There’s a time and place for everything—flip flops in July, skis in January, and yes, even regulation and taxation when done with a light touch and the right intentions. But lately, I’ve been noticing a trend that gives me pause. It's as if we’re trying to legislate and tax our way into prosperity, forgetting that our economic engine—the vibrant businesses, the loyal visitors who fuel our valley, and the second homeowners—runs best when not bogged down by unnecessary weight.

Let me be clear: I love this valley. I love that we care. I love that we debate policy, push for environmental protections, and expect high standards. But I also love that we’re a place where entrepreneurial spirit thrives, where visitors spend their hard-earned dollars because they feel welcomed, not nickeled and dimed.

Recently, it seems some conversations—well-intentioned, no doubt—are tilting toward a belief that visitors and vacation rental owners are somehow the problem. That if we just regulated them more tightly or taxed them more heavily, all our challenges might go away. Spoiler alert: they won’t.

Overregulating our short-term rentals in the resort core doesn’t solve housing challenges. Over-taxing our guests doesn’t solve our childcare challenges. It just sends a message: maybe you’re not as welcome here as you thought.

Our local economy is relatively strong - on paper. Unemployment is low. Sales tax receipts have been stable. Rooms are generally full. But don’t be fooled. There’s a storm on the horizon, and its name is economic uncertainty. Inflation isn’t a buzzword; it’s a reality that’s squeezing locals and visitors alike. Consumer confidence is a fickle thing. If we make the visitor experience more expensive and less friendly, they’ll find somewhere else to go. And yes, they do compare.

Let’s not forget: our visitors fund much of what makes life here so enjoyable. They support restaurants, shops, outfitters, art galleries, transit, trails, and they drive our tax revenues. They're not invaders to be managed. They're guests to be welcomed—and hopefully, repeat customers.

I’m not saying businesses should get a free pass. We must hold ourselves to high standards.

Good businesses invest in their people, the community, and sustainability. But too often, regulation gets layered like a poorly made lasagna: a bit of zoning here, a pinch of compliance there, and a surprise “impact fee” in the middle. Before you know it, the entrepreneurial spark that made this place special gets buried under paperwork and fees.

The government should play a role in ensuring public good. But let’s remember what makes this community thrive—it’s the partnership between private enterprise and public service. Not adversaries. Partners. When we treat visitors and our lodging industry like they’re a problem to be solved instead of a solution to be embraced, we all lose.

And on the visitor front let’s resist the temptation to treat them as walking wallets. Yes, we need to fund infrastructure and maintain quality of life, but that doesn’t mean we turn every room night into a tax vehicle. People will pay for value. They will not pay for guilt.

The answer isn’t to punish success or guilt-trip tourists. The answer is to invest wisely, partner boldly, and regulate thoughtfully. Think scalpel, not sledgehammer.

We’ve built something remarkable here. Let’s not mess it up by being too clever for our good. Let’s lead with hospitality, not hostility, with partnerships, not punitive policies.

Because in the end, thriving communities aren’t built on over-regulation and over-taxation. They’re built on trust, investment, and a shared understanding that when business succeeds, communities do too.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, 3-time national chamber of the year. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com