Florida ruling lets OTCs off the hook for lodgings taxes
Travel Tech, the Travel Technology Association, is celebrating a ruling in the First District Court of Appeal in Florida that says online travel companies (OTCs) are not subject to the application of lodgings taxes for services sold online.
Florida municipalities appealed the Leon County Circuit Court decision, which also ruled in favor of OTCs, claiming OTCs should be liable to pay lodgings tax based on amounts received for providing their reservation facilitation services. The court disagreed.
Travel Tech said today the decision rendered continues to follow a clear national trend, where state and federal courts have repeatedly rebuffed efforts by state and local governments to attempt to impose hotel occupancy taxes on OTCs for their services.
"Our members maintain the same ambition now as we did prior to litigation: to successfully encourage travelers and tourists worldwide to discover and experience the state of Florida, which will ultimately drive increased tax revenues to county and state treasuries," said Simon Gros, chairman of Travel Tech.
The basis of the appeal came down to whether or not Florida’s Tourist Development Tax applied to OTCs.
The Court determined that OTCs do not rent or lease hotel rooms, rather they simply provide a service for consumers to compare hotels and rates, and ultimately book a reservation at a chosen hotel.
Cheryl
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026