Breakfast Briefing & Panel Event: Visitor Levy for Edinburgh

Join us at The Place Hotel to hear the City of Edinburgh Council and industry experts discuss the Visitor Levy for Edinburgh scheme. It is an opportunity to ask questions on the scheme and to have the views of your tourism business represented.

Doors open at 08:00, so before the event officially begins at 08:30, grab yourself a breakfast roll and tea/coffee, and network with industry colleagues.

CEC Leader Cammy Day will begin proceedings, by providing an overview of the Council’s background with a visitor levy and the draft scheme.

There will then be a panel discussion hosted by Elin Williamson (Head of Business, Growth and Inclusion at the Council) and Gareth Barwell (Interim Director of Placeat the Council) with Lori Anderson (Director, Festivals Edinburgh) and Rob Dickson (Director of Industry & Events, VisitScotland).

Don't miss the opportunity to share your views during the Q&A session before the formal part of the event closes. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to speak directly with Council officers working on the project.

This event is part of the Council's public consultation activity, and presents an additional opportunity to learn about the scheme ask questions to Council officers working on the levy’s implementation.

SPACES ARE LIMITED, SO SIGN UP TODAY!
Don't forget to fill out the Council’s questionnaire on the Visitor Levy for Edinburgh before Sunday 15 December. It's vital that our industry have a strong number of responses to ensure our collective voice is heard. The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete: .
N.B. This event is for tourism and hospitality businesses operating in the city.

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ONLINE BUSINESS BRIEFING WITH ETAG
Should you not be able to make this event, we are also running an online Business Briefing with ETAG, on Monday 18 November at 10am.

You can find out more at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-business-briefing-visitor-levy-for-edinburgh-consultation-tickets-926868066337.

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Background on A Visitor Levy for Edinburgh

The City of Edinburgh Council is planning to introduce a visitor levy on paid, overnight stays in the city.

The Council has written a draft scheme using feedback from visitors, residents and businesses. Now we’re seeking your views to help shape the final version, which will be in place from July 2026.

Tourism is essential to Edinburgh’s economy and supports 37,000 jobs in the city. We want to reinvest in the city and raise money for new initiatives for people visiting, living and working here. A visitor levy could raise up to £50 million every year to do this.

The proposed visitor levy would mean a 5% charge on the first seven nights’ stay in all types of paid overnight accommodation.

The money could be used to:

• keep Edinburgh clean, green, safe and well maintained
• support culture, heritage and events
• develop tourism in local communities
• support the visitor economy
• build social housing and housing for people working in the visitor economy.

Find out more on the Council webpages.

Host or Publisher ETAG