How to start a short-term rental alliance

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Positive change is rarely the work of an individual; more often, it happens when a group commits to a goal. This is the power of a short-term rental alliance. In this guide, we’ll describe what an alliance does and how to start one in your community.

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What is a short-term rental alliance?

An alliance is hosts, property managers, vendors, service providers, and others who unite to advocate for common interests, share best practices, address regulatory issues, and spearhead initiatives to enhance the industry’s sustainability.

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Why start a short-term rental alliance?

By unifying, hosts and others gain more influence in shaping fair regulations and can foster community and networking opportunities. Hosts learn from each other and form partnerships. Some alliances provide educational resources to hone hospitality, property maintenance, marketing, and other skills. 

Additionally, alliances may establish quality standards – like guidelines or certifications –  that boost consumer confidence and trust in STRs. Finally, alliances promote positive interactions with residents by participating in community events, supporting local businesses and charities, and addressing neighbor concerns.

For a detailed guide to starting an alliance with templates and other tools, get Rent Responsibly’s free Ultimate Guide to Starting an STR Alliance >

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How do I start a short-term rental alliance?

Step 1: Form a leadership team

Building an alliance requires forming a solid leadership team. Seek fellow leaders within your network and among community organizations where they may already be civically engaged. Look for leadership qualities like industry championing, community stewardship, and good neighbor practices.

Assign leadership roles based on each person’s strengths and interests and adapt roles based on the group's goals and progress to achieve success. Typical roles are president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. However, the alliance may also appoint committees to work on special projects.

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Step 2: Set up your group’s essentials

Your alliance needs some essentials to launch into action: 

• Brand:
  Choose a professional logo to ensure your group looks polished and reputable.
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• Website:
  ‍To establish an online presence for your group, start with a website. Choose a domain name that reflects your group name with a .org extension. You can build a website yourself using tools like WordPress or Squarespace. 
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• Branded email address:
  Set up a branded email address through Google's Workspace, giving you access to other free tools like Docs, Drive, and Sheets.
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• Contact database:
  Use Sheets to start a roster of subscribers and members, including their name, email address, and volunteer interests. Collecting details about members upfront makes your group more effective.
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• Email marketing platform:
  Use a free automated email marketing platform like Mailchimp to email members and conduct marketing campaigns.
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• Social media:
  Create accounts and pages under your group name on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Create private and public groups for members to connect and share information.

If this feels like a lot (it can be!), reach out to Rent Responsibly to see how we can help >

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Step 3: Recruit members

With the basics in place, it’s time to expand your membership. As a first step, ask founding members to invite their connections to join the alliance.

Recruit members from your existing network of STR operators, Facebook and LinkedIn groups, Meetups, real estate associations, property management firms, booking platforms, and other groups and businesses with common interests. You can also promote memberships to those outside your network via your website, posting on social media, and other tactics.

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Step 4: Engage in community and regulatory discussions

Engaging in community and regulatory discussions is a crucial alliance function. This involves meeting city council people and influential community members. Stay abreast of regulatory developments and participate in regulatory discussions by subscribing to city RSS feeds or meeting notifications and setting up Google Alerts on short-term rentals in your area. Ensure that at least one member attends meetings where short-term rentals are up for discussion and makes public comments.

You can also volunteer on committees or task forces on short-term rentals or housing and ensure that your alliance has representation in the chamber of commerce, real estate association, and other community groups with influence. Seek partnerships with local businesses that benefit your guests and the local economy. 

These steps will help jumpstart your short-term rental alliance and elevate the industry through advocacy, education, and a sense of community.

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Check out more detailed guides for alliances from fundraising to hosting events at RentResponsibly.org/Alliances

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