As the Hospitality Industry Grows in Jonesboro so does our tax base

Jonesboro's Motel TaxRises 11 Percent in 2009
By Mark Friedman - 2/15/2010

The city of Jonesboro collected $456,000 in its motel tax in 2009, up 11 percent from 2008.

The increase could be attributed to the ice storm in February 2009, when several repair crews descended on the city and needed a place to stay, saidMark Young, president and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, Jonesboro has more hotels now than it did in 2008, Young said. The new hotels are Hilton Garden Inn, with 109 rooms; Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, 84 rooms; and Comfort Suites, 79 rooms. Another hotel - a 75-room Candlewood Suites - is under construction and expected to open next month.

Hotels pay a 3 percent tax on their room revenue. The $456,000 in tax revenue, which goes to the Advertising & Promotion Commission. Read the full article here.