Edmond City Council sets June 18 special election date for Lodging Excise Tax Rate increase proposal.

The Edmond City Council Monday night scheduled a June 18 special election asking voters to approve a 2% increase to the Lodging Excise Tax Rate, from 4% to 6% of the Room Rental Rate.

The original 4% visitors tax (lodging excise tax) levied on hotel rooms was approved by Edmond voters on May 10, 1994. This 4% tax rate has remained unchanged for 30 years.

Jennifer Thornton, tourism director for Visit Edmond said this tax is only charged for overnight stays in Edmond hotels, bed & breakfasts, and short-term rentals.

“When visitors come to Edmond, they generate sales tax dollars that benefit the City of Edmond and its residents through projects like road improvements, new parks, and much more. Revenue from the visitor tax will be used by Visit Edmond, a city department, to market Edmond as a destination and attract new meetings and events to increase economic impact,” she said.

Thornton said on a $100 room, the current visitor tax of 4% charges visitors $4 per night. Under the proposal, this cost would increase to $6, using the $100-room example.

She said passage of the proposal is projected to add $350,000 annually for tourism development and opportunities like marketing Edmond as a destination for visitors with new branding and more advertising dollars.
She said the tax increase would help Visit Edmond create a sports tourism plan to recruit more tournaments; provide sponsorships to attract, retain and sustain conferences and events.
Thornton said Visit Edmond could partner with Edmond facilities to bid on new events.

For example:

• Regional Conferences like Great Plains AMBUCS coming to Edmond Conference Center
• Bidding on NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships during May 17-21, 2027 and NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis championships during May 18-23, 2027.
• Supporting UCO to keep the OSSAA State High School Football Championships.

“Edmond’s current visitor tax is the lowest in our region,” Thornton said. “Oklahoma City charges 5.5%, Guthrie and Stillwater charges 7% and Norman charges 8%.