18 September & October 2017
Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau
Bureau Business
Transient Guest Tax 101 ….
Susan Rathke CVB Director
Bed tax , hotel tax , occupancy tax , it is called many things . Just what is Transient Guest Tax ( TGT )? If you have ever stayed in a hotel , most likely part of your bill included TGT . The TGT is a tax imposed on guests of the city ’ s hotels or other lodging facilities . It is determined by the City Commission and is currently set at 7 %. The guest tax applies to lodging establishments when there are more than two bedrooms furnished for the accommodations of guests and when the room is rented for 28 consecutive days or less . As of February 1 , 2017 , Airbnb ’ s are subject to TGT collections . The tax is collected by state statute to market the city of Emporia by the CVB . This tax funds the budget of the CVB and assists those bringing visitors to Emporia . As the marketing arm of the city , the CVB promotes visitor traffic to Emporia through advertising , tradeshows , billboards , brochures , and promotions .
The CVB also provides Support Grants for those bringing visitors to Emporia through sports , conventions and meetings and special events . With an emphasis on overnight stays , events must include out of town attendance . Support Grants for 2017 have been awarded and recipients notified . All grantees are required to fill out a completion report after their event showing attendance and other data before receiving funds . The next Support Grant application deadlines are February 1 and August 1 , 2018 .
Now is the time to look at the events you have planned for 2018 . Contact the CVB to check the 2018 calendar for other scheduled events . If you are planning an event or would like help doing so , stop in at the CVB for assistance . We have venue and hotel listings among the many services we provide . Your class reunion , family reunion , company / corporate convention , board meeting , or retreat , all have an impact on tourism in Emporia . Help us increase visitor traffic to Emporia , tourism benefits all of us .