Lodging tax and its impact on the community

For those who might be concerned about a renewal for a lodging tax on the ballot this November, the overall impact on the town is a positive one.

For the fiscal year thus far, which began July 2015, lodging tax receipts have totaled $149,936.85, broken down as such: July - $14,034.08, August – $17,376.97, September – $29,657.22, October – $29,797.15, November – $18,983.17, December – $20,168.84, January – $5,661.29, February – $7,106.25 and March – $7,151.88.

Amanda Moeller, Hot Springs County Travel and Tourism director, explained she works with online booking companies such as Travelocity, but it was discovered such companies were not paying the lodging tax, not just here but across the state.

The State of Wyoming, she said, went after them, and the settlements were divvied out to the counties. This had an impact on the lodging tax receipts for March and April in the fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15. However, Moeller noted, there has yet to be any settlement for the current fiscal year.

It's important to note that the lodging tax receipts for the fiscal year 2015-16 thus far total $149,936.85, nearly $50,000 more than the full 2014-15 total of $140,120.27 that included the settlement money. Moeller said this indicates receipts are right on track for the 2015-16 year.

One of the biggest impacts on the lodging tax receipts is the number of tourists. Moeller was among those who met with Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association Executive Director and Wyoming Travel Industry Coalition Director Chris Brown March 16, and she said his opinion is tourism is going to be up this year. The National Park Service celebrates its centennial this year, Moeller noted, and Yellowstone was the country's first established national park, so the east entrance could see some increased traffic.

Moeller also noted the number of tourist walk-ins at the chamber visitor's center has increased, in the past three months, from the previous year. December 2014 saw 26 walk-ins compared to 110 in December 2015; January 2015 saw 53 compared to 109 in January 2016; and February 2015 saw 42 compared to 126 in February 2016.

Already established tourist draws include the natural hot springs and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.

Star Plunge owner Roland Luehne said last year saw 60,000 swims. Of those, 40,000 were from out of town and 20,000 were in-town. Luehne said Star Plunge has seen increased visitation year-to-year since opening, but particularly in the last few years. He gave some credit to the lower gas prices allowing more people to travel to Thermopolis.

Luehne noted people might come to swim one or two times per month, but also spend the night and eat dinner in town.

When it comes to returning lodging tax to the community, Moeller explained she could not spend money on private enterprise. For instance, she did not spend $1,100 on a billboard specific to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. However, money does go to the "opolis" branding, such as "Rekindle Your Happily Everopolis" and "Change Your Point of Viewopolis."

Moeller has also utilized lodging tax dollars toward a substantial increase in advertising, including the re-facing of billboards, along with television and radio ads. While some advertising is done locally, there are also regional advertisements.

The goal of the lodging tax, Moeller said, is to bring people to Thermopolis to spend money.