Hotels in Boston and Cambridge are seeking city approvals to collect a new bed tax, revenues from which would be used for tourism promotion.

An economic development bill recently enacted into law by the Massachusetts Legislature enables the creation of Tourism Destination Marketing Districts.

70% of the larger hotels in Boston and Cambridge have signed on to the plan via petition.

Cambridge officials are believed already to be on board with the proposal.

Greater Boston CVB President Martha Sheridan has presented to the Boston City Council a proposal for a 1.5% "assessment" to be applied to short-term hotel room charges, to be collected by Massachusetts tax authorities and invested back into a new District that would use the tax revenues to attract tourists.

First-year tax revenues are projected to be around $10.5M.

Boston normally spends on tourism promotion only a fraction of the amounts spent by competing cities like Philadelphia, Nashville and Atlanta.