Comments on: Bermuda’s Vacation Rental Market Under Review

By: #JustKillOffBermudasTourismProductNow

#JustKillOffBermudasTourismProductNow — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 21:34:09 +0000

I pray that this summit is not held to add further roadblocks to an already struggling tourism economy in Bermuda. I hope that the powers that be do not tax VACATION RENTAL PROPERTIES that accommodate up to 5 tourists. This is the last and only hope for the budget conscious travelers. Because we don’t have budget hotels. We need to be able to have a diverse tourism product and prices. If we tax landlords for hosting tourist at their properties, it will decrease the amount of properties available for this type of traveler. It also takes away from giving that kind of tourist the ‘truly local’ experience that some yearn for. What we need in Bermuda is less red tape, and more relaxation of rules. While there may be concessions for the big fancy corporate hotels, none exists for vacation rentals. We should be encouraging people to put tourists up for a more local experience and without fear of taxation or penalties. BTA and GOVERNMENT roll down your socks, get your hands dirty and stop with the stiff upper lip. Relax, after all we are an island destination, bring back this appeal.

By: Sickofantz

Sickofantz — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 17:38:45 +0000

Bet these people buy way more and eat out more than cruise ship people. If I waere representing taxi drivers I would be completely behind vacation rentals as most of them cannot drive here.

By: Rick Olson

Rick Olson — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 16:11:08 +0000

Gov. Get tax via land tax on all properties so they be careful not to be heavy handed. This same discussion is going on in other destinations as well so we should pay attention .

By: Jonathan Dill

Jonathan Dill — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 15:10:45 +0000

Also the BTA effectively functions as a marketing department for the major hotels so I have no sympathy. Scrap the hotel tax for everyone.

By: Kindley

Kindley — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 13:58:57 +0000

Thank goodness for the Vacation Rentals. They allow the “not so rich” to visit and enjoy your beautiful island. Not everyone can afford to stay at the expensive hotels.

I can’t for the life of me understand why the government dose not see this. A nice affordable hotel in St. George’s would be wonderful for the east end. No need to have a gambling.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 22:56:42 +0000

Just an fyi, IF anyone from the BTA read this: The tourists who rent through the Air B&B, or any of the other sites, are EXTREMELY price sensitive. A swing of $10 per night will cause them to choose another location. If the taxes you may want to impose get passed on to the consumer then we could once again price ourselves OUT of a market. Right now we are starting to build and momentum is being gained in this type of niche tourism. PLEASE do not mess it up. You don’t need to regulate us. This is something we do. We are Bermudians, let us be.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:15:42 +0000

We do pay taxes, if the number of occupants per unit is greater than 6. The huge taxes you say the hotels pay are in fact passed on to the guests.

By: aceboy

aceboy — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:09:33 +0000

Leave the market to market forces. Overregulation will kill the potential business for home owners. Meddle with this at your PERIL BTA.

By: Jeremy Deacon

Jeremy Deacon — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 14:32:10 +0000

as well as rentals, would it be worth setting up a house swap
section of a website ?
it would allow locals to holiday and increase spending power of visitors?

By: Family Man

Family Man — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 14:05:51 +0000

They’re going to want to regulate every rental to a tourist. (For safety and quality of course :/sarcasm off).

Once its regulated they’ll need to tax it. To pay for the regulation expense of course.

Empire building at its best.

By: MB

MB — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:55:55 +0000

I think that it is 100% unfair that Tourism designated hotel properties must pay huge taxes while homeowners who benefit from Tourism marketing and infrastructure and have taken their properties off the market to rent short term to vistors pay no Tourism taxes. They should pay as well! This has been going on for years … so much lost revenue!!!

By: San George

San George — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 11:43:52 +0000

The government would only look at this as a target for taxation. Too many civil servants. Stimulation of the economy will come from private business people like this. Don’t let the government and the civil service kill this sector with regulation, taxation and red tape.

Quo Fata Ferunt