Arlington County Approves Hotel Tax Increase

The Arlington County Board approved an increase of 0.25 percent in the tax charged for hotel rooms in Arlington in a unanimous vote on Saturday.

The tax increase will yield approximately $1.25 million in revenue for travel and tourism promotion in the county in Fiscal Year 2017, according to a release from the Arlington County Government.

“For five years, Arlington and our business community have fought to reinstate this guest-paid tax dedicated to tourism promotion,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said. “This year, our General Assembly delegation, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and Board members, particularly John Vihstadt, worked together and made it happen. This bi-partisan effort will give us additional revenue to promote travel and tourism in Arlington, creating economic benefit not only for our community, but the entire state.”

The county plans to use the additional money to add two positions to the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service and for new trade and promotion activities. Tourism resulted in more than $80 million in total tax revenue to the county and $108 million in state taxes, according to the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

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