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AirBnB, VRBO, vacation and executive rental news and issues in Victoria


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#1161 dasmo

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Posted 06 February 2018 - 06:44 PM

But the Tourism Victoria board, that's rallying against the Air BnB sector, is made up of:

A hotel operator
The Bay Centre operator
A "generalist"
A Royal BC Museum person
A hotel operator
A hotel operator
A hospital industry employment group person
An airport guy
A hotel operator
A hotel operator
A whale watch guy
A theme park operator
A credit union operator
A cider farm operator
A city councillor
...and a Saanich councillor

Do they all oppose Air BnB?

Or are there just enough hoteliers on there to vote to attack Air BnB?

Does Butchart Gardens, BC Ferries, the DVBA, Chamber of Commerce, and the pub and restaurant and retail and transport and tour industry (none represented on the board except whale watching and the airport) really oppose Air BnB people coming here?

That’s because the tourism board is funded by hotel tax isn’t it? The organization is geared towards getting heads in beds.... Their beds.

#1162 spanky123

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 08:58 AM

I'm planning a trip to Vegas in late April. The ONLY way I'm going there is because I can rent a whole house with a pool in the backyard. I wouldn't be going if my only choice was a room or even a suite at a hotel or casino. Probably will go to the strip a few times but most of my money will be spent at the local grocery store, coffee shop or restaurant.

 

Well Vegas is probably the exception where you COULD rent a house with a pool within a hotel casino! 

 

I do the same thing all of the time. In most cities, hotels are geared towards the business traveler and you are hard pressed to find 2 or 3 bedroom accommodations without renting multiple rooms. 



#1163 Mike K.

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 09:26 AM

The province will be making a housing announcement that is related to AirBnB. It sounds like some sort of a partnership.
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#1164 spanky123

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 09:28 AM

The province will be making a housing announcement that is related to AirBnB. It sounds like some sort of a partnership.

 

Airbnb will collect a hospitality tax which will then flow in the Province's general income affordable housing fund.


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#1165 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 09:38 AM

That’s because the tourism board is funded by hotel tax isn’t it? The organization is geared towards getting heads in beds.... Their beds.


Yes, that’s most of their funding for sure. That might be a problem. Because it also has no interest in Day-trippers.
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1166 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 11:52 AM

Airbnb to begin collecting PST

The company will soon begin collecting 8% provincial sales tax and up to 3% in municipal and regional district tax for all short-term rentals it facilitates in BC. The finance minister says this will help fund affordable housing initiatives in the province.

 

 

 

So now Air BnB will fund Tourism Victoria (that's the up to 3% part).


Edited by VicHockeyFan, 07 February 2018 - 11:52 AM.

<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1167 dasmo

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 12:04 PM

Affordable housing is dead. They should call it the subsidized housing fund.  Affordable housing initiatives would look much different. Like allowing tiny homes, allowing less expensive buildings like modern yurts. Not continuing to add huge burdens to the cost of building like seismic, HPO exams, Increasing soft costs, spot zoning every individual application, and the big one is the code going to net zero. Come 2032 the new build SFH is dead except for the filthy rich. Only multi family will be remotely affordable to build..... 

 

But hey, good optics! 


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#1168 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 12:15 PM

Agree!
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<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1169 Mike K.

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 12:18 PM

Shy now that's we've curtailed AirBnB's in the City of Victoria through a regulatory regime and a removal of the transient zoning, will the province now direct taxes collected from the hotel industry towards this affordable housing fund?


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#1170 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 12:38 PM

So now what about traditional BnBs?  They are currently exempt for 4 units or less.


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1171 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 12:40 PM

 
Airbnb to collect provincial, municipal taxes on short-term rentals in B.C.
 
Additional $21 million will help fund housing affordability, tourism
 

 

 

<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1172 lanforod

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 12:52 PM

For now, just Airbnb. I'll definitely look closer at VRBO postings until that gets roped in too :P.



#1173 Rob Randall

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 01:01 PM

I was all excited when I saw a Seattle AirBnB for $65 a night, until I put in the dates in March I wanted to go and the price per day jumped up to $270. Plus Seattle has the whole whack of hotel/transit taxes on top of that. 

 

The Westshore house my friends have on AirBnB will go up in peak summer, but never more than $20. And that's a whole house, not a room!



#1174 spanky123

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 04:02 PM

I was all excited when I saw a Seattle AirBnB for $65 a night, until I put in the dates in March I wanted to go and the price per day jumped up to $270. Plus Seattle has the whole whack of hotel/transit taxes on top of that. 

 

The Westshore house my friends have on AirBnB will go up in peak summer, but never more than $20. And that's a whole house, not a room!

 

Airbnb has implemented new AI algorithms for pricing. Gone are the days of shopping around and finding bargains. Each price is now set dynamically to maximize profit.



#1175 spanky123

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Posted 07 February 2018 - 04:04 PM

Shy now that's we've curtailed AirBnB's in the City of Victoria through a regulatory regime and a removal of the transient zoning, will the province now direct taxes collected from the hotel industry towards this affordable housing fund?

 

Now that Helps realizes that she can collect 3% tax (plus all of their other fees) on all of the units I suspect that the City will quickly move to license as many as they possibly can.



#1176 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 08 February 2018 - 06:48 PM

Isitt, today:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...4526533?cmp=rss

 

"Rather than have a complete regulatory vacuum, I think it is a good step that the province has moved forward with taxation of these companies," Isitt said, though he would prefer to see vacation rentals booked through a local online service.

 

 

Nursey, September 2017:

 

September, 2017: Paul Nursey, chief executive of Tourism Victoria, agreed. He said the short-term rental situation was “completely out of control with condos being used for Airbnb.”

 

 

Nursey today, now that they get the 3% tax:

 

Today: "Nursey said short-term vacation rentals have proven they have a place in the market."

 


Edited by VicHockeyFan, 08 February 2018 - 06:54 PM.

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<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1177 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 08 February 2018 - 07:19 PM

 
Despite illegal status, Airbnb taxes headed for Oak Bay

Airbnb to pay PST and municipal tax after negotiation with the province

 

https://www.vicnews....ed-for-oak-bay/

 

Oak Bay expects to receive some of the funds now that Airbnb will pay tax, despite the fact the short term rentals are illegal.
 
Finance Minister Carole James made the tax announcement at the legislature Wednesday, saying the government had been looking at new tax models to build tax fairness.
 
Airbnb will begin collecting the 8 per cent PST and the up-to-3 per cent municipal and regional district tax (MRDT) in short-term accommodations provided in B.C.. Oak Bay has a municipal 2 per cent hotel room tax. The province estimates Airbnb will remit about $16 million through the PST and an additional $5 million through the MRDT.

 

 


<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1178 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 13 February 2018 - 08:18 AM

 
Will B.C.'s Airbnb tax make tourists turn to tax-free alternatives?
‘It's obviously a concern long term for us,’ says Airbnb

 

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...nters-1.4529215

 
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#1179 lanforod

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Posted 13 February 2018 - 08:39 AM

I already said I would do that. A lot of folks cross post their listings on VRBO/Homeaway and AirBnB. I'd definitely be looking at both if I see a listing I want to book (and I book at least 4 nights of STR in BC annually). Ultimately, its the total price that helps drive my decision when all else is equal.



#1180 spanky123

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Posted 13 February 2018 - 08:43 AM

I already said I would do that. A lot of folks cross post their listings on VRBO/Homeaway and AirBnB. I'd definitely be looking at both if I see a listing I want to book (and I book at least 4 nights of STR in BC annually). Ultimately, its the total price that helps drive my decision when all else is equal.

 

Agreed. The two companies calculate fees different ways and require payment at different times so it is always worth checking both. If the Gov't is going to apply taxes, it should be across the board though.



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