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Tourism push: TDA proposes full‑time director as occupancy tax receipts rise; Highland Games tout local economic benefit
Summary
The county's Tourism Development Authority told commissioners it intends to hire a full‑time executive director (county employee funded by the TDA) to coordinate marketing and occupancy‑tax spending. Separately, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games president described the festival's $1M+ annual spending in the county and its role in local tourism recovery.
A representative of the newly formed Avery County Tourism Development Authority told the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 6 that the TDA is pursuing a full‑time executive director to lead marketing, media placements and occupancy‑tax spending.
The presenter said the position would be a county employee funded by TDA reimbursements and that the TDA has prepared a job description and plans to convene a search committee including one or two commissioners and an at‑large county resident. "This would be a full time person who is employed to help us promote tourism within the county," the presenter said.
Why it matters: Commissioners are considering a professionalized approach to tourism promotion as occupancy‑tax revenues have increased in early FY 25–26. County staff reported August occupancy tax collections of $129,591.52—up from about $75,000 for August last year—suggesting additional revenue for TDA activity.
The board also heard from Steve Quillen, president of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, who described the event's local economic footprint—he characterized annual revenues as exceeding $1,000,000 and said a significant share is spent in Avery County on contractors, wages and services. Quillen said the festival brought visitors from 48 states this year and asked the county to regard the games as a year‑round tourism partner.
Board discussion focused on how to structure the director position, budget treatment and next steps for recruitment and posting. The TDA presenter said the job posting would go live soon with a goal of hiring before the end of the year.
Next steps: TDA staff will post the director position and assemble the search committee; the county will track occupancy tax receipts and report monthly updates to the board.
