Voters in the City of Fort Worth have given the green light to bump up the hotel occupancy tax, according to official election results released over the weekend. On May 4, residents from Tarrant, Denton, and Parker counties made their voices heard, passing the 2024 Venue Tax with a commanding 70% majority in a General Election move.

The victory for the venue tax will see tourists forking over more dough when they bunk down in Fort Worth hotels. The hotel occupancy tax rate is climbing by 2% to reach a total of 17% on the cost of a hotel room. This tax aims to finance the overhaul of the Fort Worth Convention Center and is set to beef up various tourism-related infrastructures. The tax will be tacked onto the price visitors already pay for their hotel rooms, according to the City of Fort Worth.

Digging deeper into the tax implementation, it becomes clear that the move is structured to aid the City's advertising efforts for their tourism and hotel industry. The extra cash from hotel stays is anticipated to give a boost to tourism assets, drawing more folks into the city for anything from conventions to vacations. The generated revenue also promises to support historical site maintenance, museum operations, and the coordination of sports events. Estimated increases in funds through the venue tax will also back operating expenses for several city landmarks, including the Fort Worth Convention Center, Visit Fort Worth, and Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Concerning what happens next, canvas election results are scheduled to be reviewed at the upcoming Fort Worth City Council meeting. Mark the calendars for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, as council members will reconvene in the Fort Worth City Council Chambers located at 200 Texas St. to finalize the General Election's outcome.