SAN ANTONIO -- The city could see $20,000,000 in its near future, as a federal judge is set to decide just how much travel companies owe San Antonio.
In 2006, San Antonio sued several online travel booking companies over unpaid hotel occupancy taxes. In 2009, a federal jury ruled in favor of the city. Now a judge must decide just how much in paid unpaid taxes, plus penalties and interest they should pay. The judge is expected to make the final judgement early next month.
Over 170 other Texas cities are also expected to get a piece of the final judgement, which could total $55,000,000. San Antonio would get the bulk of that judgment, since the city originally filed the lawsuit.
The companies are expected to appeal. They include the operators of Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Hotwire.com, Lodging.com, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, Site59.com and others.
