BCTDA Board Members
Mr. Gary Froeba, Chair
The Omni Grove Park Inn
County Appointment – Lodging 101+ Rooms
Mr. Himanshu Karvir, Vice Chair
Virtelle Hospitality
City Appointment – Lodging 101+ Rooms
Ms. Leah Ashburn
Highland Brewing Company
County Appointment – Tourism Related
Mr. Andrew Celwyn
Herbiary
City Appointment – Tourism Related
Mr. Chip Craig
Greybeard Rentals
County Appointment – Lodging 101+ Rooms
Mr. John Luckett
Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville
City Appointment – Lodging 101+ Rooms
Mr. John McKibbon
McKibbon Hotel Management
County Appointment – Lodging 100 Rooms or Less
Mr. James Poole
The Foundry Hotel Asheville, Curio Collection By Hilton
City Appointment – Lodging 100 Rooms or Less
Mr. Tom Ruff
The Biltmore Company
Chamber Appointment – Tourism Related
Councilwoman Julie Mayfield
Asheville City Council Ex-Officio Member
Commissioner Joe Belcher
Buncombe County Commission Ex-Officio Member
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (L-R): Vice Chair Himanshu Karvir, Leah Ashburn, John Luckett, Buncombe County Commissioner Joe Belcher, Paula Wilber (Past Chair), Jim Muth (Past Chair), Andrew Celwyn, Chair Gary Froeba, Chip Craig, Asheville City Councilwoman Julie Mayfield, and John McKibbon.
About the Board
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) is a board of eleven volunteers appointed to oversee the use of occupancy tax revenues as directed by North Carolina law. Four members are appointed by Asheville City Council, four by the Buncombe County Commission, and one by the Chamber. Six members represent accommodations who collect the tax and three are from non-lodging, tourism-related businesses. A Buncombe County Commissioner and an Asheville City Council Member serve as non-voting, ex-officio board members.
The board contracts with vendors including an advertising agency, fulfillment services and a web developer, to implement marketing and sales strategies.