October bed tax sets mark

A slew of special events led to record profits for local hotels, according to figures released Tuesday by the city.

Lake Havasu City hotels in October grossed more than $1.8 million in total revenue, the highest total of any October on record, according to the city's bed tax report.

Jarrod Lyman, Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau vice president, was pleased with the figures.

“They look good. I figured October would be a good month, and I was not disappointed,” he said.

In all, local hotels took in $1,865,123, up from $1,654,741 in October 2005. Lyman attributed the increase to several big-name events such as the International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals and Rockfest.

“October is known as a special-event month, and I think that definitely helped a lot right there,” he said. “Just about any special event you see out there in October had a good draw.”

The city charges a 3 percent bed tax on every hotel bill. That revenue, combined with a 1 percent restaurant and bar tax, goes to the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Partnership for Economic Development.

The CVB gets 75 percent of the lumped revenue; the PED gets 25 percent. The CVB uses that revenue to try to attract more tourists, mostly through marketing and advertising. The PED, on the other hand, tries to attract new businesses to the city.

The city has grossed $361,331 in bed tax sales since the fiscal year began in July, up from $337,964 in the same time period last year, according to the bed tax report.

Lyman expects November's numbers to be a little lower. On average, November is one of the slower tourism months. Hotel profits normally pick up in February, when people from the Midwest and Northeast are looking to come someplace warmer, he said.

You may reach the reporter at raap@havasunews.com

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