From Niagara This Week:
More information on a measure that would allow municipalities to institute a hotel room tax is needed before what that may mean for Niagara Falls can be determined, says Mayor Jim Diodati.
“I’d be very interested to learn more,” Diodati said Friday morning while attending a tree planting at Lions Park in Chippawa. “Then we can bring it before council, we can consult with the industry.”
Taxes collected under the scheme would be used to fund tourist organizations.
Currently, hotels and restaurants charge a destination marketing fee — or DMF for short. The fee is known by many names, including the tourism improvement fee. The province first allowed the practice in 2004 and said the fee is voluntary, and still is.
The fee has been the subject of two investigations by the CBC public affairs show Marketplace, which revealed some hotels and restaurants are telling customers the fee is mandatory.