Taxes on hotel rooms in the Orlando area were raked over the second-largest month jackpot in history.
But the optimism about the $40.1 million Orange County nearly record collection released this morning was tempered a bit by Secretary Phil Diamond, who tracks the money generated for a 6% extra charge on hotel room rentals.
“On the other hand, it’s the second ever,” he said. “On the other hand, it has been decreasing since last year (March).”
The decline was only slightly from the previous year, at less than $400,000.
Orange County Tourist Tax Collection sets new annual record
Comptroller’s tourist tax reports are usually about a month behind the collection. The April report is scheduled for early June.
March’s Larges overcame a number of negative factors. Diamond said some travelers may have postponed their spring break to Central Florida so that they can visit the epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s new theme park, featuring five immersive lands that include areas based on the Harry Potter film series “How to Train Your Dragon” and the Super Nintendo video game.
The park is set to officially open on May 22nd.
“I think the opening of the epic universe will be a real shot of adrenaline for the tourism economy,” Diamond said. “If not, I think we’ll take a lot of people who didn’t come to central Florida.”
Orange Commissioner Commits $29 million to WrestleMania, Jaguar
The March figures show the midpoint of the fiscal year that began on October 1st.
Tourism tax collection for the first six months of the current fiscal year totals around $225.5 million, up about $8 million over the total of $194.2 million last year. The pace slowed slightly later last year, but the final collection still scored a record of $359.4 million.
Because it was originally imposed about 45 years ago, more than half of the $5.4 billion generated by the Tourism Development Tax, or TDT, was spent building, expanding, maintaining and operating I-drive’s Orange County Convention Center.
TDT money also pays to visit Orlando to promote tourism. Build and improve Orlando’s stadiums, arenas and art venues. And it includes its expanding culinary gems, turning attention to small attractions in the area.
Last month, the county commissioner seduced WrestleMania to Orlando in 2031, persuaded NFL owners to hold a home game for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2027, and hung $29 million in TDT cash as “incentive” funds to convince NFL owners as pro-four ball team stadiums are undergoing billionaires breakaway.
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