The biggest players in the tourist industry in Renfrew County are planning to withdrawal their memberships to the local tourism association. Hotels, resorts, lodges and motel owners in Renfrew County have issued a letter to the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association (OVTA) opposing the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).
OVTA has proposed a 4% tax on hotel, motels and Air BNB rooms in the county with half the money going to the tourist association and the other half to the host municipality. The protesting group has asked the county to launch an independent investigation into why the OVTA is using false and misleading information to promote the Municipal Accommodation Tax. The group is also looking for an explanation as to why OVTA didn’t listen to the objections from the hotel industry which is creating a major conflict in the local tourism industry.
Chief Operating Officer of Calabogie Peaks, Jim Hemlin, says hotel owners were hit hard with the minimum wage increase last year resulting in layoffs and cuts to services and programs. Hemlin adds this new proposed tax would result in more of the same. On Friday (August 9th) upset members from the tourism industry will resign their OVTA membership at the County of Renfrew office. A meeting with the county’s Chief Administrative Officer, Paul Morreau, is set for 10:00am Friday morning to discuss the concerns.
The province of Ontario has indicated that a MAT tax is optional and not for all municipalities. Bonnechere Valley council voted against the new tax at their council meeting earlier in the week.
(Photo Credit: Calabogie Peaks Resort Facebook Page)