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I applaud the Vail Citizens for Action group on its efforts to address areas of concern, most of which should have been addressed quite some time ago by the Town Council.
However, I caution the group and whoever is going to make up the next council to be very careful and think more than twice before raising the lodging tax.
I was in the hotel business for more than 50 years and owned and operated the Vail Village Inn for 30 years.
“Most guests do not inquire about the total cost of their room when they're making a decision where to stay. The tax increase should not be a deterrent to our guests.”
A statement like this could only come from somebody who has absolutely no idea about the hotel business and who has never been near a reservation telephone.
The winter season is roughly 100 days long. If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that half of that season is really not that great. From mountain opening to Christmas, we are almost empty. Then comes January, and we are patiently waiting for Presidents Day weekend. End of March and April really depend on where Easter falls. So, we have half of the winter season that is a challenge to fill. Business during the low periods was always and continues to be ski clubs and groups, many of them extremely price-driven. I lost business to other ski areas because of our sales tax.
Bermuda charges a 7.25 percent room tax plus about a $30 per- room, per- day gratuity, adding up to more than $400 per week. Upon leaving the island, there is an additional airport departure tax. Because of a mentality that there was no limit to what visitors could be taxed, tourism was way down before the current recession, and a number of hotels and guest houses had closed. This according to the Bermuda Royal Gazette.
It all points to the fact that there is a limit that the costumer is willing to pay, and when that limit is reached, the result is a loss of business.
At a time when we are making efforts to offer value, we would be ill- advised to triple the lodging tax.
Josef Staufer Vail
However, I caution the group and whoever is going to make up the next council to be very careful and think more than twice before raising the lodging tax.
I was in the hotel business for more than 50 years and owned and operated the Vail Village Inn for 30 years.
“Most guests do not inquire about the total cost of their room when they're making a decision where to stay. The tax increase should not be a deterrent to our guests.”
A statement like this could only come from somebody who has absolutely no idea about the hotel business and who has never been near a reservation telephone.
The winter season is roughly 100 days long. If we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that half of that season is really not that great. From mountain opening to Christmas, we are almost empty. Then comes January, and we are patiently waiting for Presidents Day weekend. End of March and April really depend on where Easter falls. So, we have half of the winter season that is a challenge to fill. Business during the low periods was always and continues to be ski clubs and groups, many of them extremely price-driven. I lost business to other ski areas because of our sales tax.
Bermuda charges a 7.25 percent room tax plus about a $30 per- room, per- day gratuity, adding up to more than $400 per week. Upon leaving the island, there is an additional airport departure tax. Because of a mentality that there was no limit to what visitors could be taxed, tourism was way down before the current recession, and a number of hotels and guest houses had closed. This according to the Bermuda Royal Gazette.
It all points to the fact that there is a limit that the costumer is willing to pay, and when that limit is reached, the result is a loss of business.
At a time when we are making efforts to offer value, we would be ill- advised to triple the lodging tax.
Josef Staufer Vail
