PEORIA, Ill. – A new district in Peoria will aim to try and bring more big-time events to the River City.
The city council on Tuesday night gave its approval for the creation of the Peoria Tourism Improvement District.
The district will collect a 1.5% sales tax on all hotel stays within it for the purpose of trying to attract events to Peoria. The money raised can be used for marketing, advertising, development programs, sales, and public relations.
The district was supported by a group of 12 hotel owners in the city.
Supporters, including At-Large Councilman Zach Oyler, say the district and its benefits are needed to try and keep Peoria competitive against neighboring regions and cities, who are trying to attract their own events.
“If we don’t do this, we will no longer for sure be competitive in an environment where other cities are making these changes,” Oyler said.
In a statement after the vote, Discover Peoria’s J.D. Dalfonso says the district will be a “critical tool to the growth of an economy that generates $866 million in direct tourism.”
2nd District Councilman Alex Carmona was the only “no” vote.
“I just don’t think it looks that good for our city, even though I know that it will help to have a special little fund that the hotel industry can use here,” Carmona said. “But what’s next? Are the restaurateurs in town going to band together and ask for the same thing.”
The tax will start to be collected on November 1st.
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