LIVE @ Buncombe County Tourism Development (BCTDA) Board Meeting 08/28/19

Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) Board Meeting Recap – August 28, 2019

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) Board held its regular meeting on August 28, 2019, covering a wide range of topics impacting tourism and the local economy. The meeting provided updates on financial performance, marketing initiatives, airport developments, and discussions surrounding the evolving short-term rental market. This recap highlights key decisions made, significant discussion points, community input received, and the next steps for the BCTDA.

Financial Health & Tourism Trends: The meeting opened with a review of financial performance, revealing positive trends for the year. Occupancy tax revenue is up 8.9% compared to last year, and hotel occupancy has increased by 1.6%, reaching 73.6%. While the average daily rate saw a smaller increase (1.7%), Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) grew by 3.4%, indicating a healthy tourism market overall. The BCTDA’s Product Development Fund remains well-funded, with significant resources available for future projects.

New Role to Enhance Communication and Community Engagement: A key discussion centered around the need for a dedicated public information and community engagement role within the BCTDA. Recognizing an increasing workload, the board appeared to be moving towards approving a budget amendment of $76,900 to create this position starting October 1st. This new role aims to improve communication with the public and strengthen relationships within the community, which will be vital as tourism continues to grow.

Supporting Meeting Planners & Showcasing Asheville: The BCTDA is actively working to enhance Asheville’s reputation as a premier meeting destination. A revamped AAA destination training program, utilizing video walkthroughs of partner properties, is showing promising results, with a significant increase in registrations. Additionally, the board discussed ongoing efforts to refresh meeting-related branding materials through a partnership with Miles Communications. Ray Vincent Romsey emphasized the importance of addressing perceptions among meeting planners regarding Asheville’s hotel offerings and airlift capacity.

Addressing the Short-Term Rental Landscape: A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the short-term rental market, with a presentation from the Homestay Network. The network highlighted their efforts in rulemaking participation and best practice sharing, focusing on ensuring compliance within the short-term rental sector. Board members acknowledged the importance of supporting homestay hosts, many of whom rely on this income to avoid eviction. While proposed changes to the home stay ordinance were discussed, they ultimately were postponed for further consideration.

Community Voices & Climate Change Concerns: Public comments included a passionate plea from a citizen urging the BCTDA to address climate change and support policies aimed at reducing emissions. The speaker presented data from the IPCC and encouraged the board to endorse the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This sparked a discussion about how the BCTDA can incorporate sustainability considerations into its strategic planning and operations.

What's Next? Key Action Items & Dates:

• Budget Approval: The BCTDA will finalize the budget amendment to fund the new Director of Public Information and Community Engagement position.
• Short-Term Rental Monitoring: The BCTDA will continue to monitor the short-term rental market and work towards ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Public Forum: A public forum is planned for October 21st to present the results of community input and a current situation analysis.
• Airport Expansion: The airport will continue exploring options to address parking constraints, a growing concern with the increase in air service and passenger volume.
• Climate Action Consideration: The BCTDA will consider endorsing the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, reflecting a growing awareness of environmental concerns within the community.

The BCTDA’s ongoing efforts to support tourism, enhance communication, and address evolving market dynamics demonstrate a commitment to the economic vitality of Buncombe County. Residents can expect further updates on these initiatives, particularly regarding the short-term rental market and climate change considerations, in upcoming meetings and public forums.