Advocacy
At Mastrmind, we believe caring, responsible hosts make vacation rentals a true benefit to their neighborhoods. While communities thrive by supporting their small businesses, we also recognize that some rules are needed to protect against bad actors. However, too many regulations can make it hard for good hosts to succeed. That's why we support fair, common-sense rules that protect both guests and responsible small business owners.
Yes, you can fight City Hall—and win.
Marathon, FL Feb 2026
Would you like to see your short-term rental fee doubled? Or pay over $1,000 more per year than you do now? Unsurprisingly, I don’t know any host who would welcome that prospect.
The city of Marathon—a slice of paradise in the Florida Keys—recently proposed more than doubling its short-term rental (STR) fees, which fund local regulation of vacation rentals. The Keys have always been a classic getaway for us. Visiting feels like entering a different world compared to the fast-paced Miami culture, which is exactly why we love it.
Jacomina and I made the two-and-a-half-hour drive to meet some fellow Airbnb hosts and attend last night’s council meeting. We’re no strangers to fighting regulation—back in our municipality in Miami, we played a key role in ensuring that small short-term rental businesses weren’t burdened with excessive rules. But since the Keys are in another county with their own laws, we went simply to support local hosts.
Local hosts made all the difference
It was inspiring to hear about a dozen STR owners—ranging from single-property hosts to professional managers with over 100 listings—voice thoughtful, persuasive arguments against the fee hike. There were no emotional outbursts or shouting matches (as we’ve seen at other meetings), just professionals calmly presenting the facts.
In the end, city officials opted to commission a study to determine the true cost of enforcing regulations for the more than 1,000 short-term rentals—about 20% of local housing stock, with an average annual occupancy of 50%. Meanwhile, they approved a $100 increase for the first two bedrooms.
We all understand that the cost of doing business rises over time, and that these costs are often passed on to our guests. But it’s vital for us to engage with local governments and advocate for the real benefits STRs bring to our neighborhoods. Just as we must run well-managed, community-minded businesses, we should also fight for fair, reasonable regulations and costs.
It’s up to each of us to be good neighbors and to speak up when the government seeks to increase regulations and costs. Can I promise you’ll always win? Of course not. But I can guarantee that if you don’t make your voice heard, you’ll lose by default.
Every time.