About 57% of Tulsa voters on Tuesday approved raising the city’s lodging tax for the first time since 1984.
More than 61,000 Tulsans voted in favor of raising the tax from 5% to 9.9%, while more than 46,000 voted against.
The tax applies to short-term rentals with five or more rooms, including hotels, motels and Airbnbs. The increased revenue is slated for maintenance upgrades at the city-owned BOK Center and the Arvest Convention Center, as well as municipal tourism and marketing efforts.
At the current 5% rate, Tulsa is on track to generate $10.4 million in lodging tax revenue in 2026. At a 9.9% rate, the tax is estimated to generate $20.6 million annually once it goes into effect Jan. 1.
The improvements at the BOK Center include an improved roof, upgraded bathrooms and seats, a new scoreboard with updated technology, updated production offices, dressing rooms and locker rooms along with updated suites and a new restaurant on the premium level.
Keller Taylor, vice president of Oak View Group — the company the city contracts with to manage both Arvest and BOK — said upgrades at the convention center will primarily focus on modernizing meeting spaces. But he also noted the carpet, paint and airwalls have not been updated since the 1980s.
Mike Neal, Tulsa Regional Chamber president and CEO, celebrated the increase Tuesday night, saying the move will support local jobs, strengthen the city’s budget and market “Tulsa as a destination by recruiting conventions and events that fill our hotels and restaurants.”
Renee McKenney, Tulsa Regional Tourism president and Tulsa Regional Chamber senior vice president of tourism, said the passage is a result of “extraordinary citywide collaboration.”
“The decision to raise the hotel guest tax will allow for renovations and improvement to keep the BOK Center, Arvest Convention Center and Tulsa Performing Arts Center world-class and Tulsa a top-tier global destination all without increasing the tax burden on Tulsa residents,” McKenney said. “More visitors means our economy continues to thrive, so this is a true ‘win-win’ for us all. Tulsa’s future has never been brighter.”
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