Lodging tax to increase to 4%

The county’s local lodging tax is set to increase this month, up to 4 percent as a result of voter approval during the 2018 election.

Jenissa Meredith, executive director of the Sweetwater County Joint Travel and Tourism Board, said the board won’t see its check from the increased lodging tax until this summer. The lodging tax is charged only at hotels within Sweetwater County and according to Meredith, is primarily used to market the county as a travel destination to outside markets.

“Tourism is a huge part of our local economy,” Meredith told the Green River City Council Tuesday night.

During the past year, Meredith said she worked on making Sweetwater County more visible to international travelers and met with tour operators who host tours across the United States in an effort to have their tours include the county. She said she also increased exposure to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs last year through a partnership with KUTV in Utah and the stations “Road Trippin” segments.

Meredith, working to recognize the 150th anniversary of women’s suffrage in Wyoming, also created the Proud Wyoming Woman retreat last year, which was featured in the New York Times as part of the newspaper’s 52 places to go in 2018 feature.

Meredith said the plans to host the event again this year, adding an additional day to the event.