The town of Gander has signed an MOU with local tourism partners on a new tax.
Gander Mayor Percy Farwell signed the document with John Steele of Steele Hotels at the JAG Hotel in St. John’s yesterday.
The agreement will see the town introduce a four per cent tourism accommodation tax on hotel and overnight accommodation stays as of April 1.
(VOCM News)
The town believes the tax will bring in about $500,000 per year. A key priority for that new money will be to expand event and sport tourism infrastructure at the Steele Community Centre.
The first phase of that part of the plan will include a second NHL-regulation ice surface, a multi-use conversion of the existing arena floor, structural and AV upgrades, and the addition of a commercial kitchen and hospitality space.
Steele calls the agreement “concrete,” which will help build a facility that will “benefit all aspects of the community.”
(He says it will benefit residents in terms of physical activity, as well as the economic life of the community.)
