Tulsa Voters To Decide Hotel Tax Increase In November Election

Tulsa Voters To Decide Hotel Tax Increase In November Election

Tulsa voters will decide this November whether to nearly double the city's hotel guest tax, a move city leaders say would generate long-term funding for tourism, major event venues and economic development without raising taxes on residents.

The Tulsa City Council voted 7-0 Wednesday evening to place the proposal on the November ballot. If approved, the hotel guest tax would increase from 5% to 9.9% beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

Tulsa Hotel Tax Proposal Heads To November Ballot

The proposed increase would apply only to hotel stays and short-term rentals within Tulsa.

The tax would not apply to restaurant meals, drinks, parking or other hotel-related services.

City officials say the measure represents the first increase in Tulsa's hotel guest tax since the 1980s and would create a dedicated funding source for maintaining and improving some of the city's largest entertainment and convention facilities.

Revenue generated by the tax supports operations at the BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center, along with tourism marketing efforts that attract concerts, sporting events, conventions and other large gatherings.

Additional information about the proposal is available through the City of Tulsa.

Revenue Would Fund Major Venue Improvements

If voters approve the Tulsa hotel tax proposal, city leaders plan to issue $80 million in revenue bonds to finance improvements at the BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center.

Combined with $48 million already available through capital reserve accounts, Oak View Group contributions and Improve Our Tulsa 3, officials say approximately $128 million in upgrades could be completed.

City leaders emphasized the revenue bonds would be repaid using future hotel tax collections rather than general tax dollars paid by Tulsa residents.

Officials say maintaining modern venues helps Tulsa remain competitive when bidding for major concerts, sporting events, conventions and national conferences.

Information about Tulsa's convention and tourism efforts can be found through Tulsa Regional Tourism.

Tourism Plays A Major Role In Tulsa's Economy

According to Tourism Economics, visitors spent approximately $1.43 billion in Tulsa during 2023, representing nearly a 4% increase over the previous year.

That equates to roughly $3.9 million in visitor spending every day.

City officials say tourism also supports more than 16,000 jobs, or about one out of every 16 jobs in Tulsa.

Supporters argue increasing the hotel guest tax shifts the cost of funding tourism infrastructure primarily to visitors instead of local taxpayers, while opponents will have the opportunity to make their case before voters cast ballots in November.

Election information and voter resources are available through the Oklahoma State Election Board.

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