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The Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA) is the association for online travel companies and global distribution systems. ITSA is the voice of the industry on public policy matters, and on educating policy makers, opinion leaders and the traveling public about the industry and matters of import that will affect travel and tourism generally.

Hotel Occupancy Taxes

A key issue confronting travel distributors, including online travel companies, is the attempted application of hotel occupancy taxes to the compensation they receive for facilitating hotel bookings, i.e., enabling consumers to book their own hotel rooms online. This effort, prompted frequently by plaintiffs' class action legal firms, is damaging to consumers, and to hotel bookings generally in the destinations which try to apply this tax, whether through litigation or legislation, and threatens an industry that has been an important driver of travel and tourism and the economic benefits that brings to localities everywhere. The articles below provide a range of information that explain the issue, the industry, the business model and the counterproductive impact of these taxes.

By the end of 2012, travelers will book one third of the world's travel sales online, … to surpass US$313 billion by 2012.

Global Online Booking Soars

Recent Court Decisions Highlight the Litigation Success of the Online Travel industry:

NY Decision

Houston Court of Appeals Decision

The Contributions of OTCs: Utah

In 2011, OTCs booked more than 190,000 rooms in Utah, generating more than $32 million in bookings - an average of more than $170 per room.

OTCs also booked more than $500,000 in ancillary travel services, such as museum tours, ski packages and other local attractions.

There are more than 400 independent hotels in Utah, and they rely on the OTCs to help them sell rooms that would otherwise go unsold.

Utah ILIA Support

How Merchant Business Model Works

Texas Court of Appeals Affirms Decision for Online Travel Companies in Occupancy Tax Dispute

California Court Overturns San Diego Hotel Tax Ruling Against Online Travel Companies

California Court Dismisses Santa Monica’s Multi-Million Dollar Tax Assessment Against Online Travel Companies

Missouri Governor Signs Law Protecting Travelers From Higher Taxes

Travel Industry Coalition Blasts Proposed New York Tourism Tax

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ARCHIVED

Open Letter to Hotel Industry on Occupancy Taxes

California Superior Court Overturns $21 Million Anaheim Claim Against Online Travel Companies

Online Travel Companies Applaud Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Decision to Dismiss Occupancy Tax Lawsuit

County won't sue online firms to get room taxes

Suing OTAs a law practice niche

Orange Grove: Cities overreach on hotel fees

Suing travel sites over taxes a terrible idea

Texas Cities vs. PCLN, EXPE, OWW et al: A Draw at Best

Florida AG sues Expedia and Orbitz - If cities can, we can too

Attorneys net about 80 percent of settlement in Fairview Heights on-line travel lawsuits

Online Travel: Supporting Florida Tourism

Industry Third Party Support

If it's Not Broken, Don't Fix it

Frequently Asked Questions about Taxes and Fees

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