Streak of record-setting months ends at 14
But bed tax still hauled in $33.6 million in April
Orange County’s tourist tax raked in $33.6 million in April but the haul ended a record run.
Though the April figure was the fourth-highest in the history of the tax, it was about $1 million less than April 2022, ending a 14-month streak in which the tax receipts set a new record for a month.
“Every other county in Florida would have loved to have collected that,” said Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks revenues from the 6% levy on rentals of hotel rooms and other short-term lodgings.
Since last summer, he has urged caution with spending its everincreasing proceeds.
During the streak, the tax revenues, a gauge of the tourism industry’s health, totaled more than $430 million, helping to replenish financial reserves that were drained to pay obligations during the pandemic.
The county’s 6% levy which is added to the cost of a hotel room or home-sharing rental goes by a variety of names, including the Tourist Development Tax, or TDT for short, as well as the hotel, bed or tourist tax.
Its revenues have paid to build and expand the Orange County Convention Center, fund Visit Orlando and defray costs for cultural venues, including the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Amway Center and Camping World Stadium. Small slivers help to fund arts groups.
An advisory tax force will meet Wednesday afternoon to review applications from more than 50 organizations seeking a share of the money for everything from a domed baseball stadium to a Holocaust museum.
“One month doesn’t make a trend, but I’ve said over and over for the past year that we’re not going to keep breaking records forever,” Diamond said. “This marks the end of an impressive streak.”
Diamond said he believes the record months were fueled by pent-up travel demands.
Citing research from Visit Orlando, a tax-funded organization which promotes tourism in Central Florida, occupancy rates at area hotels fell to 77.2% in April, a 5% drop from 82.8% in April 2022.
But the average daily room rate was $221, up from $207 in April 2022.
TDT reporting typically lags about six weeks behind collections.
Diamond said his office will release May figures in early July.
Tourism is a $75 billion industry, accounting for about 25% of local jobs, according to Orange County government.