For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings ascribed to them respectively.
(a) "Hotel" means every establishment kept, used, maintained, advertised, or held out to the public to be a place where sleeping accommodations are offered for a consideration to guests, in which 5 or more rooms are used for the accommodation of guests, whether the rooms are in one or several structures. The immediately preceding sentence notwithstanding, "hotel" also means an
(1) Establishment or dwelling in which fewer than five rooms are used for the accommodation of guests or
(2) An establishment or dwelling at which rooms are used for the accommodation of guests regardless of whether each room is accessible through the same keyed entry; and, in determining the number of rooms, all rooms are included regardless of the number of structures in which the rooms are situated or the number of parcels of land on which the structures are located if the structures are under the same ownership and the structures are not identified in advertisements of the accommodations as distinct establishments. For this purpose, two or more structures are under the same ownership if they are owned by the same person, or if they are owned by two or more persons the majority of the ownership interests of which are owned by the same person.
(b) "Occupancy" means the use or possession, or the right to the use or possession of any room or rooms, or space or portion thereof, in any hotel for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes. The use or possession or right to use or possess any room or any suite of connecting rooms as office space, banquet, or private dining rooms, or exhibit, sample, or display space shall to be considered occupancy within the meaning of this definition, unless the person exercising occupancy uses or possesses, or has the right to use or possess, all or any portion of the room or suite of rooms for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes.
(c) "Operator" means the person who is proprietor of the hotel, whether in the capacity of owner, lessee, mortgagee in possession, licensee, or any other capacity. Where the operator performs his functions through a managing agent of any type or character, other than an employee, the managing agent shall also be deemed an operator for the purposes of this chapter, and shall have the same duties and liabilities as his principal. Compliance with the provisions of this chapter by either the principal or the managing agent shall, however, be considered to be compliance by both.
(d) "Person" means any individual, firm, limited liability company, partnership, company, 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 as a business entity.
(e) "Rent" means the consideration received for occupancy valued in money, whether received in money or otherwise, including all receipts, cash, credits, and property or services of any kind or nature, and also any amount for which the occupant is liable for the occupancy without any deduction therefrom whatsoever.
(f) "Transient guest" or “guest” means persons occupying a room or rooms for sleeping accommodations for less than 30 consecutive days.
(g) "Finance Director" means the Finance Director of the City of Sandusky.
(Ord. 18-108. Passed 5-29-18.)