Dear guests,

The city of cologne will charge all hotels with so called „cultural mining royalties” (Kulkturförderabgabe) also colloquial known as “Cologne tax” or “bed tax”.

That means that 5% “cultural mining royalties” is demanded by the city of Cologne and has to be payed from the seperately taxable overnight-stay.
We are by law requested to charge our guests with this “cultural mining royalties” and pay it to the city of Cologne.

These taxes become due on every single overnight-stay within the municipal area, regardless wether the accomodation service is called called upon or not. The accomodation service (Day Use Room) is equal to an overnight-stay as long as this means additional time and effort.
You will find further information on the website of the city of Cologne

under:http://www.stadt-koeln.de/buergerservice/themen/steuern-gebuehren/kulturfoerderabgabe/

As a guest - if it is your oppinion that you don’t have to pay these taxes - you have the possibility to ask the city of Cologne for a repay of these cultural charges. In order to do so, it is important that you fill out an official form of the tax office Cologne:

Stadthaus Chorweiler
Athener Ring 4
50765 Köln

This form has to be filled out and send to the tax office within 1 month after you have received the bill from your hotel, motel, hostile, etc.
The application will only be available in German due to the reference of the city of Cologne that the official language is German.

You can download the form directly or get it at the reception. Our personnel will be glad to help you fill out the form.


In our own matter:

The councillor of the city of Cologne has installed the “cultural mining royalties” to decrease the civic budget deficit. Possible, upcoming and threatening cultural budget cuts shall be prevented through these earnings. The money of this “bed tax” is supposed to go into the cultural budget and cultural sponsorship.

It is our opinion that this “cultural mining royalties” distorts the competitive environment of the region at the expense of the hotel business and leads to a lot of bureaucracy.
This “bed tax” is conterproductive and will harm the international prestige of the city.

If you have any further questions we will be available at any time and apologize for any inconvenience.

Family Frieben