Visit B.R. board reports occupancy tax rise, gives Arrigo $15K bonus

February occupancy tax collections in East Baton Rouge Parish, at $345,838, were up more than 11% over monthly collections during the month last year, the board of directors for Visit Baton Rouge reports. Year to date, occupancy tax collections are now up 7% over 2012 figures, says Visit Baton Rouge communications coordinator Christy Chachere. Though a release from the board didn’t elaborate on the February increase in taxes collected on hotel and motel stays, it is likely in part because of spillover from the Super Bowl held in New Orleans on Feb. 3. A report from Smith Travel Research says spillover demand in Baton Rouge fueled a 48% increase in occupancy during the weekend of Feb. 1-3, compared to the weekend in 2012. Hotel revenue during the weekend exceeded $2.5 million, up 117% over the $1.2 million netted during the same weekend in 2012. Also today, the board discussed an audit of Visit Baton Rouge’s 2012 financials and OK’d a bonus of $15,017.40 for CEO/President Paul Arrigo. Chachere says the bonus is based on three components: a clean audit, meeting room-night goals and revenue estimates meeting what is in the budget. In December, the board renewed Arrigo’s contract for 2013, which included a $2,000 annual raise that took his salary to $152,174. —Steve Sanoski