Visit Baltimore, a sales and marketing organization that works to bring conventions and tours to Baltimore City, is exploring the possibility of imposing the City’s hotel tax to short-term online rentals like those that are booked through Airbnb, an online booking service that currently does not fall under most hotel taxes.

. As reported by the Baltimore Business Journal,

Tom Noonan, the CEO of Visit Baltimore, said he couldn’t comment exactly on what a new “regulatory model” for short-term rentals would look like, but said the group wants “to ensure a safe and positive experience for guests coming into Baltimore, and, for our own community.”

“That does mean looking at those rules and regulations imposed on our hotel and bed-and-breakfast community and considering what are similarly fair and relevant standards and processes for [short-term rentals],” he said.

The City’s 9.5% hotel tax currently applies to bed and breakfasts and hotels, but does not apply to short-term rentals.

Visit Baltimore is discussing potential regulations with the city housing department’s Office of Permits & Building Inspections and the Municipal Zoning and Appeals Board, as well as the mayor’s office.