Corner Brook hotel tax planned

Travellers heading to Corner Brook may pay more for a hotel room next summer, because the city and innkeepers want to add a levy to hotel bills. 

City officials and officials at the five hotels in Corner Brook have signed a memorandum of understanding to add a three per cent fee increase to hotel room bills. 

"That money would be for marketing to the city's tourism businesses," said Corner Brook Mayor Charles Pender. 

"For example, the hotels, business, the Pepsi Centre — those types of things." 

The levy money would be used to large groups, ideally 200 people or more, to Corner Brook in the off-months of October, November, December, May and June. 

"Obviously a big piece of the business of the market we hope to change is when it comes to  the meeting and convention market that comes to the city," said Peter Antle, the manager of Greenwood Inn and Suites. 

The municipalities of St. John's, Mount Pearl, and Gander already charge a hotel tax. 

"We are going to set up similar to St. John's," said Pender. "Destination St. John's has been around for a while. We are looking to set up Destination Corner Brook."

Pender and Antle said the city and hoteliers are still working on the details of the levy, and they hope to have it in place by May 2014.