Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • May 27, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 9 in Connecticut was recently foiled, Scanlon said he's poised to pursue similar legislation in 2020. Scanlon, a 32-year-old who often opts for Airbnb rentals during his travels, said the bill he introduced mirrors leg- islation adopted in Massachusetts — which became the first state this year to pass sweeping regulations on short- term rentals — as a guide to improve the safety, tax collections and transpar- ency surrounding the industry. States like New York, Vermont and Pennsylva- nia are also eyeing regulation. Scanlon, who also led the state's ef- fort to regulate ride-sharing network Uber in 2017, said his latest attempt to monitor the sharing economy is more about improving neighborhood safety rather than an attack on the Silicon Valley-based company, which launched in 2008. Airbnb, the top player in the short-term rental industry, represents about 70 percent of Connecticut's market, meaning any regulation on short-term rental operators in the state falls mainly on their hosts, who receive 97 percent of rev- enue generated by guests stays. The com- pany supports "common-sense" regulation of short- term rentals, but not if that means discouraging people from sharing their homes, according to Liz DeBold Fusco, a senior communications manager for Airbnb, who said some of the requirements in Scanlon's bill threatened to curtail business. However, Connecticut's first regu- latory attempt wasn't necessarily more restrictive compared to what other states have proposed, she said, although an early version of Scanlon's bill sought to limit the number of days a guest could occupy a rental space. "Generally, we are not opposed to regulation, it's about working with states and cities, finding a regulatory path forward," she said. "We've seen pieces of this bill proposed in other states at some point." Hartford out front While states work out the logis- tics of how to address the emerging short-term rental industry, Con- necticut's Capital City has already adopted a host of requirements. Hartford's zoning regulations require residents to receive a special permit to oper- ate a short-term rental and limit the number of occupants in a single-family unit, in addi- tion to requiring property owners to reside on-site during guest visits, a particu- larly restrictive measure. After adopt- ing the changes in 2016, Sara Bronin, chair of the city's plan- ning and zoning commission, said the city is now devoting additional resources to enforce and track compliance. "Short-term rentals can help people supplement their income, age in place and make better use of large homes," she said. "Our zoning rules are intended to protect the residen- tial character of our neighborhoods against the potential negative effects of short-term rentals." FOCUS Our products, services and team approach were designed with your growing needs in mind. Visit chelseagroton.com/growthatbusiness or call 860-448-4203 to learn how we can grow that business of yours together. • BUSINESS BANKING • COMMERCIAL LOANS • TREASURY MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS We're in the business of building dreams. consider any other family destination where our guests may decide to spend their dollars on an activity or experience as competition for Lake Compounce. Q. Lake Compounce is hiring 1,200 people to fill part- and full-time posi- tions. What are the challenges associ- ated with hiring that many people in such a short amount of time? What strategies does Lake Compounce deploy to fill those positions? A. Besides recruiting in schools and posting openings on our website, we have used social media to our advantage these past few years to aide in recruit- ing. Using tools like short videos, live Q&A videos, and of course static posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, has allowed us to increase our reach. We have also had good luck hiring team members who are retired from their careers but are still looking to work part time. However, working with local schools and colleges to let people know we are looking for seasonal work- ers, has been the most successful for us. Q. The state House and Senate both recently passed a bill that would gradually raise the state's hourly minimum wage from $10.10 to $15. How would that impact a seasonal employer like Lake Compounce ? A. Raising the hourly minimum wage doesn't only impact seasonal employers, it impacts all employers. It would have a great impact on the park and what we'll be able to invest in regarding future expansions and operations. BY THE NUMBERS 172,700 The amount of inbound guests Airbnb drew to Connecticut in 2018. 3,700 The number of Connecticut Airbnb hosts in 2018. $7,500 The amount of money an average Airb- nb host earns by sharing their home for about 40 nights a year. RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! contact Donna Collins, Associate Publisher at 860-236-9998 ext. 121 Or dcollins@HartfordBusiness.com BE A PART OF DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT 2019! View the 2018 Digital Edition at www.DoingBusinessinCT.com Doing Business in Connecticut showcases Connecticut's many economic development opportunities, and the attributes that make Connecticut the place to work, live and play. The resource for all companies looking to expand in or relocate to Connecticut. ALL NEW EDITION! PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES: • Sponsorships • 2-Page Company Profi le • Advertising

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