By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Through two distributions, the transient guest tax collections within the City of Great Bend are staying close to last year’s numbers. The 6% tax is applied to those staying in hotels or Airbnbs.
The second quarter distribution, which consists of December, January and February, collected $71,018.87. That number is just over $1,400 less than the year before. Best Western Angus Inn Manager Lacey Schofield said the numbers are good compared to what she has heard from other area hotel managers.
"Me personally, we are up again on the year which is very rare for most hotels that I've visited with," said Schofield. "Especially after the recovery year of 2022 and last year we had the hail storm. The storm brought a ridiculous amount of business to town even though it was awful."
Of the 6% transient guest tax, 5% funds the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau and 1% funds the Events Center.
"We should be very happy with where we're at if we compare ourselves to other areas," added Schofield.
Through two of the four quarters, Great Bend has collected $172,334.63 in guest tax. The city’s best year was 2022, collecting $434,649.50.