Survey Results: Government Relations Tops NBSTRA Member Priorities
Happy New Year from NBSTRA! 🎉
Late last year, we asked you to share your views on what our Alliance should prioritize in the year ahead. Thank you to everyone who took a few minutes to respond – we had a good rate of return on the survey and that input is shaping how we set our agenda for 2026.
In the survey, members rated several possible priorities on a 5-point scale, where 5 means “strongly agree / top priority” and 1 means “strongly disagree / low priority.” Based on the averages, here’s how those priorities ranked, from highest to lowest:
Government Relations with the City of Newport Beach (average score: 4.6 out of 5)
Communicate to the Community the Value STRs Provide to the City (average score: 4.2 out of 5)
Helping Members with Best Practices on STR Operations and Community Relations (average score: 3.9 out of 5)
Helping Members Market Your Properties to Potential Guests (average score: 3.7 out of 5)
Providing Networking Opportunities for Members of the Alliance (average score: 3.5 out of 5)
Helping Members Get Discounts for Goods & Services Used to Manage Your Properties (average score: 3.4 out of 5)
What members told us
The clearest message from the survey is that Government Relations with the City of Newport Beach is your top priority. That aligns directly with why we formed NBSTRA in the first place – to make sure the voices of responsible short-term rental owners and managers are heard at City Hall.
Members also told us they want NBSTRA to do more to tell the story of how STRs benefit Newport Beach – from local jobs to visitor spending and TOT revenue, and that they value help with best practices and community relations, and they .
A few anonymous comments capture the overall sentiment well:
“The goal should be to convince the City of Newport Beach of the economic value of STRs and not pass onerous regulations stifling STRs.”
“Thank you for all you do and Happy Holidays.”
We also received constructive suggestions about improving communication – including making sure meeting notices are highly visible and giving members more opportunities to share feedback throughout the year, not just during big moments.
How we’ll use this feedback
Your Board and staff will be using these survey results as we map out our work plan for 2026. In particular, we will:
Keep government relations at the center of NBSTRA’s mission, especially as the City reviews and enforces its STR policies.
Expand our communications work so residents, businesses, and City leaders better understand the value STRs bring to Newport Beach.
Invest more in member education on operations and community relations – helping you stay compliant, be good neighbors, and avoid problems before they start.
Representing the STR industry to the City was our primary goal when we launched NBSTRA last year. It’s encouraging – and affirming – to see that members agree this should remain our top priority.
Thank you again for your participation in the survey and for your continued support of the Alliance. We look forward to working with you in 2026 to protect responsible short-term rentals and keep Newport Beach a welcoming place for both residents and visitors.