Van Buren hotel, restaurant activity down

Van Buren hospitality tax collections for the first quarter of 2009 were $94,399, down a slight 1.9% compared to the same period of 2008.

Collections in March were $31,816, down 2.3% from March 2008.

Hospitality tax collections for the city in 2008 totaled $410,914, up 7.4% over 2007 and up more than 14.5% over 2006. The increases clearly reflect a growing tourism and business traveler industry in the city, according to Maryl Koeth, director of the Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Commission. (Van Buren collects a 1% tax on lodging and restaurants.)

However, Koeth has said national and local economic conditions will likely result in collections being flat or down from 2008 figures.