ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — According to St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen, on the agenda for a meeting between the city and province on Tuesday was how St. John’s can collect a four per cent tourism marketing levy from Airbnb hosts.
“All the accommodations in the city pay a four per cent tourism marketing levy, and that’s used for Destination (St. John’s) marketing, (and) it’s used to pay the financing cost on the convention centre,” Breen said.
“But AirBnBs, because they’re not a regulated property, don’t collect the four per cent. So, that’s the issue that we’re discussing with the provincial government.”
Breen said it has been a topic of conversation with the province for two years.
At the regular Monday council meeting, Coun. Sandy Hickman said it’s something council needs to look at further, to make it fair for other accommodations in the city that pay business tax.
As of July 1, Newfoundland and Labrador had 2,200 active Airbnb listings, according to information provided by Airbnb’s policy office.
