One-time grant to support tour operators faced with accommodation levy increase
On October 1, 2023, the marketing levy on registered tourism accommodations in the Halifax Regional Municipality will increase by one per cent.
While tourism accommodations have been expecting the levy increase since 2022, the effective date has only been announced recently. This has left some concerned about pre-bookings, where funds have been charged and collected.
Discover Halifax wants to mitigate the financial burden on those businesses caught in the timing challenge related to the increased levy, and are introducing a one-time grant program to help subsidize the one per cent increase.
The grant program is available for receptive tour operators that have charged and collected a two per cent accommodation levy, and are now required to remit three per cent due to the increase.
To be eligible to access the grant:
- You must be a receptive tour operator, acting as an intermediary between retail tour operators, visitors, and accommodation providers;
- You will have committed via quote to charge a two per cent accommodation levy prior to the scheduled increase to three per cent on October 1, 2023;
- The accommodation has to have occurred within the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) between October 1 and December 31, 2023.
Operators have to pre-register their intent to access funding on or before September 30, 2023 via email to grantprogram@discoverhalifaxns.com. The email should include a cost estimate. We will share further details in the coming months on the information required for the full application with those pre-registered.
On a case-by-case basis, Discover Halifax will consider other operators or situations. If you’re not sure if you qualify, reach out with any questions to grantprogram@discoverhalifaxns.com as soon as possible as pre-registration must be received on or before September 30, 2023.
The grant program is limited to one application per operator, and each applicant rebate cannot exceed $5,000. There is a total limit of $15,000 for all applicants. If requests exceed $15,000, a best-effort attempt will be made to pro-rate the funding among qualified, pre-registered applicants.
A final application must be submitted on or before January 31, 2024. Funds will not be distributed to qualifying operators until April 2024.
Please note: This one-time grant program is being offered at the discretion of Discover Halifax. Participation in this program does not create a contractual relationship between Discover Halifax and any grant applicant. Discover Halifax reserves the right to reject any grant application, discontinue the program, or modify its terms and conditions at any time without prior notice or liability. The grant provided under this program is a voluntary contribution and does not establish any legal obligation on the part of Discover Halifax. Recipients of the grant shall not have any claim, cause of action, or entitlement against Discover Halifax arising from the grant award. By submitting an application for the grant, applicants acknowledge and agree that Discover Halifax retains full discretion in the selection of grant recipients, and the amount of funding to be awarded.
A receptive tour operator is a tour company that specializes in tourism experiences and offers a one-stop-shop for international or domestic tour operators. When a tour operator is planning an itinerary in a destination they are unfamiliar with, they seek the expert cooperation of a receptive tour operator.