Short Term Accommodation... YES Stratford!

These styles of accommodation are an essential option in Stratford. Many people with a long history of visiting us had to start out on a highly limited budget. There are thousands of places competing for the tourist dollar. If Stratford wants to keep people coming, it has to make it possible for people to consider coming here by giving them options for every budget.

Airbnb provides a wonderfully personalized option to standard accom. Stratford absolutely needs it.

I know people who have put much effort into making a place in their homes for guests visiting our city. Please allow them to continue offering alternative and affordable accommodation for visitors. It gives many home owners a small income, a necessary income to keep up their homes and pay very high taxes to own a home here. They are part of what makes Stratford a visually beautiful community, their homes often are the homes people look to and say, Isn't Stratford beautiful!

Stratford is recognized for its extraordinary hospitality. Please let's maintain this extraordinary accomplishment .

For the City to feel the need to somehow regulate the quality of the services provided is understandable. To arbitrarily decide who can and cannot is not right. If the home is appealing and well maintained why should not the owner be allowed to use it or rent it as they choose to?

All the City should concern themselves with is the "safety of visitors". The City /Fire department should charge a "small fee" for a safety inspection. That is all. Charging a licensing fee is ridiculous. In addition: 1) The homeowner should know ahead of time when they book an appointment what the expected requirements for the safety inspection. 2) The number of rooms / apartments/ suites/ broom closets, etc rented should be 1+ That way you alleviate the "cheating that has gone on for years". 3) the City MUST require the Stratford Festival to provide a clearance letter from a "landlord" who rents out units to an actor, crew, staff, visiting guest, etc, for each season that those units meet the same standards that are required of other homeowners in the community. (Many of the units I have seen are in terrible condition and not would not meet basic safety needs. But that appears to be more of a statement about the Festival and the City should be concerned). Possibly that has changed over the past few years, but not likely. 4) plus, what is to done with the "hundreds" of "retired" B&B owners who stopped running their B&B but still take in their old regular guests year after year, and normally those guests pay by cash. All the City has dine is punish the people willing to play by the rules.

Why? No reason not to have this short term housing.

We agree with the amnesty. Mollie and David

In support of both requests.

Stop trying to curb tourism in a town that thrives on the tourist industry. You are literaly biting that hand that feeds you. Not good business sense.

Let short term rentals stay in stratford ! Not necessary to have them leave as it is vital to our growing community, tourism and economy.

To have these short term rentals cease operation or cancel bookings is counter productive in a town with over half a million visitors per season. These visitors need to be welcomed to Stratford. Many travellers, me included, don't want to have breakfast with strangers, nor can we afford hotels. Please educate yourselves on how Airbnb and VRBO operate. There are many regulations and controls in place.

Let's keep the 2017 season reservations in place while the city works out the details. Let's not create undue harm to our valued guests - keep their experience positive and give them lots of reasons to keep coming back. :)

For families, these type of accommodations are really nice - they afford an opportunity due to the "home away from home" privacy and comforts that benefit those with children who may not fit well into traditional, more adult focused establishments. Our family have used VRBO accommodations multiple times over the last 8 years, and found the experience to be very positive.

Agree with Airbnb as an option.

This needs to be looked at to serve our tourist clients in Stratford. Let Stratford be a leading city in allowing choice in accommodation for our tourist guests

As licensed B&B owners, we think it is fair and appropriate to allow alternative new venues to provide accommodations, as long as they are licensed and compliant with the by-laws - either the current ones, or the new rules under consideration. Thanks.

The idea of not having a real open discussion about choice in accommodation prior to changing bylaws shows the complete lack of understanding of the accomodation choices that are needed to attract younger less affluent families

I love Airbnb, gives more choice

Let's not draw guests into a family squabble, and make visitors feel unwelcome by forced cancellation of reservations. By all means, protect Stratford's collective interests by ensuring that short term rentals are clean, safe, and comfortable through a licensing system. But City of Stratford, please don't pick fights in front of valued guests while you work out the rules.