beam has formally submitted its response to the UK Government consultation on the proposed Overnight Visitor Levy, aligning its position with the Business Travel Association (BTA), GBTA and ITM.
In the spirit of industry collaboration, beam supports a unified position across business travel, accommodation, transport and events. The message is clear: an overnight visitor levy must not apply to business travel or business events undertaken for and on behalf of work.
Business events are not discretionary tourism. Conferences, exhibitions, corporate meetings and incentive programmes are strategic economic drivers. They underpin productivity, regional growth, inward investment, sector development and job creation across the UK.
Applying a levy designed as a “tourist tax” to work-related travel would in effect create an additional tax burden on UK businesses at a time when economic growth remains a clear Government priority.
beam’s submission reinforces three core principles:
- Business travel and business events should be explicitly exempt from any Overnight Visitor Levy
- National consistency is essential to avoid complexity and cost burdens for organisations operating across multiple regions
- Any levy introduced must remain focused solely on discretionary leisure tourism
David Tremmil, Chair, beam, commented:
“Business events are catalysts for economic growth, innovation and skills development. They attract investment, drive sector collaboration and generate significant spend across local supply chains. They are not leisure tourism.
A levy applied to work-related travel would represent a tax on productivity and growth. We urge Government to ensure business travel and business events are clearly and explicitly exempt.”
beam also supports the BTA’s position that:
“An overnight visitor levy should apply solely to discretionary tourism activity and should not apply to business travel undertaken for and on behalf of work.”
A coordinated, cross-sector message is essential to ensure policymakers fully understand the potential unintended economic consequences. The UK’s business events sector plays a critical role in supporting regional economies, regeneration strategies and national competitiveness. Any new fiscal measure must protect, not undermine, that contribution.
