Room Tax Increase

[KarenP]

Effective 10/16, due to an increase in Orange County, taxes on room reservations for 2003 will go up to 11.5%, with the exception of the All Star Resorts, which will remain at 12%. Any bookings made prior to 10/16 will remain at 11% unless changes are made to the reservation.

Karen

 

[Misti]

Thanks, Karen!

 

[Poly Pal]

Just what the Orlando area hoteliers need when occupancy is off - a nice tax increase to make staying in Orange County more expensive. I guess those legislators flunked out of Intro. to Economics because they couldn't get a handle on the demand elasticity concept.

 

[Redbeard52]

Karen - Thanks for the information.

Am I correct in reading that room tax at the All Star hotels is more than the other hotels? How is this possible??? (I'm not questioning Karen; I'm questioning how this is allowed.)

This is the first that I've ever heard of hotels in the same county being able to charge different room tax rates.

Can anyone clue me in?

Thanks!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

The All-Star Resorts (as well as Animal Kingdom Lodge) are located in Osceola County - therefore the higher tax rate.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Easy, the All Stars aren't in Orange County. They are in Osceola County where the hotel tax has been 1% higher than Orange for many years now due to the local option sales tax of 1% Osceola tacks on to the State of Florida's 6%.

 

[Redbeard52]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

That makes more sense.

Wow - what a great question (answer, actually) for 'Jeopardy!'

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by CaliforniaDreaming
The All-Star Resorts (as well as Animal Kingdom Lodge) are located in Osceola County - therefore the higher tax rate.

The tax on the AKL rooms is/was only 11%. Stayed there twice in 2001 and specificly checked this out. Only 11% tax.

 

[GoldenOldie]

BTW, does everyone realize that the 1/2% increase is not just for hotel rooms in Orange County but an across the board increase in the sales tax? That means the tax goes up on your souvenirs, your shopping, Disney tickets...almost everything.

 

[kylara]

Golden Oldie is correct, the voters (not the legislature) opted for a 1/2 cent sales tax that is suppose to go directly to the k-12 educational system. In return, there is a rollback on property taxes for the people living in Orange county.

Basically it was explained that for most people living in Orange county it would end up being about the same paid in taxes but more taxes overall would be brought in since the tourist would be paying more.