The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) will administer the Hotel Impact Mitigation Fund with applications beginning on Aug. 16, 2023, to allow a qualified hotel to enter into a contract to pursue a claim for loss of income. There are two different application processes for contracts and claims.
To apply for a contract:
Applicants will be reviewed for qualification and enter into a contract with GOEO, pursuant to receiving a portion of available funds. Funds are made available on an annual reporting and award cycle starting on the first through fourth-year anniversaries of the opening of the Hotel Convention Center. There is $2.1 million in the fund that is replenished each year for four years. If there are more claims than funds available, claims are paid on a pro-rata basis.
Qualifications:
- Must be a hotel built in Utah before July 1, 2014
- Located within one mile from the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City (Hotel Convention Center) located at 170 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
- Able to demonstrate consistent and measurable sources of income for the following:
- 12-month period of Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019
- 12-month period of Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 in future calendar years in which the affected hotel will claim losses
- Senior management attests to the accuracy of information
- Has not ceased operations during the application period
Timing requirements:
- Applications will be received on a rolling basis from 2023 to 2026. An eligible hotel will be required to apply to enter into a contract with GOEO by Sept. 30 of the claiming year to be considered for evaluation of losses
- Baseline calculation of Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019, will be required to be submitted, reviewed, and approved before submitting a claim
- Claims for each 12-month October-to-September period must be submitted by Dec. 31 for evaluation. Late or prior-year submissions will not be accepted.
- GOEO will review claim documentation from January to March for approval by the Business Advisory Board in public board meetings held annually in March
- Funding is provided 90 days after board approval
To apply for a claim:
Affected hotels may file a claim after entering into a contract and written approval of a baseline. Applicants will be provided a portal to file a claim in October of the same year. A claim must be received on or before Dec. 31 of each year.
Calculation of claims:
The claim amount is calculated by comparing income from the base year, Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019, to the same 12-month period for years 2023 to 2026.
Any additional funds not claimed in this annual process, and 5% of sales tax revenue generated from the hotel, will go toward the Stay Another Day and Bounce Back funds to pay for the state’s tourism advertising, marketing, and branding.
Standards for baseline and claim:
Companies are encouraged but not required to have information reviewed by a Certified Public Accountant. Attestation of complete and accurate information is required from hotel Senior Management for baseline and claim submission.