Agency hears bed-and-breakfast debate

Agency hears bed-and-breakfast debate in Hawaii
By Laurie Au
lau@starbulletin.com

The issue of bed-and-breakfast and transient vacation rentals in residential areas was as clear as yellow and white yesterday.

More than 200 residents swarmed a city Planning Commission hearing, giving heated testimony on proposals to change the city's handling of vacation housing.

Bed-and-breakfast supporters held yellow signs while residents upset with vacation housing held white signs.

The city administration has proposed bills that would require more information be disclosed by vacation-rental owners and allow more units in neighborhoods -- the first changes since 1989.

In a 3 1/2-hour hearing yesterday at the Blaisdell Center Pikake Room, the Planning Commission, an advisory body, heard from dozens of residents on the bills. There was not enough time to hear from all the attendees, and the Planning Commission will schedule another hearing before making a decision.

The City Council, however, has the right to decide which bills it will consider, regardless of the commission's opinion. The Council has proposed its own set of measures on the issue.

The white-sign carriers, mostly residents who live near vacation units, complained about traffic and loud noise from visitors in vacation rentals that turn their neighborhoods into commercial zones.

"I want to live with residents," said Stu Simmons, a Kailua resident for 15 years. "If I wanted to live with tourists, I would live in Waikiki. Vacation rentals deprive us of the neighborhood feeling."
He recalled one Halloween when there were few nearby homes to take his children trick-or-treating because they were vacation homes.

Their opponents, those carrying yellow signs, say they deserve a right to run bed-and-breakfast units and rentals, and they support new city regulations.

"This is our livelihood," said Susie Bryson, of Kailua, who owns several vacation rentals and makes customers sign a contract. "We want regulations so when there is a problem, that rental unit is shut down. Don't let a handful of bad rentals ruin it for all of us."

The bills introduced by the city Department of Planning and Permitting, as instructed by the City Council two years ago, propose that owners of vacation rentals list more information about themselves, including their license number and the address of their units, in all advertisements -- even those online -- to make enforcement easier.

"We have had problems with enforcement," said Henry Eng, planning director. "It would provide additional power. If (owners) list their address, we could do an inspection to find whether they have a permit and issue a violation if they don't. Right now we have to catch them in the act, which is very difficult."

But many owners said it could pose a safety problem since vacation rentals are unattended most of the day and would be targets for criminals. "I think it would expose that particular address to would-be criminals," said Don Maxwell, who owns a vacation rental on the Waianae Coast.

The city also is proposing additional permitting of B&Bs -- which has not been allowed since 1989, raising objections from residents afraid of additional growth.

Bed and Breakfast inns for real

Opposed to what you see on Tori and Dean's show "Inn Love", running a bed and breakfast is hard work, and many of us do that work ourselves. We do not have someone to run it for us, nor do we call someone or give up at the first sign of trouble.

Rita and I have painted several of the rooms in the inn ourselves, in addition to the decorating, cooking, cleaning, furnishing, gardening, etc. only leaving the wiring, and exterior painting to professionals. It we had a one story house, we might have even done that ourselves.

There is not "someone else" taking reservations, staying up to greet late arrivals, or making breakfast, shopping, etc. It is us--and Lily helps too.

While it is most certainly work, doing what you love, innkeeping is a passion as well.

CALIFORNIA HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF BED & BREAKFAST INNS

Here is some big news that just went out to all innkeepers in California.

The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) and the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns (CABBI) today announced that the two organizations have entered into a partnership to provide their respective members with greater access to legislative, marketing, educational and professional development benefits specific to the lodging industry. This newly formed relationship will strengthen the voice of California’s lodging industry across all market sectors, while providing property owners with the tools to operate a successful lodging business in California.

"This is a great step toward unifying the California lodging industry," said CH&LA Chairperson Tony Bruno, vice president of Disneyland Resort Hotels & Downtown Disney. "This partnership gives the industry a stronger voice at the capitol and integrates CABBI into the largest lodging association in California."
"This partnership is another positive sign for the California tourism industry and only strengthens our collective voice," stated Caroline Beteta, executive director of the California Travel & Tourism Commission. "Congratulations to CH&LA and CABBI on a giant step toward unifying the tourism industry."

This strategic partnership will allow CH&LA to concentrate on critical legislative, economic and educational issues pertinent to the California lodging industry, while CABBI focuses intently on developing and implementing targeted marketing opportunities for California bed and breakfast inns. A CABBI Council, largely
comprised of the CABBI Board of Directors, has been created within CH&LA to direct CABBI programs and services. CABBI members will receive CH&LA and AH&LA member benefits, in addition to CABBI’s current programs and services.

"We are pleased to partner with the most influential state lodging association anywhere," said CABBI Board of Directors President Stephen Willey. "CH&LA will significantly broaden program resources available to CABBI members. In turn, CH&LA members who own B&Bs will benefit from CABBI’s niche industry expertise. We are looking forward to a long and successful relationship."

About CH&LA
The California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) is the largest state lodging industry association in the nation and a Partner State Association of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Its 1,900 members, which comprise approximately 175,000 guest rooms, include all segments of the lodging industry. CH&LA is the leading resource for communicating and protecting the rights and interests of the California lodging industry. CH&LA was established in 1893. CH&LA is on the web at www.calodging.com.

About CABBI
The California Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns is California’s largest association of professional innkeepers and certified bed and breakfast inns. CABBI is a marketing-driven organization designed to create awareness among consumers of individual CABBI members and the benefits of choosing a CABBI-certified inn for overnight accommodations in California. CABBI was established in 1991. CABBI is on the web at www.cabbi.com.