A resolution to request that the Davidson County delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly introduce and enact legislation amending Chapter 4 of Title 7 of the Tennessee Code Annotated to delete the termination date of the one percent addition to the tourist accommodations tax which is allocated for direct promotion of tourism.

WHEREAS, the Hospitality industry of Davidson County has been dealt a serious blow by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, as a direct result of those terrorist attacks, Nashville hotels suffered 68 group cancellations for a total loss of 15,600 room nights; and

WHEREAS, hotels in Davidson County thereby lost revenue in the two weeks following September 11 of more $8,000,000.00; and

WHEREAS, the result of these impacts in the hospitality and tourism industry alone have been a decrease in economic activity in Davidson County of more than $35,000,000.00 from September 11 to October 11; and

WHEREAS, passenger boardings at Nashville's International Airport have been down more than thirty percent over the same period in previous years; and

WHEREAS, business travel was already down fifteen percent prior to the events of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, the September hotel tax collections have suffered so significantly as to result in the reduction in the Convention and Visitor Bureau's marketing budget of as much as $200,000.00 in that single month, as well as a reduction in the General Fund of at least $500,000.00; and

WHEREAS, the one percent accommodations tax which is devoted to advertising and marketing Nashville's hospitality industry is scheduled to expire in 2002 thereby drastically reducing the promotion of an industry which is already severely injured.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NSHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby requests the Davidson County delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly introduce and have enacted legislation deleting the termination date for the one percent addition to the tourist accommodations tax which is contained in T.C.A. §7-4-102 and which is dedicated to the direct promotion of tourism.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County delegation.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored By: Leo Waters, Jim Shulman, David Briley, Ronnie Greer, Chris Ferrell, Bettye Balthrop, Don Majors, Lawrence Hall

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred to:	Rules & Confirmations Committee
Introduced:	November 20, 2001
Adopted:	November 20, 2001
Approved:	November 21, 2001
By: