The hotel and hospitality industries are still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, but leisure travelers are fueling a recovery that’s generating higher-than-projected room taxes to support Madison’s city budget and fund tourism-related activities.
The city saw $18.9 million in room taxes in 2019, but as the pandemic took hold the amount plummeted to $5.9 million in 2020, forcing the city’s Room Tax Commission to slash funding for Destination Madison, Monona Terrace, Overture Center and other entities, as well as the general fund.
But it’s getting better.
In June, the city projected room tax