Bed tax jumps 9 percent
February 24, 2020 - Visitors to Pinellas County brought in more than $64 million in tourist development taxes in 2019. That was an all-time high and a 9 percent increase year-over-year, according to Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. The tax, also called a bed tax, is a a 6 percent tax collected on accommodations in Pinellas County rented for less than six month. Proceeds fund tourism marketing programs, as well as beach nourishment, construction on stadiums and museums, and reserves to be used in the event of an emergency. Crossing the $60 million mark means the destination generated more than $1 billion in hotel revenue in 2019, another first, VSP said.