Sep
19
2024
From The Blog
How Gate Access Works for Renters, Resort Guest, Island Employees
Securing access to the island is one of KICA’s primary objectives. This duty must also be balanced with ease of access for property owners and their guests. To accomplish this, KICA works with the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, rental agencies and other island entities to authorize access while limiting interaction time at the Main Gate. Below, we explore how island access works for resort guests, rental guests and island employees.
GUESTS OF THE KIAWAH ISLAND GOLF RESORT
The Kiawah Island Golf Resort hosts the vast majority guests to the island, and has since the Kiawah Island Inn (now demolished) opened in 1976. As a member of the association, the resort has the right to host guests. When a guest makes a reservation for a room or villa, the resort issues a pass that will get the guest through the Main Gate and to villa check-in or the Sanctuary. The pass is only valid for a single day and to one of those two locations. The resort notifies KICA Security of their overnight guests and also drops off passes for those who may have forgotten theirs each morning.
At the resort’s on-island check-in, the guest receives a new pass issued by the resort. Like any pass recipient, the guest is told that they must keep the pass in their windshield for the duration of their stay on the island. For villa guests, check-in also includes signing an acknowledgment of the island’s rules and a reminder of the island bike rules. The resort provides copies of TOKI ordinances several times before this interaction.
Single-day guests of the resort must stop at the Main Gate and notify staff of their resort destination. In the busiest summer months, the resort welcomes about 150 one-day guest vehicles per day, most of whom have a golf reservation or are attending a special event. This accounts for about 2% of the vehicles that pass through the gate each day. A five-year analysis shows the quantity of one-day guest vehicles has stayed consistent over time, with just a small dip last year.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS
Short-term rentals (STRs) are accommodations rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days, like many vacation rentals. There are many of these rentals on the island, and the Town of Kiawah Island has specific ordinances in place to govern things like parking and noise. Access to the island is governed by KICA. There are typically two types of STR properties (agency and owner-managed) and these have slight differences when it comes to gate access.
Agency rental companies, like Akers Ellis, ESPM and others, are authorized by KICA Security to issue rental passes to their renters on behalf of the member-owners. These renters print or pick up their pass before they come to Kiawah and they do not stop at the Main Gate on their way in. This moves time-consuming pass issuance from the Main Gate to a virtual or email process, reducing wait times at the gate.
Owner-managed short-term rentals have become more popular with internet platforms like AirBNB and VRBO. Now, many owners rent out their properties without partnering with a rental agency. The property owner will call in or email a pass request to KICA’s Security Department for each rental period, and the renter picks up the pass at the Main Gate.
Renters may request island access for their guests through the rental agency or owner. Renter guest access passes are issued for one day only.
ISLAND EMPLOYEES
Island employees typically get their passes through their employer, who liaises with KICA. KICA issues paper passes and access decals to island employees. To receive any pass, the employee must submit a copy of their driver’s license, valid insurance, and vehicle registration.
Employee passes are not issued for employees of commercial contractors performing work on the island; these passes are specifically for employees of island entities (like the resort, club, and association) who require access to the island to perform their duties.
KEEPING THE MEMBER IN MIND
In September, the Security and Enforcement Committee reported its Gate Access subcommittee is exploring ways to accelerate access for members and increase verification protocols for guest access.