“It’s a billion-dollar industry,” said Bill Lewis, chair of the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria. “Tens of thousands of jobs directly in the hospitality industry.”
Destination Greater Victoria has been collecting that tax and funneling it into an affordable housing fund with the City of Victoria.On Thursday, Victoria council voted to move forward with a plan to use $2.5 million of the $2.8 million pot to contribute to a 40-unit affordable rental building proposed for Quadra Village.
“They are going to put that in the application process. They’ll screen for that and make sure that they are actually bonafide hotel and hospitality workers,” said Nursey. King says any housing is good housing, potentially freeing up other rental units throughout the region.