The following definitions shall apply to this article:
HOTEL: Any structure, or any portion of any structure, which is occupied, or intended or designed for occupancy, by transients for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes and shall include any hotel, inn, tourist home or house, motel, studio hotel, bachelor hotel, lodging house, rooming house, apartment house, dormitory, public or private club, mobile home at a fixed location, or other similar structure, or portion thereof.
OCCUPANCY: The use or possession, or the right to the use or possession, of any room, or portion thereof, in any hotel for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes.
OPERATOR: The person who is the proprietor of the hotel, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, sublessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other capacity. Where the operator performs functions through a managing agent of any type of character other than an employee, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purposes of this article and shall have the same duties and liabilities as the principal. Compliance with the provisions of this article by either the principal or the managing agent shall be considered to be compliance by both.
PERSON: Any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.
RENT: The consideration charged, whether or not received, for the occupancy of space in a hotel valued in money, whether to be received in money, goods, labor, or otherwise, including all receipts, cash, credits, property, and services of any kind or nature, without any deduction therefrom.
TRANSIENT: Any person who exercises occupancy or is entitled to occupancy by reason of concession, permit, right of access, license, or other agreement for a period of thirty (30) consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days; provided, however, in the event of the existence of a rental agreement between the operator and any person for the occupancy of space of a hotel, which agreement permits such person to sublet such space to third persons either with or without the prior consent of the operator, then "transient" shall also mean such person to whom such space is sublet for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes. Any such person so occupying space in a hotel shall be deemed to be a transient until the period of thirty (30) days has expired, unless there is an agreement in writing between the operator and the occupant providing for a longer period of occupancy. (1962 Code § 8-3)