helping our hosts create more compelling listings.

If you'd like to check out the super helpful content, watch the recording on the Host2Host YouTube channel.

Don't forget to like and subscribe! ;-)

As our newsletter readers are probably all aware, BIG changes are in play for the city of Portland’s licensing requirements for short-term rental hosts and the Airbnb pass-through processing system that was but no longer is. RIP.

Last year, the City’s Bureau of Development Services terminated the data-sharing agreement with Airbnb. This resulted in a new requirement to directly submit registration details to the city. While this roll-out has not been without its fair share of hiccups, we believe efforts are moving forward to streamline the process for hosts while ensuring only operators behaving in good faith can continue listing on Airbnb. The city’s promised, easy-access online portal to collect registration details and payments will be rolling out in April. We hope this system will make it easier for hosts to comply and ensure only legally authorized listings remain on the booking platforms.

At Host2Host, we try to protect, educate, and enhance the interests of the short-term rental host. If you’re a host who has been directly impacted by these changes, you can reach the permit office at BDS by email or calling 503-823-2633.

If you enjoy staying on-top of regulatory changes, like helping your fellow hosts navigate them successfully, and have about 1-2 hours to volunteer a month, consider joining the Host2Host Advocacy Committee.

Host2Host founding members and former presidents, Dabney Tompkins and Alan Colley generously donated three nights at their lovely fire lookout tower in Southern Oregon. Their highly coveted and very popular paradise amongst the stars is the perfect getaway from all the hustle and bustle of urban life. Fortunately, this charming space was offered to Host2Host as an auction, held in March. 

As a result of the auction, we were fortunate enough to raise $1,600 including a generous $50 donation to the organization from one of the bidders. We really appreciate the generous offer on this unique piece of perfection in the sky. Many thanks, Dabney & Alan and congrats to the winner!

The Host2Host Board of Directors met to set the course for our upcoming year and we are so excited about our line-up of interesting event offerings! We want to give you a little taste of some of them, keeping in mind there’s a chance we may need to change things due to conflicts or other urgent issues that might come up. Take a look and consider all of the ways you can participate.

• Rediscovering the Soul of Hosting
• Picture Perfect: Photography Tips and Tricks
• SOLVE Cleanup: Lend a Hand
• Host Share & Artisan Showcase
• Tech Trends to Make Hosting Easier
• Travel Portland Visitor Center: Open House
• Hoyt Arboretum Host Hike & Guided Tour
• Slow Season Strategies & HostCo Preview
• Regulatory Updates
• Hosted Home Tour & Design Discussion
• Tax Preparation Panel
• Host2Host Holiday Gathering

Not included in the list are our weekly host chats, some of which will occur in-person or will be moderated to facilitate deeper discussion and introspection. And hey, if you enjoy organizing activities, maybe even consider joining the Education Committee, where the ideas for these events are generated and where the logistics are implemented.

At Host2Host, we like to keep things simple and to offer you an unparalleled opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with other hosts sharing the same struggles and triumphs as you. Every week we offer a host chat opportunities (some of which are moderated and others will be hosted in-person this year), monthly in-depth meetups on a variety of topics important to running a short-term rental business, multiple annual chances to connect and engage in-person at sponsored events, and an informative social media presence.

New Member Benefit
We're also proud this year, to be able to extend a special member benefit - a listing optimization service for just $25 in which one of our resident experts will review your listing description, photos, and rules and offer actionable recommendations to improve it so you can generate more business and enjoy a better overall guest experience and therefore higher ratings.

Membership Level Changes
In the past, Host2Host has had two membership levels for individuals and households. While that was good for folks who enjoyed hosting alone, most of us don’t. We often have not only a partner but also a whole community of friends, family, and even neighbors who help us be reliable, responsible hosts. That’s why, effective April 1st, Host2Host is making it easier for you to bring a friend to events and invite them to participate in our online meetups.

Host2Host Membership
Instead of offering Individual and Household membership, we are streamlining membership levels into a single Host2Host Member offering! Under this type of membership, you are welcome to bring a plus 1 to any event whether in-person or online. If they’re not already a member, we hope they’ll decide to join after spending a little time with us. This guest doesn’t always have to be the same person so you can spread the love around. 

Fee Changes
Annual membership fees under the new, united Host2Host Member level will be $75 per year. Again, this will go into effect on April 1st, so if you would like to renew your membership early at the $60 Individual level, we encourage you to do so. Otherwise, we hope you will enjoy the simplicity and inclusion of the new, unified Host2Host Membership level. We’re here to answer any questions you might have about the changes, so send them our way!

Have you ever wanted to spend time in one of the world's only short-term rentals perched high above the beautiful and tranquil Umpqua National Forest in southern Oregon? Complete with an outdoor shower and hot tub - it's the perfect place to unwind, unplug, watch the stars and reconnect with yourself and with our beautiful, natural surroundings.

Because this unique property is so popular, availability in their rental calendar sells out within mere minutes of being released. That's why we're so thrilled that owners and founding members of Host2Host, Dabney Tompkins and Alan Colley so graciously offered three nights as a fundraising benefit for Host2Host.

You are invited to check out the property and enter your bid to experience a life-changing stay at their amazing rental. This auction will begin promptly at 12pm on Sunday, March 3rd and end at 8pm on Sunday, March 10th, so mark your calendars and enter to win. 

Are you hosting a short-term rental property in Washington state? State legislators have approved the passage of a 10% excise tax on every night's lodging fee. This additional tax has been proposed in an effort to help offset their concerns over affordable housing needs for workers in the hospitality industry. Bill 6175 basically allows individual cities and counties to enact up to a 10% tax on every night's stay with increments of no less than 1%. Exempt from this regulation are hosts who rent space in their primary residence where guests enter from a common, shared entrance.

The overall impact of this excise tax is broad and its implications far-reaching. It could make staying at a short-term rental less affordable than a similarly priced hotel room and could negatively impact overall occupancy for STR hosts. The measure recently passed the Senate and is headed to the House for a vote so contact your state legislators today. Now is your chance to weigh in on the measure. Don't miss it! 

This spring, the City of Portland’s Planning Commission is participating in its tenth revision to Portland’s regulatory code in a process known as RICAP-10.

RICAP-10 is intended to make many changes to the code while allowing them to be voted on as one BIG ordinance. We’re bringing this to your attention because there are changes that will affect short-term rental hosts. Specifically, pages 83-95 address many changes for STRs. The proposed draft has been released for public review.

Proposals include:

• Expanding the allowance for home businesses in locations with ADU-type spaces.
• Type B permits will be restricted in C, E, and I zones. Operating in these zones may require approval as Retail Sales and Service classification instead.
• Applications for STR approval will no longer require notarization.
• Hosts cannot advertise the ability to lodge more than the maximum number of bedrooms they have been permitted for.
• Permit application process simplification including elimination of a need to list every neighbor receiving notification of application submittal.
• When a Type A permit authorization is revoked, it cannot be reissued to the same applicant and there is a two-year waiting period before that dwelling can be permitted again.
• Instead of requiring hosts to maintain a guest logbook, the City may request a list of transactions from the listing platform showing guest names, guest home addresses, guest phone numbers, dates of stay, and number of guests in each reservation. This information must be provided within 30 days or risk permit revocation.

We encourage you to review the proposed changes to see how they could affect your ability to host. If you have any concerns, submit them here and watch this site for more details about implementation.

If you enjoy staying abreast of regulatory changes and helping your fellow hosts navigate them successfully, consider joining the Host2Host Advocacy Committee.

As hosts in the short-term rental market, it's crucial to stay informed about any updates or changes in the platforms we use to connect with guests and manage our listings. Recently, Airbnb rolled out some revisions to their terms of service that take effect at the end of March. Let's delve into these changes and understand their implications for hosts like us.

Of course, you must do your due diligence to ensure you understand these changes. Our summation is offered as a service to our readers, but it's important for you to know how the changes could impact you.

Guest Responsibilities

One significant aspect of the updated terms revolves around guest responsibilities. Airbnb now explicitly outlines the expectations for guests regarding their behavior during their stay. This includes respecting the host's property and community guidelines, adhering to noise policies, and treating neighbors with consideration. 

Host Guarantees

Another noteworthy update pertains to the host guarantee program. Airbnb has refined the terms surrounding host protection, offering more clarity on the coverage provided. Hosts can continue to expect protection against damages caused by guests. However, it's essential to review the specifics of the guarantee to understand its scope and limitations.

Fee Structure

The revised terms also include adjustments to the fee structure on Airbnb. While the core fee remains consistent, hosts may encounter changes in additional fees associated with specific services or features. Additionally, in cases of reservations that cross currencies, an additional 2% fee will apply. It's advisable to review the updated fee schedule.

Data Privacy and Security

With the growing emphasis on data privacy and security, Airbnb has reinforced its commitment to safeguarding user information. The updated terms incorporate measures to protect host and guest data, aligning with evolving regulatory standards and best practices.

Community Guidelines

Lastly, Airbnb has reinforced its community guidelines. These guidelines encompass various aspects, including anti-discrimination policies, responsible hosting practices, and cultural sensitivity. By upholding these principles, hosts contribute to creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests from diverse backgrounds.

As with any Terms of Service change, it's important to familiarize yourself with the updated agreement.