Should England's mayors have powers to charge uncapped levies on business overnight stays?
England's mayors now have powers to charge uncapped percentage-based levies on all overnight accommodation including business stays to fund local infrastructure. The UK already ranks near the bottom for price competitiveness in tourism and faces 20% VAT on hotel rooms. Business groups warn the extra cost on corporate travel raises expenses for employers, risks lost conferences and inward investment, and adds administrative complexity across different local rates.
16 Opinions
I voted yes but it must be tax deductible. Also I think it should be capped for all. 3 percent is reasonable. And what local government spend it on must be for all not just a minority. Infrastructure is best. Roads etc repaired Buildings repaired and pey for the union flag to be flown at all government buildings
Yet another tax. It's all Labour knows. Burnham told hospitality he was coming to their aid and within a month has slapped a new tax on the industry. It's moronic. They just don't get it, the money will be squandered and hospitality will be damaged again. The next election cannot come soon enough.
The only industry in Cornwall and other remote parts is tourism. Well done for killing it to pay for SEN.
It's taxes,I am against higher taxes
Do not need > Politicians imposing > taxes for even > spurious reasons. We also don’t need Mayors as it’s part of a scheme championed by Sadiq Khan to gerrymander voting in Labour’s interests & roll out the ‘Smart Cities’ initiative funded by Bloomberg et al as part of UNs Agenda 2030 - you know the one, no ICE cars, meat, travel outside 15 minutes, holidays by air, only 3 UK airports, limit on new clothes CBDC Digital ID. Not about a w/e away, slavery!
I believe in devolution to an extent and powers for local taxation that can raise local revenue is also OK but I don’t think this should be uncapped
No way! All mayoral roles should just be symbolic. Look at how bad khan & Burnhams were as mayors. Khan will be chsrging 15% or more to find his brothers & sisters.
The idea sounds good in principle, but UK accommodation is already absurdly expensive and uncompetitive. We shouldn’t give mayors an uncapped power to make staying in our cities even more expensive, especially for business travel and conferences.
No one should be charged a tourist tax for staying in a hotel it’s just another tax we can’t afford.
It's entirely sensible that areas that attract a lot of visitors can derive revenue from that and to some extent manage the demand. If they think that the business visitors are of value to the community that is something to take into account when setting the charge.