As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Consideration means the consideration charged, whether or not received, for the occupancy 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 whatsoever; provided, however, nothing in this definition shall be construed to imply that consideration is charged when the space provided to the person is complimentary from the operator and no consideration is charged to or received from any person.
(2) Hotel means 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 includes any hotel, motel, inn, cabin, short term rental property as defined in the Cookeville Zoning Code Section 202, short-term rental unit as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated, title 67, chapter 4, or any place in which rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are furnished to transients for a consideration.
(3) Occupancy means the use or possession, or the right to use or possession, or any room, lodgings, or accommodations in any hotel.
(4) Operator means the person operating the hotel whether as owner, lessee, or otherwise.
(5) Person means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, joint stock company, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, trustee, syndicate, governmental unit other than the United States or any of its agencies, or any other group or combination acting as a unit.
(6) Remit means to file and pay either in person or by mail/postmark.
(7) Transient means any person who exercises occupancy or is entitled to occupancy for any rooms, lodgings, or accommodations in a hotel for a period of less than 30 continuous days.
(8) A short-term rental unit marketplace means a business that provides a platform through which a third party offers to rent a short-term rental unit. (as added by Ord. #O19-07-10, Aug. 2019, eff. Sept. 1, 2019, as amended by Ord. #O21-01-01, Jan. 2021, eff. March 1, 2021)