Cayuga County officials began discussions last week to increase the hotel occupancy tax in the county from 3 to 5 percent in an effort to compete with neighboring counties.

During the county's Planning Meeting last Tuesday night, a majority of committee members supported the idea to increase the tax the county charges on people who stay at county hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts to 5 percent.

A majority of the tax is directed back to the county's Tourism Office for use in the office's effort to increase county tourism. Onondaga, Cortland and Tompkins counties charge a 5 percent occupancy tax. Seneca, Wayne and Oswego counties charge a 3 percent room tax.

“Tourism is a key component to economic development,” said Daniel Schuster, D-Auburn.

Of eight regional counties, Cayuga County's tourism budget is the second lowest, at $322,960. Committee members said increasing the occupancy tax from 3 to 5 percent will bring roughly $125,000 additional

revenue to the office if it's a strong tourism season for the county. With the revenue, the county's budget may bump up in competition with Oswego County's $427,508 budget and Ontario County's $665,000 budget.

“We'll move to the middle of the list where we should be,” Schuster said. “We would be in a better position to compete with other counties in this region.”

With any additional revenue the tourism office receives, Meg Vanek, executive director for the county Office of Tourism, said it would be directed to a number of tourism promotions. More specifically, Vanek mentioned creating a public relations campaign to increase leisure travel and small group visits to the county suggested from a marketing study conducted by Randall Travel Marketing that will be released to the county in April.

“We need to focus on small group trips but need to market this,” Vanek said. “People come here for what we have not just for hotels.”

The increase will pose no expenditures to the county but rather on the tourists visiting. Taxes are charged on the hotel tabs of visiting guests to all county hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfasts.

“It's an investment we're making not worn by people who live here but instead on people visiting,” Schuster said.

In a tourism survey conducted in June 2006 by the tourism office, Vanek released surveys to all 29 hotel properties in the county.

Vanek reported that 10 properties responded representing 350 of the 616 total rooms available. Of the 350 rooms, about 81 percent noted that they would favor an increase in the occupancy tax.

Many noted on surveys that they would be in favor of it as long as the revenue was directed back toward county tourism, Vanek said.

“I don't disagree with the increase. We need to have more money in our tourism budget for promotion of the area. This is the only way to get this increase in the tourism budget,” said Linda Knight, general manager of The Holiday Inn, Auburn. “Based upon the average room rate, it will have a minimal impact on the normal traveler and will not be something they notice.”

Schuster, Planning Committee chair, will present a resolution to committee members in April requesting to state officials the permission to amend the local law, the first of many steps, including a public hearing, needed before the full Legislature votes on the increase.

“If this was to happen I know those dollars would be well spent,” said Michele Sedor, D-Sennett. “I don't think the occupancy tax will deter people from coming here.”

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net