�TOTs, hotel/motel occupancy tax (HOT), tourist tax, tourist development tax, permissive lodging tax, bed tax, room occupancy tax, gross receipts meal tax, mixed drink tax, restaurant tax, license recoupment fee, state rental surcharge, concession recovery fee and airport facility/access fees are various monikers used to collect additional funds from travelers. These taxes and fees are �generally� designed to fund tourism marketing organizations (CVBs/DMOs) but there�s a continuing movement by local and state taxing authorities to use the funds in ways that have little direct meaning to the hospitality industry,� commented Taverna. He cites the authoring of an additional sales tax on rental vehicles in Las Vegas � the surcharge destined for the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center � as a prime example of a fee having little to do with tourist development. More recently the city of Duluth, Minnesota, asked for funds to purchase golf course �green� covers and in Osceola County (Orlando, FL) an effort by USA Swimming sought funding, from tourist-tax proceeds for a $40-million indoor aquatic center. �As a vendor within the hospitality industry, through Hospitality 1ST, I'm cognoscente of the premise behind these tourism taxes and the important role the funding plays with regards to tourism and destination promotion, but as a consumer I�m often confounded by the surcharges and more importantly|�|how much the fees are disguised in the industry|�|the lack of forthright disclosure really bothers me,� Taverna states.

Another aspect of TourismTax.com will be to provide �competitive sales analysis� for those involved within the hospitality industry. This marketing tool will be available as a fee-based subscription service to individuals and companies whose primary responsibility is tourism promotion, statistics and research.

�We�re finalizing the overall web site design, background databases and anticipate a fully functional presence by April 17,� Taverna explains.

Those interested in more information may phone 239-226-7886 or send an e-mail to Lou Taverna for an automatic notification as TourismTax.com is updated.