Matt is a former Deputy to two Austin mayors and he has extensive experience in municipal government and local politics, working on a broad variety of initiatives and best practices in a rapidly changing city. He is a trained facilitator with 15 years of expertise in helping connect potentially conflicting interests to create effective policy.

His team at Smart City Policy Group includes former Austin mayor Lee Leffingwell, former Pleasanton mayor Jennifer Hosterman, a former tourism industry leader and travel association president, a former Economic Development Association board member, a former City Manager and several other former policy makers and thought leaders with extensive backgrounds in local governments.

Together they have worked on Vacation Rental, or Short-term Rental, regulatory and government advocacy issues for nearly ten years. Matt and his team have presented on Short-term Rental regulations around the world including; National Council of State Legislators, National Governors Association, European Parliament, Destinations International, US Travel – ESTO, US Conference of Mayors and many more government and travel industry associations.

Matt works daily with City Managers, Mayors and Destination Leaders on how to create fair and effective regulations that achieve compliance.

“Matt is the go-to resource for STR policy creation,” said Glynn County, Georgia former commissioner Peter Murphy. “His work guided us to a successful ordinance”.

Former Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu introduced Matt during a 2017 Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports subcommittee at the United States Conference of Mayors as, “A best friend of American mayors”.

Columbia, South Carolina’s Mayor Stephen Benjamin, who served as president of the United States Conference of Mayors, said, “Matt Curtis is a valued resource for local leaders working on tough issues.”

“Matt is the Godfather of Short-term Rental regulations,” said Mayor David Haubert, Dublin California.