Eau Claire Visitors Drive Record Room Tax Total

V1 Staff |

The Lismore Hotel, downtown Eau Claire
The Lismore Hotel, downtown Eau Claire

Judging by the amount of room taxes collected, Eau Claire is a more popular destination than ever for tourists and other visitors. For the first time, room tax collections exceeded $2 million in 2017, a 6.4 percent increase over the previous year, according to figures released by Visit Eau Claire, the area’s official tourism marketing organization.

Linda John, executive director of Visit Eau Claire, credited the area’s independent-minded creative culture in boosting the tally. “When we talk about the creative experience in Eau Claire, it encompasses music, art, culinary, even the collaborative spirit and sense of inclusivity that you feel here, all against a spectacularly scenic backdrop that further inspires creativity,” she said.

Room taxes, which are set at 8 percent, are charged on a per-night basis for visitors staying at hotels in the city. Proceeds from the taxes go to the City of Eau Claire and Visit Eau Claire and are used to market Eau Claire as a destination for visitors.