BTA Comment: $34,822 Hotel Guest Tax Arrears
The $34,822 overdue from hotel properties “represents only 1% of total hotel tax revenues projected this year under the tourism guest fee,” the Bermuda Tourism Authority said today.
The matter was discussed in the House of Assembly on Friday [Dec 12], with Tourism Development & Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell answering questions from Shadow Minister of Tourism Zane DeSilva.
Audio excerpt from Parliament.bm of the Minister detailing the properties in arrears:
The Minister said that out of a total of 47 licensed properties, eight are in arrears:
- Cambridge Beaches = $19,072
- Surf Side = $10,000
- Brightside = $1,750
- Dawkins Manor = $1,000
- Granaway = $1,000
- Clearview = $750
- Sandpiper = $750
- Hamiltonian Hotel = $500
When asked why the original list of 10 dropped to 8, Minister Crockwell said that when they submitted the responses, it was ten properties in arrears, however two properties made payments in the interim period
Audio excerpt of the Minister clarifying why the original list of 10 dropped to 8:
The BTA spokesperson said, “About 99% of the projected hotel tax revenue the Bermuda Tourism Authority is legislatively responsible for collecting in 2014 is up-to-date.
“While our finance team continues to work with hotels to ensure all overdue taxes are collected, we are very pleased with the level of compliance from hoteliers who collect the tax known as the tourism guest fee.
“The tourism guest fee is a fee that predates the inception of the BTA and is collected from hotel guests at a rate of 2.5% of the room price. Hoteliers then pass along the collection of this fee to the BTA, as the law requires.
“We would like to emphasize the $34,822 overdue from hotel properties, reported today in local media, represents only 1% of total hotel tax revenues projected this year under the tourism guest fee.”
They are using the money for cash flow just like other businesses that don’t pay their taxes. And you said someone is interested in building more hotels when the ones here are catching hell to survive.
Name and shame – that always helps.
I can’t believe Cambridge Beaches would be on that list. I thought they had high standards and always had everything in order. I would’ve never known.
Now lets show all the companies In Bermuda that have arrears of payroll and other taxes to Government
Somebody in Government needs to look into the Hamiltonian. It is falling down, literally. Ceilings busted. Mould everywhere. No guests, just local short-tem renters. Where are the hotel inspectors who used to ensure that properties were clean and safe? The owners of the Hamiltonian should be contacted by Government and BTA and told to either close or preferably fix up the property!
Lets not forget that many of these businesses are just getting back on there feet after such an economic dry spell so it
dos’nt suprise me that they have fallen behind in paying a lot of bills.- and its not just Govt.Tax either.
Else for the Hamiltonian – lol – are you joking — knock it down.