Tourism program and occupancy tax funding
Tompkins County
Summary
Room tax collections are running ahead of 2025 at $4.57 million, and three grant programs — community celebrations, tourism advancement, and Tompkins Outdoors — are open through February 26.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Aug 5, 2026.
Impact analysis
$4.57 million in room tax collected year-to-date 2025.
Local nonprofits, municipalities, and tourism and outdoor recreation organizations.
Smaller inns and short-term rentals are losing share to larger lodging properties amid rental regulations.
Mentions & discussions (5)
Housing and Economic Development Committee - Regular Meeting — August 5, 2026
Q2 room tax collections hit $1.22 million, well above projections, with June occupancy up year over year. Canadian visitors are quietly returning despite political and wildfire-related headwinds.
Housing and Economic Development Committee - Regular Meeting — May 6, 2026
First-quarter room tax came in at $445,525, slightly down from last year. Visit Ithaca reported $320 million in visitor spending in 2024 — without it, every household would pay about $849 more in property taxes for the same services.
Housing and Economic Development Committee - Regular Meeting — April 1, 2026
Roughly $160,000 in hotel-tax-funded grants went to local events and outdoor groups — $81,500 for tourism promotion, $23,120 for community celebrations, and $55,000 for outdoor recreation capacity.
Housing and Economic Development Committee - Regular Meeting — March 4, 2026
The county is rebalancing hotel room tax funds so previously approved tourism grants and contracts can be paid across budget years. It's not new spending, but it keeps grant-funded tourism projects funded.
Housing and Economic Development Committee - Regular Meeting — February 4, 2026
Room tax collections are running ahead of 2025 at $4.57 million, and three grant programs — community celebrations, tourism advancement, and Tompkins Outdoors — are open through February 26.
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