Armed with recent successful discussions in Haliburton, where that county is in the process of implementing a municipal accommodation tax, the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association hopes Renfrew County will follow suit.
The accommodation tax was introduced by the Province in 2017, and allows for municipalities to implement a tax on “transient accommodations” lasting 30 days or less.
Municipalities are required to share a minimum of 50 percent of the MAT revenues with an eligible tourism body.
In 2018, the OVTA held four information sessions and an online consultation on the matter, then came out in support of it the following year.
The OVTA wanted a four percent tax on hotels, motels and AirBnb rooms in the county, to be shared Dutch Treat with municipal hosts- but saw a number of hotel, resort and motel owners threaten to withdraw their association memberships.
Renfrew County put discussions on the shelf due to the pandemic, but word is that Pembroke will implement a MAT at the beginning of 2025.
Admaston-Bromley Mayor Michael Donohue is one of those speaking out in favour, hoping discussions this time, “will have a more beneficial outcome.”
By Rick Stow