Richard Moody is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media short-term rentals through Airbnb increased in 2018 in both Greene and Columbia counties. The number of people who stayed in short-term rentals in Greene County increased from 30,500 in 2017 to 45,300 in 2018. In Columbia County, the number of visitors who stayed in short-term rentals rose to 32,200 in 2018, compared to 26,800 in 2017. Most traveled from New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Jersey City. The top five local destinations for visitors were Hudson, Germantown, Copake Lake, Chatham and Ghent. Host Compliance, a company that advises local governments on how to enforce laws and taxes on short-term rentals, told Columbia County officials last week they identified 921 listings in Columbia County, with a median rate of $199 per night. Columbia County is currently considering the possibility of imposing a short-term rental tax. Greene County considered an occupancy tax in 2017, but the plan was dropped. The city of Hudson enacted its own occupancy tax for hotels and short-term rentals in March 2017, and is on track to collect $240,000 in revenue as a result, Hudson 3rd Ward Supervisor Michael Chameides said. Read the full story at Hudson360 [dot] com