Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Business Journal Q4 2014 | Page 42

The Lodging Tax:

Unsung Hero of the Cheyenne Economy
By: Scott French, Little America Hotel & Resort

An unsung hero for Laramie County is on the ballot
this November 4th. It helps bring in millions of dollars
each year, provides thousands of jobs, and contributes
substantial taxes. Yet the hero does not cost you or me
one cent.
The hero is the Laramie County lodging tax. This tax is
paid by visitors who stay overnight in our hotels, bed &
breakfasts, and campgrounds. No local residents pay this
tax unless they stay in our lodging establishments.
Is this a new tax?
No. The lodging tax has been in existence in the county
since 1987, and voters have renewed it numerous times
since. The lodging tax will be up for renewal on the
November 4th ballot.
What are the funds used for?
Visit Cheyenne uses these lodging tax funds to grow
tourism by purchasing advertising, pursuing meetings and
bus tours, operating the Trolley, and maintaining visitor
centers in Pine Bluffs and Cheyenne. Visit Cheyenne
supports community events such as the New Year’s Eve
Ball Drop, Celtic Festival, Cheyenne Depot Days, and
others.
Why do we need the lodging tax?
Competition for the tourism dollar is fierce. Communities
throughout Wyoming, Colorado, and the United States
use similar lodging taxes and are promoting themselves
very aggressively. Without the lodging tax, we would have
no unified effort to compete for these tourist dollars.

Is the tax working?
Yes. With the help of the lodging tax, Laramie County
visitor spending has grown 35% in the past 4 years.
Our expanding business base, hospitality business
efforts, and the promotions of Visit Cheyenne and the
Wyoming Office of Tourism are solidly contributing to
this great growth rate.
What are the benefits of the travel
industry?
In 2013, travelers spent $357 million in Laramie
County, up 7 % over 2012 and double the state’s
growth rate of 3.5%. In addition, our 2013 lodging
occupancy rate was 64% compared to 57 % for
Wyoming and 62% for the United States. This growth
is continuing in 2014 as well.
Our travel spending ranks 2nd among Wyoming
counties and supports 2,950 local jobs. If the travel
industry were a single business, it would rank as the
county’s third largest employer behind F.E. Warren Air
Force Base and the State of Wyoming.
Visitors pay sales and gas taxes that support our
schools, roads and other services. In fact, travelers
pay 9.1% of our local sales taxes. Without travelers’
taxes, each Wyoming household would pay an
additional $451 in taxes to maintain existing levels
of government services. (Source: Dean Runyan
Associates and Wyoming Office of Tourism)
How does our tax rate compare?
Our combined tax rate of 10% (4% lodging tax, 6%
sales tax) is competitive with surrounding areas.

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