Clarington Council has directed its economic development staff to take steps to introduce a Municipal Accommodation Tax, a visitor-funded fee added to hotel, motel, and short-term rental stays.
Mid-June 2022, Clarington closed its Tourism Information Centre (see below) and later absorbed the staff into its Economic Development Office.
The municipality said the visitor tax program is projected to bring Clarington in line with other Ontario municipalities, including its Durham Region neighbours, and help grow the local visitor economy responsibly.
The tax would create a dedicated funding source to support tourism, events, and place-making projects. With council’s direction, staff will engage with local tourism operators, with an aim to partner with the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association to collect the tax.
Municipal Services Corporation
Staff also received direction to explore the creation of a tourism-focused Municipal Services Corporation to manage the funds.
The Economic Development Office, Invest Clarington, launched the municipality’s development concierge program in the first half of this year, completed an Investment Attraction Strategy, and reported on the progress on a hotel and banquet center feasibility study.