Orlando's tourist tax pulled in $40 million in March. Will it continue?
The tax on Orlando area hotel rooms just raked in the second-largest, one-month bonanza ever.
But optimism over Orange County's near-record collection of $40.1 million in March, announced this morning, was tempered a bit by Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks the money generated by the 6% surcharge on hotel room rentals.
'On one hand, it's the second-most ever,' he said. 'On the other, it's a decrease from [March] last year.'
The year-over-year drop was slight — less than $400,000.
Orange County tourist-tax collections set new annual record
The comptroller's tourist-tax report generally lags about a month or so behind collection. The April report is expected in early June.
The March largesse overcame some negative factors. Diamond said some travelers may have put off a spring vacation to Central Florida until later in the year so they could visit Universal Orlando's new theme park, Epic Universe, which features five immersive lands including areas based on the Harry Potter film series, 'How to Train Your Dragon' and Super Nintendo video games.
The park is set to officially open May 22.
'I think the opening of Epic Universe is going to be a real shot of adrenaline for the tourism economy,' Diamond said. 'I think it's going to bring a lot of people that wouldn't have come to Central Florida otherwise.'
Orange commissioners commit $29M for bids to lure WrestleMania, Jaguars
The March figures mark the midway point of the fiscal year which began October 1.
Tourist tax collections through the first six months of the current fiscal year total about $202.5 million, about $8 million better than last year's total of $194.2 million through the same period. The pace slowed slightly over last year's second half, but final collections nonetheless pulled in a record of $359.4 million.
More than half of the $5.4 billion generated by Tourist Development Tax, or TDT for short, since it was first levied about 45 years ago has been spent to build, expand, maintain and operate the Orange County convention center on I-Drive.
TDT money also pays for Visit Orlando to promote tourism; builds and improves Orlando's stadiums, arenas and arts venues; and draws attention to the region's smaller attractions, including its expanding array of culinary jewels.
Last month, county commissioners dangled $29 million in TDT cash as 'incentive' funds in an effort to lure WrestleMania to Orlando in 2031 and to persuade NFL owners to choose Camping World Stadium to host Jacksonville Jaguars' home games in 2027 while the pro fooball team's stadium undergoes a billion-dollar renovation.
Check back for updates.
shudak@orlandosentinel.com
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