DPF - Destination Promotion Fee

Spent weekend of July 25, 2009 at Niagara Falls, Ontario, and will do my best to not spend any more money there.

Nickel and dimed by DPF at a "world class" tourist destination makes a tourist feel like a chump. Word of mouth is the best promotion, and your selfish approach has guaranteed the words I spread will not be encouraging to any tourists.

Want to feel ripped off? Go Niagara Falls, where you can pay for someone else's advertising expenses.

We've just returned from Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls and were subjected to this ridiculus tax on our hotel expense. The hotel is overpriced to begin with and this added expense was a definite turn off.
We had dinner at Denny's in downtown Niagara Falls and were charged this tax ontop of our meal. The waitress told us it was to help offset Niagara's tourism advertising. The only advertisements that we get on tv are for Marineland, the same commercial for the past 10 years! And there's nothing worth going there for!
We will NOT be back to Niagara Falls and will check more closely as to what other "tourist" towns charge this fee.

We recently stayed in Niagara Falls and everywhere we asked for the DPF to be removed (hotel and restaurants), it was cheerfully removed with no questions asked. I think word is getting around and the employees are better trained on the issue.

When I got to Toronto it was another matter, however. None of the restaurants put the fee on the bills (unless it was buried somewhere inside another tax).

My hotel, the Marriott Courtyard, which listed the fee separately on the bill, refused to remove it, and I got nowhere talking to a couple of different people.

I now have a call in to the Canada Ministry of Tourism with a request to answer once and for all whether this fee is mandatory or voluntary. I'll post the response here.

I find it distasteful to pay a fee to bring in more tourists when I, a tourist, am already here spending money.

This is a "garbage" tax. Either everyone taxes or no one does. I say get rid of it altogether. Just by visiting Niagra, tourists are supporting the area.

Worst of all, employees at the companies who are charging the tax know nothing about it or they are just lying.

Not sure whose assinign idea this was but get rid of it before Niagra Falls gets a bad name and tourism "falls" (no pun intended).

Just got back from the falls this weekend!

Colin Bhowmik

P.S. For all of you heading down there for batchelor parties, no worries, dancers at the Sundowner are not charging the "marketing fee" as of YET!

Originally Posted by NiagaraFalls

In response to so many posts / emails / phone calls

The body responsible for the DPF is the Niagara Falls Tourism Board

Niagara Falls Tourism
5400 Robinson St
Niagara Falls Ontario
Canada
L2G 2A6

Local Phone: (905) 356-6061
Toll-Free: (800) 563-2557
Fax: (905) 356-5567

Anna Pierce Executive Director Her extension is 17

Voice your distain to Ms. Pierce, This board also recieves funding from the government yet they still insist on the DPF

PLEASE REMEMBER WHEN VISITING NIAGARA FALLS YOU CAN REFUSE TO PAY THIS FEE AND YOUR HOTEL, RESTAURANT, ATTRACTION WILL REMOVE IT AND NOT MAKE YOU PAY.

I wish I knew that before going. I couldn't believe or understand what this tax was on my bill, nor did I think I had any choice. Regardless, I won't be going back to Niagara Falls again anytime soon. It's just a rip off.

We enjoyed our trip to the Falls during October, 2009. I questioned the taxes, including the DPF of 3%. Also added to our bill was the GST of 5% and the provincial sales tax, which varied from 5% to 10%. These taxes add up, and the GST is no longer refundable to visitors from the U.S..

It sure seems odd to make visitors pay for one's own promotion. I also wonder where this money is really going, and I don't like it.