TDA

Visit the TDA Visitor Website!

View the 2023 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)

2023-2024 Committees

RCTDA Executive Committee:

• Willard Whitson: Board Chair
• Mary Jaeger-Gale: 1st Vice Chair
• Jim Masek: 2nd Vice Chair
• Spence Romine: Treasurer
• Staff Member: Don Cason: Executive Director

Relocate to Rutherford Committee:

• Margaret Annunziata: Board Member
• Mia Chapman: Board Secretary
• Spence Romine: Board Member
• Staff Member: Elizabeth Randall: Administrative Specialist

• Spence Romine: Treasurer
• Janet Mason: Board Member
• Paula Roach: County Finance Director
• Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, and Project Administrator 

• Jim Masek: 2nd Vice Chair
• Mary Jaeger-Gale: 1st Vice Chair
• Mia Chapman: Board Secretary
• Willard Whitson: Board Member
• Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, and Project Administrator

Keep Rutherford County Beautiful Committee Members:

• Dana Bradley: Board Member
• Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, and Project Administrator

Agritourism Committee Members:

• Jim Masek: 2nd Vice Chair
• Janet Mason: Board Member
• Margaret Annuniziata: Board Member
• Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, and Project Administrator

Information Committee:

• Spence Romine: Treasurer 
• Mary Jaeger-Gale: 1st Vice Chair
• Staff Member: Kayley Smith: Welcome Center Supervisor

Trail Committee:

• Dana Bradley: Board Member
• Staff Member: Taylor Hardin: Marketing, and Project Administrator

Questions about Occupancy Taxes?
Please contact the Rutherford County Finance office at (828) 287-6085