Approved June 11, 2019

RESOLUTION OF THE GREATER UTICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN SUPPORT OF STATE AMENDMENT GRANTING ONEIDA COUNTY WITH LOCAL AUTHORITY TO INCREASE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX

WHEREAS; the tourism industry in Oneida County, New York generates $1.5 billion in visitor spending annually of which $414 million is spent on lodging within the county; and

WHEREAS; visitor spending supports 21,035 direct and indirect jobs in Oneida County generating $924 million in household income; and

WHEREAS; the research identified Oneida County’s current two (2%) percent occupancy tax rate as being too low to generate funding levels required to competitively promote the destination given the number of hotel rooms to be occupied and the volume of attractions and events requiring promotion within the market; and

WHEREAS; the resulting strategic plan recommended Oneida County Tourism work with local lodging and County Legislature to increase the funding for travel and tourism promotion and tourism development through an increase in the hotel occupancy tax by increasing the percentage collected or assessing a flat dollar fee to any room occupied; and

WHEREAS; Oneida County’s travel and tourism assets, including hotels, attractions, events and venues continue to improve and grow from investments made in our communities by Empire State Development and the private sector; and

WHEREAS; the Oneida County Legislature must act separately to increase the Hotel Occupancy Tax if said increase is first authorized by the New York State Legislature and signed by the Governor; and

WHEREAS; an increase in the Hotel Occupancy Tax can generate additional needed revenue that is paid mostly by visitors from outside the region, without a further reliance on increases on local property taxes or local sales taxes; and

WHEREAS; Oneida County must create a structure to determine how funding from such increase would be allocated and spent for promotion of travel and tourism, and tourism capital development; and

WHEREAS; Oneida County should seek input from local hotel operators, and operators of other travel and tourism related attractions, when formulating spending plans for the promotion of tourism and travel and for capital projects related to tourism and travel;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED; the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce does hereby support an amendment to the Hotel Occupancy Tax law to provide for an increase up to five (5%) percent which shall be used to promote tourism and travel, tourism capital development, and other directly related and supporting activities to stimulate and increase visitation to Oneida County.