Caleb Tiller
, 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Courtney Leigh Beisel
, 703-684-0836, ext. 133
Alexandria, VA (April 19, 2006) – Bill Connors, CTC, executive director and COO of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the leading association for corporate and government travel managers and suppliers, appeared yesterday before a Florida Senate Transportation Committee hearing in Tallahassee, Fla. The hearing focused on HB 301 and SB 263, a pending bill that would enable Florida counties to impose an additional $2 per day tax on car rentals. In his testimony, Connors discussed the impact of the legislation on local businesses and corporate travelers.
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| NBTA Executive Director and COO discusses the impact of excessive car rental taxes on the business travel industry at a press conference yesterday in Tallahassee, Fla. High Resolution Photo |
Following his testimony, Connors remarked, “Increases in car rental excise taxes in municipalities are quickly becoming a major issue in the business travel market, mainly because legislators believe it is the ideal way to fund projects without taxing voting constituents. In actuality, they are imposing additional taxes on local businesses that already pay their fair share.”
A recent poll published on NBTA’s website asked respondents what percentage of their companies’ car rental spend was in localities where they operated major facilities. An overwhelming 62 percent reported that more than half of the companies’ car rental expenses were in local markets.
He continued, “Legislators must be mindful of the impact car rental excise taxes will have on businesses in their municipalities. It may not seem like much, but when you calculate the number of local car rentals businesses use for in-state employees or bringing employees and clients from other locations to a destination, we are talking about a tremendous financial burden.”
NBTA convened with representatives from the five leading car rental companies in early April to discuss the negative impact of excessive car rental taxes on the business travel industry.
Prior to yesterday’s hearing, Connors participated in a press conference with representatives with the Consumer Federation of the Southeast, Americans for Tax Reform, and AAA to further explain their opposition to the proposed car rental excise tax increase.
“This is obviously an important issue within the travel industry. NBTA is pleased to be the voice of corporate travel as serious discussion related to the impact of car rental excise tax is brought before local and state governments and within local communities.”
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,700 corporate and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
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