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How Are CVBs Funded?
The primary source of funding for most CVBs is the hotel occupancy tax. In 1985, the West Virginia Legislature passed legislation permitting cities and counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax. This “local-option” law mandated that bureaus receive at least half of the tax proceeds, with the balance used for specified tourism projects.
After the enactment of the hotel occupancy tax in various cities and counties throughout West Virginia, groups of local tourism businesses and other organizations formed CVBs to serve their city, county or region. By legislative action, all CVBs in West Virginia that receive funds from the hotel occupancy tax are to be created as independent, non-profit corporations.
The competition for tourists and the dollars they spend is growing more intense. Without adequate and effective promotion, meeting planners, bus tour operators and other tourists will not know what an area has to offer. The role of the CVB is to market their destination to individuals and groups using the hotel tax and other funds they generate from a variety of sources.
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