PETER CRESSY: “THE HOSPITATLITY INDUSTRY NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED.”

DISCUS president Peter Cressy highlighted the “devastating and far-reaching” implications hospitality taxes have on that industry yesterday at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit in Washington D.C. “Taxing tourists and business travelers is unfortunately convenient because they don’t vote in the cities and towns in which they travel. But in the long run, it’s bad economic policy because it impedes growth,” he said citing an analysis of 10 major cities, which shows tourists are hit with 16 different direct taxes. He stressed the fact that all parts of the hospitality industry are heavily taxed, costing more than $40 billion every year in U.S. taxes. Also, Peter said that public officials need to understand that taxing alcohol is the same as taxing the hospitality industry, showing that alcohol represents 26%-40% of restaurant profits.