Andy Graham was elected to serve as the Estes Valley Short-Term Rental Alliance board president for 2024-2025. Graham has been a member of the EVSTRA board of directors since 2023. He and his wife, Laurie, have owned a home on Cyteworth Road in Estes Park since 2017.
He is a patent and intellectual property attorney. He retired in February as was of counsel with Munck Wilson Mandala LLP, a technology focused law firm with offices in Texas, California, and Florida. He is also a former semiconductor executive and integrated circuit design engineer.
Graham received both his law degree and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. The Grahams have two adult sons, both career officers in the U.S. Navy.
EVSTRA was founded in 2022 as a coalition of property owners who own and operate vacation rentals. The organization works with property owners to promote responsible vacation rental ownership and management.
“We are dedicated to preserving and safeguarding Estes Park’s legacy of vacation rental,” said Becky Robbins, former EVSTRA board chair. “Our goal is to demonstrate that tourism and residential harmony in Estes Park can be achieved through thoughtful policies and exemplary practices.”
“We are really thrilled to have Andy step up to serve as the president. The Grahams have just completed a major renovation to their home this summer. They are invested in the Estes Park community,” said Robbins a realtor who also owns a short-term rental and a bed and breakfast home in Estes.
Graham said as president of EVSTRA he will be monitoring legislative and regulatory issues affecting vacation rental properties.
“There seems to be a continuing annual effort around the state that is certainly challenging for the short-term rental community, so we are trying to monitor that, comment appropriately, and advocate for STRs and the local economies across Colorado,” said Graham.
“There are rumors of bills in the works, but I have not seen any copies. I do not know anybody who has seen copies of anything yet, but keeping my ear to the railroad tracks, they’re coming. Like last year, when major bills seem to capture everybody’s attention, we are trying to stay alert to any changes that may be tendered,” said Graham.
EVSTRA is a member of the Colorado Lodging and Resort Alliance, a statewide coalition of professional property managers, vacation industry operators, employees, contractors, and supportive organizations. The organization works to advance fair and effective policies that enhance industry standards and best practices to stimulate the economic impact of Colorado’s tourism industry.
According to the EVSTRA website, approximately 40% of lodging taxes collected in the Estes Valley are generated by short-term rental visitors. Annually, approximately $2.4 million of the estimated $5 to $6 million of lodging taxes dedicated to workforce housing and childcare comes from vacation rentals.
To learn more about EVSTRA, click here.