County surpasses $20M in bed taxes

Sarasota County's tourism industry hit a new milestone in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, with $20 million collected from bed taxes.

That mark, what's officially called the Tourist Development Tax, is up 4.9% over fiscal 2015, according to a release from Visit Sarasota County, the county's tourism marketing arm. The fiscal year is from Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30.

In addition to the increase in the bed tax, the county reports that 1,147,350 visitors stayed in paid lodging in fiscal 2016, up of 1.4% over fiscal 2015. Also, direct expenditures and economic impact increased 3.4% over fiscal 2015, the release adds.

“Overall tax collections in Sarasota County were record-breaking indicating visitor spending in the destination was strong and the tourism industry will continue to work together to continue this momentum,” Visit Sarasota President Virginia Haley says in the statement.