The Pierce County Council approved a surcharge on some hotel rooms in the the county at its Tuesday meeting.

The surcharge could start as early as April 1.

Funds raised from the $.50-cent to $1.50-cent surcharge on hotel rooms per night will go toward a Tourism Promotion Area, intended to reach more people than an international and national audience, said Sally Zeiger-Hanson, executive director of the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce.

“The money collected will be used to promote our county and our region into the national and international market,” Zeigler-Hanson said.

Jennifer Caveny, the general manager of Sumner Holiday Inn and Suites is nominated as a commissioner to represent Pierce County Lodging Association, which originated the project.

“Works in concert with our effort to work locally and within the states,” Caveny said. “As a county I think this is going to be a really great thing to bring more people into our area,” she said.

Several people in the Pierce County hotel business worked on the concept.

“There was quite a bit of collaboration as the hoteliers researched the TPA,” said Zeiger-Hanson.

Caveny said a goal is for the promotion to succeed in drawing more conventions and other events to Pierce County hotels.

Two entities applying for money are the Tacoma Regional Sports Commission and the Tacoma Regional Convention Visitors Bureau.

“Most likely they will be the ones who receive the majority of the funding,” Caveny said.

Chuck Valley, who is the general manager at the Best Western in Puyallup, said it’s a welcome improvement to the availability of how the area markets itself.

“As a hotelier in Pierce County we’re excited about the ability to have more dollars,” said Valley. “We have kind of had our hands tied with a limited budget,” Valley said.