DC wants to raise hotel taxes to increase tourism

[Anonymous]

Such a facepalm moment https://www.wusa9.com/amp/article/news/local/dc/dc-council-votes-on-increased-hotel-tax-to-boost-tourism/65-d6441c76-7c1c-4022-a5b8-5d00a46c5b13

[Anonymous]

"Destination DC says the tourism tax will raise more than $20 million a year and put D.C. on par with some other big cities and their advertising budgets. 

D.C. leaders say tourism has taken a hit during the pandemic, and has not fully rebounded. The industry has lost about $3 million and 22,000 tourism jobs. If approved, the emergency legislation would make the extra fee temporary starting in April 2023 and last until March of 2027.

"There are several large cities which are doing the same thing, which is a temporary tax," said Council Chair Phil Mendelson during a media briefing. "If the tax increase isn't too high, it's not going to have a net decrease in tourism."

Destination DC CEO Elliott Ferguson sent a statement in support of the proposal.

"Increasing tourism creates real benefits for the city and residents, like more local jobs and tax revenue from visitors. As we compete globally with every other destination trying to regain market share, these dollars will give us the wherewithal to remain equally as competitive," Ferguson said."

[Anonymous]

Seems pretty straightforward. How much does anyone pay attention to these tax rates when planning their vacation anyway? And, as the article notes, the proposed rates are similar to other large cities. The money just goes into promoting more tourism.

Honestly, DC has to work extra hard to undo the stink of the Trump years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Destination DC says the tourism tax will raise more than $20 million a year and put D.C. on par with some other big cities and their advertising budgets. 

D.C. leaders say tourism has taken a hit during the pandemic, and has not fully rebounded. The industry has lost about $3 million and 22,000 tourism jobs. If approved, the emergency legislation would make the extra fee temporary starting in April 2023 and last until March of 2027.

"There are several large cities which are doing the same thing, which is a temporary tax," said Council Chair Phil Mendelson during a media briefing. "If the tax increase isn't too high, it's not going to have a net decrease in tourism."

Destination DC CEO Elliott Ferguson sent a statement in support of the proposal.

"Increasing tourism creates real benefits for the city and residents, like more local jobs and tax revenue from visitors. As we compete globally with every other destination trying to regain market share, these dollars will give us the wherewithal to remain equally as competitive," Ferguson said."

Yeah, I don't see why this is an issue.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't vacation anywhere that I didn't feel safe and think DC should consider crime as a factor of decreased tourism.

[Anonymous]

They should work with Amtrak and Congress to make Union Station not such a pisshole, and aggressively remove tents and panhandlers (and not by putting them in formerly reasonably priced hotels - ahem Days Inn). That might increase tourism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't vacation anywhere that I didn't feel safe and think DC should consider crime as a factor of decreased tourism.

Agreed - DC should work on prevention of crime for both residents and tourists.

[Anonymous]

People who aren't vacationing in DC because of fear of being murdered are also not vacationing in NYC, Chicago, LA, Seattle... in other words, people who are very fearful of crime avoid large cities. Your risk of being a victim of crime while vacationing in DC are ridiculously low.

The actual threats to tourism in DC are the closures of bars and restaurants and the decline in activity in popular tourist destinations like Chinatown. If raising tourism tax helps the city invest in those neighborhoods and support small businesses, it genuinely could benefit the city.

Many DC tourists stay outside the city anyway. The big tour groups often stay in budget hotels just outside the city and then take the buses downtown and to the Mall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who aren't vacationing in DC because of fear of being murdered are also not vacationing in NYC, Chicago, LA, Seattle... in other words, people who are very fearful of crime avoid large cities. Your risk of being a victim of crime while vacationing in DC are ridiculously low.

The actual threats to tourism in DC are the closures of bars and restaurants and the decline in activity in popular tourist destinations like Chinatown. If raising tourism tax helps the city invest in those neighborhoods and support small businesses, it genuinely could benefit the city.

Many DC tourists stay outside the city anyway. The big tour groups often stay in budget hotels just outside the city and then take the buses downtown and to the Mall.

We don't vacation as a part of tour groups, and yes -- I am afraid of crime in DC. Murder isn't my primary concern -- being mugged, robbed at gunpoint, or carjacked would be the concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who aren't vacationing in DC because of fear of being murdered are also not vacationing in NYC, Chicago, LA, Seattle... in other words, people who are very fearful of crime avoid large cities. Your risk of being a victim of crime while vacationing in DC are ridiculously low.

The actual threats to tourism in DC are the closures of bars and restaurants and the decline in activity in popular tourist destinations like Chinatown. If raising tourism tax helps the city invest in those neighborhoods and support small businesses, it genuinely could benefit the city.

Many DC tourists stay outside the city anyway. The big tour groups often stay in budget hotels just outside the city and then take the buses downtown and to the Mall.

We don't vacation as a part of tour groups, and yes -- I am afraid of crime in DC. Murder isn't my primary concern -- being mugged, robbed at gunpoint, or carjacked would be the concerns.

Most crime is down YoY

https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/district-crime-data-glance

[Anonymous]

People who think DCvis crime Roddenberry weren't here in the 90z

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who aren't vacationing in DC because of fear of being murdered are also not vacationing in NYC, Chicago, LA, Seattle... in other words, people who are very fearful of crime avoid large cities. Your risk of being a victim of crime while vacationing in DC are ridiculously low.

The actual threats to tourism in DC are the closures of bars and restaurants and the decline in activity in popular tourist destinations like Chinatown. If raising tourism tax helps the city invest in those neighborhoods and support small businesses, it genuinely could benefit the city.

Many DC tourists stay outside the city anyway. The big tour groups often stay in budget hotels just outside the city and then take the buses downtown and to the Mall.

We don't vacation as a part of tour groups, and yes -- I am afraid of crime in DC. Murder isn't my primary concern -- being mugged, robbed at gunpoint, or carjacked would be the concerns.

That's fine. Would you vacation in New York City, central Boston or Chicago, downtown Seattle or San Francisco? Or, for that matter, central London or Paris or Berlin or Tokyo or Hong Kong or Buenos Aires? My guess is no. If you won't visit large cities with some inevitable incidence of crime, then there is likely nothing DC could do to make you feel "safe".

Enjoy Disney World or the OBX or wherever it is you do enjoy traveling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who aren't vacationing in DC because of fear of being murdered are also not vacationing in NYC, Chicago, LA, Seattle... in other words, people who are very fearful of crime avoid large cities. Your risk of being a victim of crime while vacationing in DC are ridiculously low.

The actual threats to tourism in DC are the closures of bars and restaurants and the decline in activity in popular tourist destinations like Chinatown. If raising tourism tax helps the city invest in those neighborhoods and support small businesses, it genuinely could benefit the city.

Many DC tourists stay outside the city anyway. The big tour groups often stay in budget hotels just outside the city and then take the buses downtown and to the Mall.

We don't vacation as a part of tour groups, and yes -- I am afraid of crime in DC. Murder isn't my primary concern -- being mugged, robbed at gunpoint, or carjacked would be the concerns.

That's fine. Would you vacation in New York City, central Boston or Chicago, downtown Seattle or San Francisco? Or, for that matter, central London or Paris or Berlin or Tokyo or Hong Kong or Buenos Aires? My guess is no. If you won't visit large cities with some inevitable incidence of crime, then there is likely nothing DC could do to make you feel "safe".

Enjoy Disney World or the OBX or wherever it is you do enjoy traveling.

PP here. I've traveled to quite a few cities in the states and Europe in my lifetime. Feel free to dismiss the crime in DC.

[Anonymous]

Liberals never met a tax they didn’t like, especially if they don’t have to pay it, e.g., soak the rich tourists.

[Anonymous]

The biggest challenges to tourism in DC are: closure of the Capitol building and the pervasive crime.

School groups and families come to do the government tours. When you can’t get a Capitol or White House your that’s a problem. If you do come and you head back home you’re telling your friends that it was gross with tents and litter everywhere. That eliminates folllow on tours.