Dear Governor DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez, Secretary Beshears, & Distinguished Members of the Re-Open Florida Task Force:

As a collective of some of the largest vacation rental entities in the State, we write to address our concerns regarding two of the Task Force’s recommendations for the re-opening of vacation rentals under Phase II.

1.     Recommendation of 72 Hours Between Guests

On April 28th, based on the latest scientific findings regarding the COVID-19 virus, the CDC issued the attached “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting – Public Spaces, Workplaces, Business, Schools, and Homes.” Through this guidance, the CDC sets forth clear, specific guidance on how to safely clean and disinfect areas that will be exposed to the public. The CDC gives special consideration to specific industries that need additional measures or guidance. Hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals are not included in the additional guidelines and fall within the purview of the standard Cleaning & Disinfecting protocol. More importantly, there are no guidelines suggesting shutdowns between customers or public visits.

In the Phase II recommendations set forth by the Task Force, bars, pubs, and nightclubs will be open with limited capacity. Beyond the CDC cleaning guidelines, there are no additional shutdown timeframes. Restaurants, salons, and gyms will also be open at a limited capacity. Again, no additional shutdown timeframes for cleaning. Even movie theaters, large spectator sports, and theme parks can re-open with limited capacity. There are no restrictions for closures other than a suggestion that proper steps to disinfect and clean should be followed.

With respect to the hospitality space, hotels, resorts, time-shares, and the like are already open for vacationers and visitors alike. They have the CDC cleaning protocols to follow, but they are not restricted in any way, and they certainly aren’t required to close for an arbitrary period between stays.

With respect to vacation rentals, we respectfully believe the Task Force got it wrong with its Phase II recommendation of a 72-hour shutdown for cleaning.  There is no scientific basis to support a closure period between stays separate from the CDC guidelines. Moreover, there is no equitable or logical basis for singling out one business type out of thousands. The CDC has identified industries that require additional guidance, and vacation rentals are not included.

As we look to the Phase II as recommended, visitors will be hopping on and off roller-coasters, staying at Disney & Universal resorts and hotels, visiting restaurants, going to the movies, and attending sporting events. All of these industries will be expected to follow the CDC’s guidance on keeping our locals and visitors safe, but none of them will be subject to an artificial closure period for cleaning. Our industry is as equipped as any other large or small business to get this right.

2.     Limitation to In-State Residents

Hotels, motels, inns, resorts, non-transient public lodging establishments and time share projects throughout Florida are currently open to vacationers from any location. In many instances, resorts that contain vacation rentals have some rooms open, and some rooms banned from renting. In others, time-share and short term condo rentals occupy the same building and are still subject to vastly different restrictions. Allowing guests to come stay in a large resort in Destin or Orlando, but not in the professionally managed home that is considerably less public and less prone to large gatherings and infectious spreading of the virus is counter-intuitive at best.

As we move to Phase II, we ask that the Governor consider lifting this disparate treatment for professional vacation rentals. Adding further unique restrictions that ban out-of-state visitors to vacation rentals but allows them to stay at resorts, time-shares, and hotels serves to strengthen the large hotel industry at the cost of all the small vacation rental businesses struggling to survive. We have been closed for several weeks longer, and we would ask that the separate restriction against out-of-state visitors for only vacation rentals be dropped from the Phase II recommendations.

-       Northwest Florida

As a final consideration, we would ask that you consider the unique positioning of the NW Florida market.  The area has almost no vacation rental guests from within the State. The vast majority of guests drive in from Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, and Houston, and there are essentially no international visitors like in the Orlando and southern markets. As a result, a limitation of the NW Florida market to Florida residents would be tantamount to a closure. The area has also seen limited cases, few hospitalizations, and by all accounts has more than sufficient capacity. If a restriction against out of State guests is put in place, which we feel strongly against, NW Florida’s unique situation should be considered.

* * * *

We respectfully request that the Task Force and Governor reconsider these two Phase II recommendations. Our businesses are under significant financial strain and many are near bankruptcy, and the impact of being singled out of all businesses for special punitive treatment will be devastating. We ask you to follow the data and science and the guidelines from the CDC in allowing us to open our businesses in Phase II and to be treated at least in line with the resorts, hotels, and timeshares which have public spaces that present considerably more risk.

Thank you for your consideration.

Vacation Rental Management Assoc. - Toby Babich, President/CEO

Key Data Dashboard - Jason Sprenkle, CEO

Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort - Sara Becnel, Owner

Rented.com - Cliff Johnson, COO

Breezeway - Jeremiah Gall, CEO

360 Blue - Ashely Horsley, CEO

Cottage Rental Agency – Seaside, FL - Bonnie Bianca, Rental Sales Mgr.

Newman Dailey - Jeanne Dailey, Owner

Royal Destinations - Brian Moffatt, CEO

TurnKey - John Banczak, Co-Founder/CEO

iTrip Vacations - Steve Caron, Chief Operating Officer

Resort Collection - Paul Wohlford, Owner/Partner

30A Escapes - Mike Stange, Owner/Partner

Southern Management Group - Scott Seay, CEO

Seascape Golf Beach & Tennis Resort - Ron Mote, Resort Ops. Dir.

30A-Vacay - John Ritch, Owner

Barefoot Technologies Corporation - Ed Ulmer, CEO

Beach Habitats 30A - Lanier Marshall, Owner

Ocean Reef Vacation Rentals - Tim Taylor, Owner

Benchmark 30A - Jeff Thompson, Owner

30A Cottages - Brandon Marquis, Owner

Dune Vacation Rentals - Bob Dickhaus, Owner

Coastal Dreamin - Wendy Morgan, Owner

Five Star Beach Rentals - Josh McLean, Owner/CEO

Sanders Beach Rentals - Steve Sanders, President

Easy Vacation Services - CareySue Beasley, Owner

Vacations Perfected Inc. - Gene Claseman, Owner

The Cottages on the Key, Inc. - Heather Plampin, CEO

Teal Door Hosting -Jared Higginbotham, CEO

Bookfully -Carlos Garcia, CEO

Global Resort Homes -Guy Bouchard, President

Frangista Beach Properties -William N. Wilson II, Owner

BeachWalk Vacations - Jonathan Browning, CEO

Island Vacation Properties -Bill Annis, Broker/Owner

Water Pointe Realty Group -Wendy Bentley, Rental Manager 

VillaKey, LLC -Alice Horn, CEO

Beyond Blue Vacations, LLC - Michelle Walker

Clausen Properties, Inc. - Catherine Clausen-Neff, Rental Manager

Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Agency - Jessica Standley, President

iTrip Vacations, St Augustine - David Ingoldsby, Owner

iTrip Vacations Orlando - Dan Wachter, Owner

Liquid Life Vacation Rentals - Randy Hall, President / Owner

Sunspot Realty Sales and Vacation Rentals - Robert P. Tuno, Owner/Broker 

ICND - Brandon Sauls, Owner

Blue Swell Vacation Rentals - Jason Koertge, Owner/Broker

Florida Vacation Homes & Villas - Dean Bateman, President

Homeowners Collection Seaside - Amy Wise-Coble, CEO

Owner Roelens Vacation Rentals - Koen Roelens, Owner

At Home Key West - Sybille Halford, Owner

Gibson Beach Rentals, Inc. - Brittany Blackman, Operations Manager

Cape San Blas Vacation Rentals - Ronald B. Pickett, Owner

Harmony Beach Vacations, Inc. - John Toombs, VP/CFO

iTrip Vacations Perdido Key - Patty Cummings, Owner

Destin Palms Vacations - Paul Couch, Owner

Resort Realty - Rudy Consoni, President, Broker

Best Beach Getaways - Jim DeVos, President

Excellent Vacation Homes - Rembert Vonk, Realtor

Judith Lee, President - Sun Palace Vacation Homes

Anna Maria Island Beach Rentals Inc. - Terry Whyte, Owner

iTrip St. Petersburg Beaches - Charles Park, Owner

Orlando Vacation Rentals Services - Susan Carter, Owner

Sarasota Beach Vacations, LLC - Loretta Luhman, Owner

Gulf Tide Vacations - Bart Lucius, Owner

Newman Hospitality - Andy Newman, CEO

Naples Vacation Rentals - Neil Novak, President/Owner

SeaBreeze Vacation - Adrian Johnson Owner

iRenta.com - Lars Heldre, President

Barefoot Vacation Rentals - Jared Pool, Owner

Your Vista Cay - Lin Chapman, CEO and Founder

Horizons Rentals - Paul Tateo, President

Real Joy Properties - Micha Berg, CEO

Panhandle Getaways - Ann Shank, Owner

Jeeves Florida Rentals - Sharon Harley, President

Florida Vacation Connection - Michele Knuese, President/CEO

Last Key Realty - Chris Santry, Broker Associate

MNM Companies - Natalia Peysina, Broker

Resort Vacation Property - Diana Prickett, President.

Holiday Isle Properties, Inc. - Patricia Denny, Owner

Easy Vacation Services, LLC - Carey Sue & Paul Beasley, Owners

Paradise Beach Rentals - Michael James, Owner

Coastal Realty & Property Management - Judy Alligood, Owner/Broker

Compass Resorts, Inc. - Michael McDaniel, Vice President/Owner

Sand Dollar One - Jim Chapin, Owner

Casiola Vacation Homes - Dennis Goedheid / CEO

Diamond Gulf Rentals - Mark Paschal, Owner

Suncoast Beach Vacations - Gretchen Kornutik, Founder/Director

Forever Vacation Rentals - Jilenna Parmeley, Co-Owner, and VP

Destin Getaways- John Paulsen, President

CondoRental.com - Matthew Sellers, Rental Services Dir.

Alpha Vacations - Deep Shah, Owner

Pristine Properties - Justin Gerlach, Owner/General Mgr

Shine Villas - Sally Wallace, Owner and President

El Matador Management Company - Lori L. Berry, General Manager

Great Ocean Condos and Homes - Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris, Owner/CEO

30A Luxury Vacations - Chris Gifford, President/Founder

Vacations Perfected - Rodney Lawrence, Owner/CEO

Beach Retreats Vacation Rentals - Emma Stringer, Owner

Holly Svendsen - iTrip Vacations Destin & Miramar Beach

Venture Found Vacation Rentals -Nicholas Borst, Owner

Rent Siesta Key - Joe Meszaros, Owner

Prime Time Vacation Rentals - Dennis Stark, Owner