Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 5 legislators and explain the challenges they face. "I encourage you to invite legislators to have coffee with you, to really get to know you," Dendas said. "Because the more that they do that, the better served you are." Level playing field Dendas said another priority for the 2026 session is to regulate so-called short-term rentals, like those offered by Airbnb and Vrbo. House bill 6493 proposed during the 2025 legislative session, he said, sought to create a $200 registration fee for all short-term rental offerings that would have been enforced by the state Depart- ment of Revenue Services (DRS). DRS "didn't have the capacity at the time, so we hope to rewrite that bill and come back next session and get that done," Dendas said. Connecticut Lodging Association President Meri Wick, owner of the Westbrook Inn Bed & Breakfast, said her association is not against short- term rentals, but wants to level the playing field. She said requiring registration would bring short-term rentals into clearer view and help ensure they collect the state's 15% occupancy tax. "What we recognize is that we have a lot of short-term rentals that do it under the radar," she said. Rachel Lenda, director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, said tourism acts as a catalyst for the broader economy, noting that a 10% increase in tourism activity generates about 2.5% growth in other industries. Lenda also touted CTVisit.com, which she said is among the top 10 state tourism websites nationwide. The website has "roughly 9 million unique visitors per year," she said. "That puts us in a better influential category than GQ magazine." Lenda also discussed a new "loyalty program" coming this fall, in which Politics & Policy CT Lodging Association's '26 legislative agenda: more funding, short-term renter registry State Rep. Devin Carney (R-Old Saybrook) and Connecticut Lodging Association President Meri Wick, owner of the Westbrook Inn Bed & Breakfast, were speakers at a recent special meeting to discuss the tourism industry's legislative agenda for 2026. Photo | Contributed by State Rep. Devin Carney By David Krechevsky davidk@hartfordbusiness.com T his year's legislative session was not a particularly successful one for the state's hospitality and tourism industries. So, the Connecticut Lodging Association (CLA) convened a special meeting recently at the Water's Edge Resort in Westbrook to, among other things, discuss the goals for the short legislative session coming in 2026. The meeting, attended by about three dozen people both in person and online, was held to discuss strengthening the state's hospitality industry as it faces significant chal- lenges, the organizers said. Perhaps the most important goal, and the biggest challenge, is to get the legislature and Gov. Ned Lamont to appropriate more tourism funding. Government funding for tourism marketing — which benefits the hospi- tality industry by attracting visitors who stay for one or more nights — has fallen each year since it received a big boost in fiscal 2022, when the budget was $12.1 million. In 2023, it slipped to $11.7 million, but just $4.1 million of that was state funding; the other $7.6 million was federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. ARPA funds supplemented the state marketing budget in each of the next two fiscal years, but that federal money is now gone and the budget for fiscal year 2026 is just $4.5 million. By comparison, New York's tourism budget is $69.5 million. Frank Burns, executive director of the Connecticut Tourism Coalition, told the attendees there is hope for the 2026 legislative session, despite the fact that Lamont has consistently been reluctant to spend public money on the industry. Burns said a plan to dedicate 10% of the state's 1% meals tax — which generates about $107 million a year — to support the arts, hospitality and tourism industries drew backing from House and Senate leaders during the 2025 legislative session. "Unfortunately, they all kind of capit- ulated to the governor, and we did not get the funding in the end," Burns said. Burns said key lawmakers on the finance and appropriations commit- tees indicated they intend to revive the proposal early in the next session, and they are hopeful they will have enough leadership support to pass it. Both Burns and Zach Dendas, of lobbying firm Sullivan & LeShane in Hart- ford, which began representing CLA this year, said it's important for hospitality and tourism industry executives to speak with Zach Dendas Connecticut residents who share tourism experiences via social media can earn points that can be used to buy state-branded merchandise or one-of-a-kind experiences. Return on investment In addition to Lenda, other speakers during the event included Sarah Bratko, vice president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, and Bob Murdock, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau. Bratko provided updates on changes at the federal level, while Murdock discussed the bureau's efforts to attract more events to the state. While he cautioned that the past fiscal year was not the CCSB's best, it brought in $55.8 million in total sales revenue for events. "These supported 16,000 jobs in the Connecticut hospitality industry, and these events brought in $3.4 million in state sales tax," which he said amounted to a $6.12 return for every dollar invested. Also on hand was state Rep. Devin Carney (R-Old Saybrook), who was an unscheduled speaker and offered his support to the CLA and its efforts at the Capitol. After the meeting, Carney said there just aren't enough legislators who understand the importance of supporting hospitality and tourism in the state. "I think it's really about making it a priority, convincing legislators that it is a priority, talking about all the economic impact, the benefits to our state, things like that," he said. Rachel Lenda TOM YORK, SIOR c: 860.416.2239 e: TYork@GomanYork.com w: gomanyork.com FOR SUBLEASE 101 East River Drive, East Hartford, CT "Riverview Square" Downtown Hartford Amenities Just a Short Walk Away For More Information Plug & Play Opportunity Up to 40,000 sq. ft. • Below Market Rent with Free FF&E!

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