Hosting last year's 55+ BC Games contributed to a healthy year for accommodation revenue in Salmon Arm.
According to the 2024 Salmon Arm Municipal and Regional Tax (MRDT) annual performance report, a requirement of the B.C. government, accommodations revenue for the year was over $18.7 million ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ up from $16.62 million in 2023 and $16.6 million the year prior.
Presented at the May 26 city council by Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS) executive director Lana Fitt and MRDT projects co-ordinator Jenna Robbins, the report states accommodations revenue has grown by 53.5 per cent since the MRDT first launched in 2018.
The MRDT is a two per cent tax levied on guests staying at hotels, motels and other designated accommodations in the city. Revenue generated from the tax is used to support and expand tourism programs, tourism projects and tourism marketing for Salmon Arm, with the goal increasing accommodations revenue and overnight stays.
For 2024, MRDT revenue totalled $371,452, while total expenses were $542,180, leaving $248,684 to be carried over into 2025. Fitt noted approximately $40,000 of the year's MRDT revenue was from online accommodation platforms ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ things such as short-term vacation rentals.
Occupancy was up one per cent from 2023 to 2024, with increased occupancy numbers in February, March, June and September through to December.
"This is important to note we really extended our high occupancy months which traditionally are just July and August," said Fitt.
Robbins said MRDT funds were used to support 68 events in 2024, a 63 per cent increase from 2023. One of them was the Games (Sept. 10-14), which saw 90 per cent occupancy an estimated accommodations spend of $619.111.
Other project highlights from 2024 included new entrance signage and bus shelter wraps, reactivation of the interactive information kiosks, development of a new overnight stay experience package, stakeholder engagement and community partnerships, such as the BC Bird Trail project and the launch of the Shuswap Outpost, including local birding photography and two-day itinerary development.
Coun. Debbie Cannon, the president of the Games Committee, praised Fitt for her work behind the scenes as one of the event's directors.
"You left no stone unturned and you were amazing," said Cannon.
Current monthly data indicates 2025 will be another strong year for accommodations.
"It has been on a strong growth trajectory again ,so we feel like weÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™re going to, at the very least meet. what 2024 provided us, but quite likely exceed where we were," said Fitt.
