TDA
Visit the TDA Visitor Website!
View the 2022 Travel Guide Here!
Organizational Background
Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Rutherford County, NC and was first authorized into creation by the 1991 North Carolina Senate to be collect an occupancy tax(6%), which is a tax visitors pay when they stay overnight in a lodging facility. The lodging property collects the visitor tax as trustee of the funds for the county, and then remits those to the county on a monthly basis. The authority is charged with spending the funds to promote the growth of tourism.
The TDA is currently using “Mountains to Main Streets” tagline in tandem with the Lake Lure & the Blue Ridge Foothills brand alongside of a marketing campaign, “Moments that Matter”. The TDA is moving its Marketing & PR primarily into the social / digital real.
Mission Statement: To promote the growth of tourism for and in Rutherford County, in accordance with NC Session Law 2011-115.
- TDA Legislation (NC Session Law 2011-115)
- TDA ByLaws (Adopted December 8, 2011 and Revised June 18, 2020)
2022-2023 Committees
RCTDA Executive Committee:
- Dave Long: Board Chair
- Mary Jaeger-Gale: 1st Vice Chair
- Jim Masek: 2nd Vice Chair
- Jeff Geisler: Treasurer
- Staff Member: Don Cason: Executive Director
Tourism Strategic Plan:
- Dave Long: Board Chair
- Jeff Geisler: Treasurer
- Willard Whitson: Board Member
- Mia Chapman: Board Secretary
- Margaret Annunziata: Board Member
- Staff Member: Elizabeth Randall: Administrative Support
Relocate to Rutherford Committee:
- Margaret Annunziata: Board Member
- Jim Masek: 2nd Vice Chair
- Mia Chapman: Board Secretary
- Spence Romine: Board Member
- Staff Member: Elizabeth Randall: Administrative Support
- Jeff Geisler: Treasurer
- Dave Long: Board Chair
- Janet Mason: Board Member
- Spence Romine: Board Member
- Paula Roach: County Finance Director
- Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, Administrative and Project Coordinator
- Jim Masek: 2nd Vice Chair
- Mary Jaeger-Gale: 1st Vice Chair
- Kitty McCammon: Board Member
- Mia Chapman: Board Secretary
- Willard Whitson: Board Member
- Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, Administrative and Project Coordinator
Keep Rutherford County Beautiful Committee Members:
- Janet Mason: Board Member
- Dana Bradley: Board Member
- Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, Administrative and Project Coordinator
Agritourism Committee Members:
- Kitty McCammon: Board Member
- Margaret Annuniziata: Board Member
- Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, Administrative and Project Coordinator
Information Committee:
- Dave Long: Board Chair
- Mary Jaeger-Gale: 1st Vice Chair
- Staff Member: Kayley Smith: Welcome Center Coordinator
Trail Committee:
- Jeff Geisler: Treasurer
- Kitty McCammon: Board Member
- Dana Bradley: Board Member
- Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, Administrative and Project Coordinator
Questions about Occupancy Taxes?
Please contact the Rutherford County Finance office at (828) 287-6085
Phone: (828) 287-6013
Rutherford County Welcome Center
Location: 2932 Memorial Hwy., Lake Lure, NC 28746
Phone: (828) 287-6113
To view approved TDA minutes, Strategic Goals, Work Plans and Budget; as well as, a list of TDA Board members please see the sidebar listing to the left.