CHARITIES could be robbed of tens of thousands of pounds every year due to plans for a new tourist tax in Edinburgh, according to one of its most unique venues.

Surgeons Quarter – the commercial arm of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) – has called on the city council to halt its plans to implement a £2 per night room tax on overnight visitors. The organisation says this would result in the loss of £40,000 that would go towards saving lives every year.

RCSEd manages the city’s largest independent hotel, Ten Hill Place, and puts all profits back into advancing surgical standards worldwide and improving outcomes for patients.

The money Surgeons Quarter earns through the hotel is spent on training, research and improving access to surgery across the world.

Scott Mitchell, Surgeons Quarter managing director, said: “We are deeply concerned that there has been no engagement with us from City of Edinburgh Council or the Scottish Government, despite us making it clear in responses to both consultations that we wished

to engage to explain our concerns and look at alternatives. To put the £40,000 into perspective, we have recently pledged to raise £50,000 for Bowel Cancer UK to help fund Scotland’s first-ever research chair focused on surgical research.

“Bowel cancer is Scotland’s second biggest cancer killer, but it shouldn’t be as it’s treatable and curable. Surgery is the most common treatment and is central to curing the disease, yet investment in surgical research is sorely lacking. The council will be taking money that is going towards saving lives. It is refusing to recognise the disastrous consequences of the tax – not just for Surgeons Quarter, but for the hospitality industry, too.”

Edinburgh is a frequent venue for surgeons to deliver training, attend and deliver conferences and sit exams on campus. Those who are undertaking work on behalf of the College are accommodated in the Ten Hill Place Hotel.

“These surgeons’ connection with Edinburgh and the College has nothing to do with tourism and is of great benefit to the city and the global population,” Mitchell said.

“We are now going to be in the bizarre situation that we have to apply a tax on our own members for staying in their own hotel, while they give up their time free of charge to further College core activities.

“The College does cover the cost of travel and subsistence and will therefore now have to absorb the cost of this tax. We ask our guests to make a donation at the hotel. These efforts will be compromised as we will also have to collect this extra tax from them.”

Business rates in Edinburgh have risen by up to 250% for hotels in the last three years, and the industry is already subject to more tax than most other industries with government-imposed liquor licence expenses, VAT, NIC, PAYE and food waste charges.

Mitchell added: “Unlike the council, we can’t simply ask for more money from other sectors if we’re struggling to manage the money that we have – we have to earn it.

“The city is biting the hand that feeds it with these plans, and we are urging council representatives to come forward and talk to us about how we can avoid damaging our best performing industry and our purpose.”

Council leader Adam McVey told The National: “Edinburgh’s accommodation sector is thriving and shows no signs of slowing down. It boasts the highest average occupancy rate in the whole of the UK and all the evidence we have seen points to this remaining the case once a TVL [transient visitor levy] has been introduced. Just ask cities all over Europe who have implemented similar schemes.

“As we go through this process we will, of course, continue to engage with the hospitality industry on the issues which matter to them. I and depute leader Cammy Day have offered to meet with the Royal College of Surgeons to hear about its concerns.”