Fort Lauderdale Gains the Competitive Advantage with the Nation's Lowest Travel Taxes
Annual study reports Fort Lauderdale has the lowest tax burden for travelers among the top U.S. 50 destinations
Matt Little, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4732 or mlittle@fortlauderdale.gov
Fort Lauderdale - Tourists and business travelers can add "value" to the list of amenities and attributes that make Fort Lauderdale an unrivaled international destination. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) released a report this week that ranks Fort Lauderdale as the best city for the lowest sales taxes and discriminatory travel taxes.
"The difference in the effective tax rate on travelers from one city to the next is quite remarkable," said Joe Bates, GBTA Foundation's research director. "For instance, a traveler who visits Chicago pays 80% more in taxes during their one-night stay than a traveler visiting Fort Lauderdale. If you are a travel manager planning a meeting, this is important information to take into consideration. And if you are a retail business attempting to lure travelers, this tax rate differential is a competitive advantage or disadvantage."
The study factored in general sales taxes and discriminatory travel taxes, which include tariffs on hotel rooms, rental cars and restaurant meals.
Cities ranked with the lowest traveler tax burdens:
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Fort Myers, FL
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Detroit, MI
- Portland, OR
The cities ranked with the highest traveler tax burdens:
- Chicago, IL
- New York, NY
- Seattle, WA
- Boston, MA
- Kansas City, MO
The report's findings have garnered national media attention. CNN reported on Fort Lauderdale's number one ranking last Friday, followed by a USA Today report on Wednesday of this week.
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