Orlando September resort tax revenue down

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Nov 4, 2008 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

Orange County saw a 3.8 percent decrease in hotel tax revenues this September.

While occupancy at the area hotels was down, the county still collected $9.5 million in taxes from the resorts in September as well as from short term rentals. For fiscal 2008, Orange County reported a record setting $168.2 million in tax revenue, a 3.2 percent more than 2007.

Previously a report by Smith Travel Research indicated that September occupancy hotel levels were down by 10.2 percent. However, this report did not factor in the Walt Disney World Resorts or timeshare revenue.

Gary Sain, President and CEO of the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau stated "September was surprisingly better than we had anticipated." Earlier, Sain had predicted a double digit shortfall as a result of the economy, hurricanes and gas shortages/price increases.

Orange County Comptroller Martha Haynie stated "Intuitively, I think that's a factor. When Disney is doing better than the average, that makes our numbers better than we would have otherwise predicted."

The County's hotel tax is funding the new performing arts center and the renovations of the Citrus Bowl.