The city funds the Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau through a hotel room tax. People staying at hotels here pay a 9% tax on room rates, which added up to just under $10.9 million. By state law, Madison has to spend 27% of hotel room tax revenues on tourism-related functions. With a new contract the Common Council approved, the bureau's take will grow significantly -- from 21% next year to 34% in 2022.
Isthmus news editor Joe Tarr reported on the city of Madison's room tax and funding for promoting tourism in the December 11 issue, and discussed his story with WORT producer Dylan Brogan on that day's edition of In Our Backyard.
Listen to the interview.