Those days are long gone. Also, governments around the country recognized they could raise taxes on a certain population that cannot vote against them. So now, hotel taxes everywhere are 15%+.
I laugh when Oregon claims to have no sales tax, and yet hotel room nights have 15% sales tax.
Also, no government/populace is going to approve new construction of cheap motels that could invite drugs and prostitution. So the only new ones have to be ones that cost $5M+ to build. Close to $10M or more in any popular area.
> I laugh when Oregon claims to have no sales tax, and yet hotel room nights have 15% sales tax.
I mean, let’s be fair. No sales tax is extremely nice when buying almost anything, including cars, computers, groceries, furniture, etc. I think it’s pretty great! I’d rather have no sales tax across the board and then a handful of individual items with higher tax.
New Hampshire is like that - no sales tax on most things, but there is tax on things like hotel rooms, restaurant meals, gasoline, and, in effect, liquor (since you can only buy it in state owned liquor stores).
Tourism is one of New Hampshire's main industries. Is it a coincidence that these are things often purchased by tourists? I think not!
I laugh when Oregon claims to have no sales tax, and yet hotel room nights have 15% sales tax.
Also, no government/populace is going to approve new construction of cheap motels that could invite drugs and prostitution. So the only new ones have to be ones that cost $5M+ to build. Close to $10M or more in any popular area.