2015, Record year for lodging tax

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Press inquiries should be directed to Jenn Gjerde at 402-471-3768 or [email protected]
Other inquiries should be directed Kathy McKillip at 402-471-1558 or [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LINCOLN, Neb. (Dec. 23, 2015) — Nebraska’s hotels were busier in 2015, equaling a record amount of state lodging tax collected, boosting the Tourism Commission’s cash funds. Through October, the Tourism Commission has collected $4,663,704.66 from the state’s one percent lodging tax that is remitted through the Department of Revenue. That’s the highest amount collected through October, since the tax was enacted in 1980. An 8.86 percent increase from the same time last year, the total amount collected has already surpassed the total amount collected in 2013 and every year before that.

The Tourism Commission receives one percent of the total gross receipts for occupancy of a space furnished by a hotel within the state, according to Nebraska law. The money collected from lodging tax goes into the Tourism Commission’s cash funds. Those funds are used to promote tourism throughout the state. Tourism is Nebraska’s third largest industry. “We’re really excited to see that more people are traveling and staying at the lodging accommodations across the state, enjoying Nebraska Nice and our warm hospitality,” said Kathy McKillip, Executive Director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission. “Nearly every month over the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in revenues.”

Lodging tax also can assist tourism efforts for individual counties through a county lodging tax that can be imposed. Individual counties may choose to impose a lodging tax of up to four percent and receive that percentage of each gross receipt from a hotel stay. These funds are remitted through the Department of Revenue to each individual county. Revenue tax collected for 2014 was $4,895,467.63, the total amount of lodging tax revenue collected in 2015 is expected to be five percent more. Final 2015 lodging tax numbers will be available in February 2016.

For more information about travel, events and unique destinations in Nebraska, order your free travel guide today at www.VisitNebraska.com. Then stay connected with Nebraska Tourism on our Visit Nebraska Facebook page, on Twitter, on Pinterest and on YouTube.

The mission of the Nebraska Tourism Commission is to expand Nebraska’s dynamic and diverse travel industry making it more viable by creating awareness, attracting increased visitors which results in greater tourism revenue and economic gain throughout the state. To learn more, go to www.VisitNebraska.com.

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