Houston's hotel tax tops rates of others

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Houston's hotel tax tops rates of others

One good reason to live in the Houston area: We don't have to rent hotel rooms here.

A study by Runzheimer International, a Wisconsin-based management consultant firm, confirms that Houston's 17 percent lodging tax is the highest among 200 U.S. cities surveyed. If a first-class room costs $239 (the average in-season rate here, according to Runzheimer), $41 in taxes is added to the bill.

Don't expect to get a much better deal in San Antonio: The Alamo City's 16.75 percent lodging tax is second-highest. Also in the top five are Knoxville, Tenn. (16.25 percent); Columbus, Ohio (15.75 percent); and Seattle (15.6 percent).

Among seven cities with 15 percent lodging taxes, five are in Texas: Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas and Fort Worth.

Runzheimer defines lodging taxes as a combination of city and state taxes. Some properties also include an occupancy tax, a resort tax and an energy surcharge.

Where can we avoid high taxes at hotels? Billings, Mont., offers the lowest rate at 4 percent. Erie, Pa., and Trenton, N.J., add 6 percent to the room bill. Cheyenne, Wyo., and Portland, Maine, have a 7 percent rate.

For further information, access www.runzheimer.com.

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