Hotel tax revenue plunges

Miami-Dade County tourism officials warn that hotel bed tax revenue could drop 12 percent through the end of September as tourism drops. William Talbert, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the 12 percent drop in Tourist Development Tax collections is projected through the rest of the fiscal year. County Manager George Burgess earlier projected a 2 percent dip this year and said collections would remain static in 2010 and 2011 before settling into long-term growth.