Rolla Chamber outlines tourism benchmarks, motel-tax boost and expanded destination grants

The Rolla Chamber of Commerce presented a year-end tourism report to Rolla City Council, highlighting a successful ballot measure to raise the motel tax, digital upgrades to the city’s tourism website and an expanded grant program to help attract events.

Stevie Kearse, executive director of the Rolla Chamber of Commerce, said voters approved a 2-percentage-point increase to the city’s motel tax in August, raising the city’s rate from 3% to 5%. The higher rate began to be collected in November and the chamber began receiving the additional funds in January 2025, Kearse said. The chamber receives 90% of the tax proceeds; the city retains 10% for administration.

Amy Campbell, the chamber’s tourism director, described marketing work funded in part by a Missouri Division of Tourism marketing…