The tax percentage paid by visitors to Belleville’s wide range of accommodation businesses will double.
The now voluntary 2% Municipal Accommodation Tax will become a mandatory charge for all hotels and other establishments such as AirBnb and bed and breakfast establishments.
It will increase to 4% as of July 1.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk says it will help the accommodation sector.
Council had a lengthy debate on distribution of the tax and how the businesses would be represented on Destination Marketing Program.
Manager of Economic Development Karen Poste said the Quinte Accommodation and Attraction Association does not represent all the establishments.
In the end, council decided to have staff bring back an agreement for revenue-sharing and include a Destination Marketing Program representing all stakeholdsers.
Panciuk pointed out that the tax is now all across Ontario.
The new mandatory accommodation tax could raise $900,000 a year and is shared with the businesses involved.
