Local motels generate $2 million during third quarter

Subhead

Total is highest mark since 2013’s fourth quarter

Image
Body

Snyder’s hotel/motel tax receipts for the July-September quarter were the highest since 2013, city records showed.
For the quarter, the hotels/motels generated revenues of more than $2.29 million, which was the highest total since more than $2.09 million was collected generated revenues of during 2013’s fourth quarter.
Snyder Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Linda Molina was excited to hear the news even though no major events were held during that time.
“A lot of hotels in the region have higher prices. Our motel owners are being fair with the prices and people are seeing that,” she said. “We have had a lot of oilfield workers stay in our motels the past few months. It has been a big issue (prices).”
Molina said construction workers are also staying in local motels with work beginning at the Dermott and Fluvanna wind farms.
But people are also staying in Snyder who are doing work in the region.
“A lot of marketing people have stayed in Snyder because of our central location,” Molina said. “They are staying here and then driving to Midland, Odessa, Lubbock or other places. They have told motel owners this is a better place to stay.”
The third quarter total tops last year’s third quarter of more than $1.5 million and the 2018 second quarter total of more than $1.9 million.
Nine of the 16 hotels/motels collected more than $100,000 during the quarter, led by Hampton Inn and Suites with $455,865, up from the 2017 third quarter total of $215,315. 
Fairfield Inn and Suites totaled $389,411 during the quarter, up from $310,429 in 2017. Holiday Inn Express also topped the $300,000 mark, collecting $314,089, up from the 2017 total of $290,984. Comfort Inn and Suites totaled $295,880 during the quarter, up from $232,166 a year ago. Baymont Inn and Suites reported $242,136 during the quarter, which is up compared to the 2017 total of $113,763.
Best Western Snyder reported $151,473, up from $106,822 in 2017. The Purple Sage Motel collected $104,304, up from $80,362 in 2017. 
Also topping $100,000 were Days Inn ($101,771 in 2018, $50,727 in 2017) and Motel 6 ($100,206 in 2018, $68,421 in 2017).
The City of Snyder budgeted $365,000 in hotel occupancy tax (HOT) revenues for 2017-18, down from $375,000 budgeted in 2016-17. The 2018-19 budget, which began in October, included $425,000 in HOT revenues.
The city has a contract with the chamber to operate a convention and visitors bureau with the HOT fund revenues. The city does not keep any HOT revenues.
During the third quarter of 2018, the city sent $159,513 to the chamber that is used for the operation of the chamber’s visitors’ bureau and funding events that create overnight stays in Snyder.
A total of $45,575 was sent to Western Texas College to help fund the maintenance and operation of The Coliseum.