Buncombe County TDA Annual Report – Fiscal Year 2019-2020

From July 2019 through part of March 2020, the Buncombe County TDA and Explore Asheville team were well on the road to another remarkable year of proudly serving the people of Asheville and Buncombe County by bringing in visitors whose time here would contribute to our community’s economic vitality.

Then, without warning, the world encountered a detour — a global pandemic that has impacted lives and livelihoods in a way that no one could have predicted. But the Explore Asheville team jumped into action, switched gears, and continued moving forward, with our commitment to supporting partners and the people of this region stronger than ever.

Download the BCTDA Annual Report for FY 2019-20 to learn more (high resolution PDF).

Performance Index

Each month the Explore Asheville CVB generates a statistical report of our output for the previous month. This tool provides a snapshot of the local tourism economy month-to-month. Click here to access these reports.

Economic Impact Information

Tourism is a significant driver of the Asheville economy. In 2019, Buncombe County attracted just under 11.9 million visitors, including 4.2 million overnight guests.

Did you know:

• $2.2 billion in the cash registers of local businesses: People who visit Buncombe County spend $2.2 billion annually at local businesses, many of those being small, independent operations that depend on tourism to survive and thrive – and on the sales and marketing programs of Buncombe County TDA to attract those customers.
• $3.3 billion total economic impact: Local businesses purchase goods and services from more local businesses, for a total economic impact of $3.3 billion.
• $392 million in taxes generated: People visiting Buncombe County generate $392 million in tax revenues.
• 28,000 jobs: People visiting Buncombe County support 27,938 jobs — 18,890 direct and 9,048 indirect and induced jobs.

Download the 2019 Economic Impact report here.

BCTDA Annual Reports

• 2019-2020
• 2018-2019
• 2017-2018
• 2016-2017
• 2015-2016
• 2014-2015
• 2013-2014
• 2012-2013
• 2011-2012
• 2010-2011
• 2009-2010
• 2008-2009
• 2007-2008
• 2006-2007
• 2005-2006
• 2004-2005
• 2003-2004
• 2002-2003

Sales & Marketing Plans

• 2020-2021
• 2019-2020
• 2018-2019
• 2017-2018
• 2016-2017
• 2015-2016
• 2014-2015
• 2012-2013

Fact Sheets

• Buncombe County TDA Information Booklet (February 2020)
• Tourism & the BCTDA: Fast Facts & FAQs (February 2020)
• Overview & History of the BCTDA, with details on the Occupancy Tax (February 2020)
• NC Guidelines for Occupancy Tax Legislation
• Community Benefits of Tourism (February 2020)
• Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) (February 2020)
• Festivals & Cultural Events Support (February 2020)
• BCTDA & Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission (February 2020)

Media Plans

• 2017-2018
• 2016-2017

Research & Data

• 2016 Advertising Effectiveness & ROI Executive Summary
• 2016 Asheville Visitor Profile
• Portrait of an American Traveler November 2016
• 2014 Asheville Visitor Profile Report
• Buncombe County Visitor Profile 2012-2014

Glossary

• ADR (Average Daily Rate): Room revenue divided by rooms sold, displayed as the average rental rate for a single room.
• Contract Rooms: Contract rooms are occupied at rates stipulated by contracts – such as for airline crews and permanent guests. Room allotments that do not require guaranteed use or payment should not be classified as contract.
• Demand (rooms sold): The number of rooms sold or rented (excludes complimentary rooms).
• Group Rooms: Group rooms are sold simultaneously in blocks of a minimum of 10 rooms or more (e.g. group tours, domestic and international groups, association, convention and corporate groups).
• Occupancy: Rooms sold divided by rooms available multiplied by 100. Occupancy is always expressed as a percentage of rooms occupied.
• Percent Change: Amount of growth – up, flat, or down – this period versus same period last year (month or year-to-date). Calculated as ((TY – LY) / LY) * 100.
• Revenue (Room Revenue): Total room revenue generated from the sale or rental of rooms.
• RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room): Room revenue divided by rooms available.
• Supply (Rooms Available): The number of rooms times the number of days in the period.
• Transient Rooms: Transient rooms Include rooms occupied by those with reservations at rack, corporate, corporate negotiated, package, government, or foreign traveler rates.