Gabrielle Russon
Orange County’s hotel tax revenue topped $40 million in March as the busy Spring Break season got under way, officials said Monday.
“Although collections were slightly lower than last March, they still mark the second-highest monthly total on record and only the second time they’ve topped $40 million,” Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond said Monday in a statement.
Diamond’s announcement comes as lawmakers are debating whether to tap into the millions in hotel tax revenue to lower property taxes or use for community needs, such as public transportation.
The Legislative Session ended Friday without passing a balanced budget.
Tourist development tax (TDT) reform was a hot topic of debate as some lawmakers push for major changes while other counties and visitors bureaus are fighting to keep the status quo to allow the money to continue to be spent on tourism advertising, supporting local arts organizations and more.
Orange County’s TDT money comes from a 6% surcharge on short-term stays and hotel rooms.
March took a hit because of the timing of Easter although that could help grow April’s numbers, officials said.
“Orlando’s travel performance in March was softer compared to the same month last year, primarily due to the shift of the Easter holiday from March to April in 2024, as expected,” Visit Orlando’s President and CEO Casandra Matej said in a statement. “Hotel occupancy declined by 4.6%, settling at 76.6%. Overall hotel demand saw a slight decrease of 3.8%.”
April’s TDT figures are expected to be released in early June. So far, the numbers seem promising.
“Advance hotel bookings for April through June are currently 2.5% ahead of last year. Short-term rental bookings for the same period are pacing 16% ahead of last year,” Matej said.
Visit Orlando plans to release the full 2024 visitation numbers Thursday at its annual Luncheon during National Travel and Tourism Week, the organization said.
