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The
revenue generated in Essex County through the three percent
occupancy tax dropped off some last year, although two towns watched
their numbers climb.
Towns
throughout the county charge a three percent occupancy tax – or bed
tax – on hotel rooms. Essex County Treasurer Mike Diskin presented
the annual Occupancy Report to supervisors Monday.
The
county-wide take declined from $1.65 million in 2008 to $1.5 million
in 2009.
North Elba usually comprises the
lion’s share of the occupancy tax revenue for the county, but the
town saw a decline of more than $100,000 last year.
But not every Essex County town
experienced a dip in hotel revenues. Ticonderoga hotels generated
over $57,000 in revenue in 2009, up from $52,000 in 2008 and $32,000
in 2007.
According to Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism President Jim McKenna, Ticonderoga is seeing the
benefits of a recently opened Best Western Motel.
“Ticonderoga is really seeing some
growth in their hotel stays,” McKenna said. “Lodging typically
represents about one-third of a tourist’s expenditures on a trip, so
that one hotel brings roughly $3 million to the community.”
The Ticonderoga Best Western did about
$1 million in business in 2009, one year after its 2008 grand
opening.
Occupancy tax revenues were also up in
Wilmington, as hotels in the town paid the county $50,000 in 2009, a
$3,500 increase from the previous year.
95 percent of the county’s total
occupancy tax revenue goes directly to ROOST, which is the region’s
primary tourism marketing agency.
-Jon
Alexander, 3-9-10
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