Proposed CT Hospitality Fund: Reinvesting the 1% Meals & Beverage Tax

February 6, 2025

in Advocacy in Action,

This week, the CRA headed to Zohara, West Hartford, to raise awareness of Senate Bill 739 - An Act Concerning the Distribution of the Sales and Use Taxes Imposed on Meals Sold by an Eating Establishment, Caterer or Grocery Store.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, Wethersfield Mayor Ken Lesser, State Senator Derek Slap, and CRA members, including Scott Miller of DORO Restaurant Group, voiced their support for the bill. If passed, it would reinvest existing state tax revenues into local cities and towns while also strengthening state tourism and hospitality workforce development.

Why This Matters:

The CT Meals & Beverage 1% Tax generates more than $100 million annually!
The goal is to have the General Assembly pass a bill that will redirect the 1% Meals and Beverage Tax back to the municipalities, into CT Tourism and hospitality workforce development.

How This Fund Would Help:

Invest in our local Municipalities to support their local hospitality sector and find ways to build through grants, economic development, target marketing and more.
Fund the CT Tourism Office at a competitive level to our peer states, as for every $1 invested into CT Tourism has a return of at least $7.
Rebuild our sector’s workforce through hospitality specific training, as these programs provide the tools and resources needed to attract, promote and maintain our future industry leaders.

Thank you to our incredible members and Board Members for showing up to support.