Committee reviews annual assessment rule for Tourism Improvement District; hotels with 110+ rooms assessed 3%

City finance staff briefed the Urban Economic Development Committee on June 18 about an annual assessment rule for Tourism Improvement District No. 1 that would assess hotels and motels with 110 rooms or more at 3% of gross revenue to fund tourism marketing.

Binu Abraham of the finance department summarized the proposal: the assessment applies to parcels within city limits that host a hotel or motel of 110 rooms or more, and assessed owners would pay 3% of gross revenue to fund marketing designed to bring visitors to Tulsa. Abraham said the ordinance’s first reading was scheduled for the council that evening and the public hearing would be held July 16. Property owners who believe they were mistakenly included may file a written objection by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 11, and may appear at the public hearing to present the objection.

Councilor McGearty, who said she has tracked the district’s implementation since her election, described the program’s local economic role: event producers designate “official hotels” for events and that channeling helps drive business to assessed hotels; she also said nonparticipating hotels and short‑term rentals sometimes benefit indirectly from events.

Why it matters: The rule formalizes assessment administration and appeals timing and clarifies a 3% assessment rate and a 110‑room threshold for inclusion.

What’s next: The ordinance’s first reading is scheduled for council that evening and a public hearing on July 16; the transcript records staff guidance but not a committee vote.