Chamber/CVB successfully lobbies for repeal of hotel/motel tax

The $447 million revenue package to fund the teacher pay increase originally contained a $5 per night hotel/motel occupancy tax that would have catapulted Oklahoma City from 71st highest occupancy tax among the 150 largest U.S. cities to the highest occupancy tax in the country (Tulsa would have moved up to #3). With Oklahoma City ready to break ground this summer on a state-of-the-art $200 million convention center and 605-room Omni Convention Center Hotel, the imposition of such a tax would have impacted our ability to recruit conventions. The Chamber/CVB engaged with partners in the tourism and hospitality industries and successfully lobbied for repeal of this $50 million tax, which was replaced in the revenue package by an online sales tax and the allowance of ball and dice games at tribal casinos.

For more information, please contact Mark VanLandingham.

This content originally appeared in the Business Advocate Newsletter.