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June 25, 2025
Following the public hearing at today’s Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) meeting, the Board of Directors approved the FY26 $25.9 million operating budget. To support the community's economic recovery, $4.2 million will be drawn from the fund balance, supplementing the anticipated $21.7 million in net lodging tax revenue.
Other takeaways from the June board meeting include:
- May lodging occupancy and demand;
- The board approved nominations for the FY26 BCTDA Board Officers;
- National Park Service representatives Rachel Stasney and Leesa Brandon shared updates on Blue Ridge Parkway recovery projects and sections that are currently open and accessible.
With the official start of summer, our community is experiencing many bright spots and exciting developments. Last week, the North Carolina Glass Center’s Black Mountain location, which received support from the 2022 Tourism Product Development Fund cycle, held its ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Today, the new North Concourse at Asheville Regional Airport is open and welcoming residents and visitors traveling through our region.
Tomorrow, we will make an important announcement in partnership with the North Carolina Arboretum about a landmark attraction coming to Asheville for the upcoming winter season. We hope you will tune in!
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| May Lodging Occupancy Slightly Rises from April |
| Total Roomnight Demand Down 8% and Supply Down 7% FYTD |
May hotel occupancy was 67%, down five points from 2024 and 10 points from 2019. Hotel demand grew 4% from 2019.
May vacation rental occupancy was 52%, down four points from 2024 and one point from 2019. Vacation rental demand grew 25% from 2019 but has precipitously dropped from 2024.
| View the Latest Destination Dashboard |
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| BCTDA Board Officer Appointments for FY26 |
| Lehman Assumes the Role of Chair Following Durden’s Two-Year Term |
For the new fiscal year starting July 1, we welcome Matthew Lehman, general manager of the Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, as BCTDA chair; HP Patel, president & CEO of BCA Hotels LLC, as vice chair; and Lucious Wilson, general manager and partial owner of Wedge Brewery, as the new treasurer of the BCTDA nonprofit Explore Asheville.
Today marked Brenda Durden’s final board meeting as chair. The authority and Explore Asheville are thankful for her many contributions and look forward to her continued service as a board member through summer 2026.
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| BCTDA Board of Directors Approve FY25 Budget |
| $25.9M Operating Budget, $15.8M Anticipated for Community Capital Projects |
Today, the BCTDA Board of Directors unanimously approved the FY26 budget informed by a $34.2 million gross lodging tax forecast. The $25.9 million FY26 operating budget combines $21.7 million in forecasted net lodging tax revenue with $4.2 million from fund balance to support the community’s economic recovery.
More than $15 million is anticipated to be available for community capital project investment through the Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) cycle this fall.
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| What’s Open on the Blue Ridge Parkway |
| Road to Recovery Briefing from the National Park Service |
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile National Historic Landmark spanning 29 counties across North Carolina and Virginia. Baked into the roadway’s design to create economic opportunities for surrounding communities, 16.8 million visitors spent approximately $1.4 billion in local areas, supporting more than 19,000 jobs in 2023.
Since November, eleven miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe County have reopened, with more expected to become accessible later this summer and fall.
Park staff remain committed to planning and delivering a wide variety of communication strategies to regularly engage park visitors and stakeholders in the coming months and years. In the meantime, please remember that the parkway is an active work area and unauthorized use is not only unsafe but also hinders recovery operations.
What's Open & Accessible Right Now
- Humpback Rocks
- Otter Creek
- Peaks of Otter
- Mabry Mill
- Rocky Knob
- Blue Ridge Music Center
- Doughton Park/The Bluffs Restaurant
- Cone Memorial Park
- Price Lake Boat Rental
- Linn Cove Viaduct
- NC Minerals Museum
- Folk Art Center
- Mt Pisgah/Pisgah Inn
- Waterrock Knob
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Restoration & Recovery Funding
The Parkway receives approximately $15 million each year for paving, bridge, and tunnel repair projects. This funding is obtained through a competitive process involving other national parks in the southeastern region of the National Park Service (NPS). The estimated cost for full pavement reconstruction and drainage rehabilitation for one mile of the main roadway can exceed $2 million.
Congress allocated a large portion of the $2 billion in supplemental disaster funding to the NPS for repairs. So far, the Parkway has received $25 million from U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) emergency relief funds.
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Restoring Road Access – A Phased Approach
| Phase | Target Date | Mileage Restored | Points of Interest |
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Phase 1 12 slides |
Fall 2025 |
48.7 Miles |
Access from Asheville to:
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Phase 2 21 slides |
Fall 2026 |
12.9 Miles |
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Phase 3 23 slides + 4 repair sites |
TBD |
21.4 Miles |
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Quick Links
- Helene Recovery Projects - At a Glance
- Currently Accessible Hiking Trails
- Road Status and Closures
- nps.gov/helene
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MORE INFORMATION & NEXT MEETING OF BCTDA
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Delivering Balanced
& Sustainable Growth
Encouraging Safe & Responsible Travel
Engaging & Inviting More Diverse Audiences
Promoting & Supporting Asheville's
Creative Spirit
| FOLLOW OUR PROGRESS |
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