Topeka hotel revenues on record pace

Topeka hotel revenues are on pace to set a record high this year, according to Visit Topeka Inc., the organization officially assigned to promote Topeka as a tourism destination.

Visit Topeka said in a news release Wednesday evening that citywide hotel revenues were $23,617,580 over the first six months of the years, which is $264,000 more than the city's previous record high for that time period, according to a report by Hendersonville, Tenn.-based Smith Travel Research, which tracks and analyzes hospitality industry supply and demand. The previous record was set last year.

Smith Travel Research also reported hotels citywide sold 7,585 more room nights over the first six months of this year compared to the same time period last year.

The recent gains cannot be attributed to any one travel segment, Visit Topeka vice president Mike Bell said in the release.

"Sporting events, conferences and general tourism are showing increases due to quality sports facilities, major improvements to our existing attractions like Camp Cowabunga at the (Topeka) Zoo, new attractions like the Evel Knievel Museum, annual events and a strong sales effort by the local hotels and Visit Topeka sales teams," he said.

The record pace means record economic impact to this community, Brett Oetting, president of Visit Topeka, said in the release.

"Visitors not only stay in hotels but also spend money eating at our restaurants, shopping and attending other events and attractions," he said.

The revenue from the sales taxes those visitors pay helps finance services that include police, firefighting, road maintenance and parks and recreation, Oetting said.

"Travel and tourism eases the tax burden for local residents," he said.

Visit Topeka, a non-profit organization tasked with marketing and selling the city in terms of tourism, conferences, trade shows, sporting events and special events, receives most of the revenue from a 7 percent transient guest tax.

Topeka's city government levies that tax, also known as the bed tax, on hotels and other businesses that provide temporary lodging. Those businesses pass the costs on to their guests.

In addition, an assessment of $1 per room goes to help finance future operations of the city's Evergy Plaza, which is being constructed at the northeast corner of S. 7th and Kansas Avenue.