Edmonton Hotels Call Out Flawed City Report on Short-Term Rental Regulations

The Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is urging Edmonton City Council to reject the administration’s recommendation against regulating commercial short-term rentals. This decision favors platforms like Airbnb while ignoring the impact on housing affordability and local businesses.

“Hotels are not afraid of competition, nor do we want to regulate homeowners who occasionally rent a room in their own home. What’s troubling is that Edmonton’s administration is taking direction from platforms like Airbnb, with absolutely no regard for the concerns of tourism and hospitality businesses that support the community, employ Edmontonians, and pay commercial taxes,” said Tracy Douglas-Blowers, President & CEO.

While short-term rentals are not the only reason for the housing crisis, unregulated commercial short-term rentals are:

• Turning homes and condos that were built for people who live and work in Edmonton into ghost hotels.
   
• Inflating housing prices, reducing affordability, and driving up rental rates.
   
• Bringing a steady stream of transient visitors to neighborhoods and condominiums.
   
• Gaming municipal property tax rolls by paying residential property tax on their commercial enterprises even as they increase municipal costs for enforcement and waste management.
   
• Undermining current and future investment in tourism by businesses that employ Edmontonians and pay commercial property tax.

View our official press release HERE.