Lodging tax revenues for February generally up over 2012

Lodging tax revenues for the second month of 2013 were up compared to February of last year county-wide. According to the latest report from the Cook County Auditor-Treasurer’s office, the year-to-date totals were up 11.9 percent across the board for reporting tourism organizations.

Lutsen-Tofte revenues were up 14.7 percent from last February and it was the best February since 2006. Grand Marais revenues were up 12.4 percent from this time last year. But the Gunflint Trail revenues for February were down 5.4 percent.

The Auditor’s office emphasizes that not all businesses report taxes at the same time each year and revenues are an “apples-to-apples comparison.” That means only businesses which reported lodging tax revenues both in February of this year and last year are included in the monthly accounting.