Latest news with #ABID
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Beloved city break destination mulls new tourist tax
Oxford City Council is exploring the introduction of an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), often referred to as a " tourist tax", on overnight stays. The proposed scheme would add a surcharge to hotel and college room rates for guests in Oxford. City officials estimate that such a levy could raise up to £10m for additional projects, with a £2 nightly charge potentially funding city improvements. Funds generated by the ABID would be controlled by a dedicated board, independent of Oxford City Council or other government bodies. Similar visitor charges are already in place in other UK cities, including Manchester and Liverpool.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Oxford visitors could face new ‘tourist tax'
Visitors to Oxford could face a new charge on overnight stays, local authorities have announced. Oxford City Council is currently exploring the introduction of an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) – sometimes referred to as a 'tourist tax' – which would see hotel and college room rates adding a surcharge for guests. City officials are currently discussing how Oxford can 'better manage the effects of tourism while ensuring it remains a vibrant and popular place for residents and visitors'. In addition to an estimated 2,300 hotel rooms, the University of Oxford has approximately 8,000 rooms available to let at various points in the year that could benefit from the scheme. In a statement, authorities suggested that such a levy could unlock up to £10m for additional projects, depending on criteria set by the task groups. More than 32 million people visited the city last year, according to council figures, with tourism supporting about 40,000 jobs. A £2 nightly charge on overnight stays in the city 'could help fund improvements to the city's visitor offer', the council said. According to the council, any funds raised would be controlled by a dedicated ABID board, not Oxford City Council or any other statutory or government body. Local resident, Flora Nelson, is in favour of the proposal. 'Oxford is absolutely overrun with tourists, especially in the summer, which makes getting around the city difficult for residents,' she told The Independent. 'Some suggestions for how the tourist tax could be used? Fix the terrible state of the roads in Oxford, make extortionate public transport cheaper and improve services for homeless people.' Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, cabinet member for planning and culture, said the proposed scheme 'has the potential to unlock a lot of money and make improvements that will benefit everyone'. He said: 'Oxford's accommodation sector plays a vital role in our city's economy. 'Supporting the next stage of this project will give them the opportunity to shape projects and funding streams that work for them.' Manchester introduced a £1 per night visitor charge in April 2023, while Liverpool's began in June, with a £2 nightly charge.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oxford's overnight visitors could face 'tourist tax'
A new levy on overnight stays is being considered for visitors to City Council is exploring the idea of introducing an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) which would add a surcharge – sometimes referred to as a "tourist tax" – to hotel and college room is estimated the scheme could generate £2.5m a year which would be reinvested in the local tourist a meeting of the council's scrutiny committee on Tuesday, members discussed the potential impact of the plan. More than 32 million people visited the city last year, according to council figures, with tourism supporting about 40,000 jobs.A £2 nightly charge on overnight stays in hotels and college rooms could help fund improvements to the city's visitor offer, the council Fawcett, city centre manager at Oxford City Council, said: "It's not really just about our tourists, it's about anybody who uses the city. "So whether you live here, whether you work here, whether you're a student here, as well as a tourist, we want to improve that experience." Similar schemes already operate in other parts of the country, including Manchester and introduced its ABID in April 2023, adding a £1 per night visitor charge to hotels and serviced apartments. It raised an estimated £2.8m in its first version began in June, with a £2 nightly charge expected to bring in £9.2m by Dorset, a ballot of hoteliers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole approved a levy in May 2024, however more than 40 hotels lodged an appeal with the government over how the ballot was meant the introduction of the levy was Oxford, as well as an estimated 2,300 hotel rooms being considered for the programme, Oxford University colleges have approximately 8,000 rooms available at various points in the year, with a predicted annual ABID contribution of £ committee has recommended creating two task groups – one for hoteliers and one for colleges – to lead the design of the scheme and decide which local projects should benefit from the funding. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hotel group challenges city's 'tourist tax'
A major hotel group is challenging a £2 "tourist tax" charge added to overnight stays for visitors to Liverpool. Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn, said the visitor levy which came into force on Sunday should be voided. The charge was voted for by members of the city's Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) in a ballot earlier this year. Of the 83 hotels in Liverpool who were asked, 59% (26) were in favour, on a turnout of 53%. The levy is mandatory for all hotels in the city above a certain rateable value, regardless of whether they took part in the ballot or whether they opposed the charge. According to the ABID, a £2 city charge per room per night could bring in over £9m pounds over two years, to support the visitor economy. However, the idea has had its critics. Whitbread chief executive Dominic Paul has said that hotels, restaurants and bars were being held back by higher labour costs and faced additional burdens from possible surcharges on overnight accommodation. Writing in The Times, he said the hospitality industry "finds itself on the receiving end of a series of government interventions which together will significantly hold back our ability to contribute to growth". The government has confirmed it had received a request from Whitbread for the ballot result to be voided. Liverpool City Council said it was confident the ballot was conducted according to legal requirements, but will look at the concerns raised by the challenge by the deadline of 24 June. A minister will consider the response in determining whether the ballot should be declared void. The government said hotels could continue to collect the cash from visitors, pending the outcome of the challenge, but visitors would be refunded if it is successful. The challenge comes as regional mayors, lead by Liverpool City Region's Steve Rotheram, have asked government to devolve powers to raise such taxes at local level, rather than via a BID ballot which is the only means available at the moment. Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture said Whitbread's challenge "reinforced the council's position and that of the mayors that visitor levies would benefit from a new national arrangement, established under the proposals for devolution." He added: "The case for a visitor levy has been made and is being advocated across the UK." The BBC has contacted Whitbread for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Hotel group challenges Liverpool's 'tourist tax'
A major hotel group is challenging a £2 "tourist tax" charge added to overnight stays for visitors to which owns Premier Inn, said the visitor levy which came into force on Sunday should be charge was voted for by members of the city's Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) in a ballot earlier this the 83 hotels in Liverpool who were asked, 59% (26) were in favour, on a turnout of 53%. The levy is mandatory for all hotels in the city above a certain rateable value, regardless of whether they took part in the ballot or whether they opposed the charge. According to the ABID, a £2 city charge per room per night could bring in over £9m pounds over two years, to support the visitor the idea has had its chief executive Dominic Paul has said that hotels, restaurants and bars were being held back by higher labour costs and faced additional burdens from possible surcharges on overnight in The Times, he said the hospitality industry "finds itself on the receiving end of a series of government interventions which together will significantly hold back our ability to contribute to growth". Concerns raised The government has confirmed it had received a request from Whitbread for the ballot result to be City Council said it was confident the ballot was conducted according to legal requirements, but will look at the concerns raised by the challenge by the deadline of 24 June.A minister will consider the response in determining whether the ballot should be declared government said hotels could continue to collect the cash from visitors, pending the outcome of the challenge, but visitors would be refunded if it is challenge comes as regional mayors, lead by Liverpool City Region's Steve Rotheram, have asked government to devolve powers to raise such taxes at local level, rather than via a BID ballot which is the only means available at the Doyle, Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture said Whitbread's challenge "reinforced the council's position and that of the mayors that visitor levies would benefit from a new national arrangement, established under the proposals for devolution."He added: "The case for a visitor levy has been made and is being advocated across the UK."The BBC has contacted Whitbread for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
