General Overview
Background information about the City of Tulsa's Hotel Guest Tax.
A Hotel Guest Tax, also known as a lodging tax, is a fee added to the cost of short-term lodging. In Tulsa, it applies to hotels, motels, inns and other short-term rental (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) properties with five or more rooms, even if those rooms are spread across multiple buildings.
City of Tulsa's Hotel Tax
The current lodging tax is 5 percent. It does not apply to services, food, drinks or parking.
How does the City currently use hotel tax funds?
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48.5 percent goes to the Convention and Tourism Facilities Fund, supporting the maintenance and operation of venues like the Tulsa Performing Arts Center (TPAC), Arvest Convention Center, and BOK Center.
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45 percent goes to the Convention and Visitors Fund, helping promote tourism and market Tulsa’s convention facilities currently through a contract with Visit Tulsa.
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4.5 percent goes to the Economic Development Fund, used to support economic growth through partnerships with the Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity (TAEO/PartnerTulsa) and the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
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2 percent goes to the General Fund, which covers enforcement of the tax, including monitoring and audits.
Anyone staying in a hotel, motel, inn or other short-term rental property for fewer than 30 consecutive days within the City of Tulsa is required to pay the tax, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Hotel Guest Tax Exemptions
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Permanent residents, typically defined as someone staying in the same hotel for 30 or more consecutive days during the current or previous calendar year.
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The United States government, the State of Oklahoma, and municipalities or political subdivisions of the state (due to tax-exempt status).
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Oklahoma residents who are 100 percent permanently disabled veterans, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and registered with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hotel Guest Tax Increase Proposal
The City Council is still in the process of considering a proposal from November 2025, increasing the Hotel Guest Tax. This increase, if passed by the voters, would be the first in over 40 years. This proposal will not affect your personal taxes unless you book a hotel stay within the City of Tulsa.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Additional FAQs about the Hotel Tax.
Relevant Meetings
Meeting information will be updated as it occurs.
Town Hall & Facilities Tour
One town hall was held to gather public feedback on the proposed Hotel Guest Tax. City Councilors, along with representatives from Visit Tulsa and Oak View Group, shared information about the proposal and answered questions from attendees. Community members also had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with City leaders and representatives. In addition, a public facilities tour was held to view facility needs firsthand and hear directly from Oak View Group.
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