We've been waiting for this moment for what seems eternity, but I think we can shout from the rooftops now ... yes "We've won" the fight to stop a bed tax being introduced.
While the long awaited Lyon's report into Local Government left the option of a "Bed Tax" hanging in the wind.... the Government has come out with a firm response dismissing any notion of a bed tax.
Ina statement on the Communities and Local Government website it says:
Tourist taxes"Sir Michael examines the case for a tourist tax. He concludes that there is not a strong evidence base for the introduction of such a tax. While he puts the case for a consultation on this issue, we are not, therefore, inclined to focus on this area. The Government does not intend to introduce a tourism tax
See the response in full at the Communities and Local Government website
Clearly a bed tax could be a vote loser, but I would also like to think that this is a result of a great job done by the industry in campaigning against the tax. Of course Caterer we played a lead role in this with its "Say No To Bed Tax" campaign, but I'd like to thank our other partners in the industry who also worked hard to campaign against this issue, particularly Travelodge and its boss Grant Hearn and also our other partners in the campaign steering group - the British Hospitality Association; Tourism Alliance; VisitBritain; and VisitLondon.