Marketing Levy
A marketing levy is a small fee added to the cost of short-term accommodations to help promote tourism on Cape Breton Island. In the Municipality of Inverness County, this fee supports the work of Destination Cape Breton, the official tourism marketing organization.
As of January 1, 2024, a 3% marketing levy is charged on all short-term, fixed-roof accommodations (like hotels, motels, and cottages) in the Municipality of Inverness County. This fee is collected by the municipality and passed on to Destination Cape Breton to support tourism marketing efforts.
Want to learn more? Visit Marketing Levy – Destination Cape Breton for answers to frequently asked questions.
What You Need to Know:
- Providers of fixed-roof accommodations are required to register under the Nova Scotia Tourism Accommodation Registration Act. This applies to all short-term rentals, including rentals through sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo.
- To register, complete and submit the municipal Marketing Levy Property Registration Form
- Register your accommodation on the ORHMA marketing levy reporting and remittance platform (levy@orhma.com)
- Once registered, report and remit the levy monthly through the portal: https://inverness.orhma.com/
Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association
The Municipality of the County of Inverness has designated the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) to assist accommodation providers in understanding and implementing the marketing levy.
Chosen for their extensive experience managing municipal accommodation levies across Canada, ORHMA is an established industry leader that brings valuable expertise in administration, compliance and reporting. This partnership ensures a smooth transition for local operators by streamlining the remittance process, providing clear technical guidance and supporting the tourism sector in maximizing the collective benefits of the levy.
Important Dates & Information Sessions
We are committed to supporting accommodation providers through this transition. We will be hosting two online information sessions to walk through the new ORHMA reporting portal and answer any implementation questions.
- Webinar Session 1: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
- Webinar Session 2: Monday, April 27, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.
- Webinar Session 3: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 9:30 a.m.
- ORHMA Start Date: May 1, 2026
Contact & Support
For technical assistance with the reporting portal or questions regarding the levy, please contact:
- Destination Cape Breton: Mary Theresa Jessome | levy@visitcapebreton.com | 902-563-4636
- ORHMA Support: Levy@orhma.com | 905-592-3023
- Municipality Office: marketinglevy@invernesscounty.ca | 1-866-258-0223
Remittance & Reporting
All accommodation providers within the Municipality are required to collect the 3% levy and remit it to the Municipality via the ORHMA Levy Reporting Portal.