Asheville tourism is getting its nose cut off to spite its face. The “nose” I’m referring to is the short-term rental market. Until recently, my small business and I were part of the Asheville tourism industry. I was offering my private, lower level one-bedroom apartment (with unseen off-street parking) for rent to tourists and helping to provide genuine southern hospitality to Asheville’s guests. Having discussed it with my neighbors and getting the go-ahead, I didn’t expect to get shut down by a “within city limits” blanket ordinance since there were no specific complaints. In fact, my neighbors encouraged me because I was able to improve the value of the neighborhood by putting tourism earnings into home improvement and paying local contractors. With 100+ 5-star reviews and support from my neighbors, I thought I was doing things right for my business, our guests and our economy.
The “nose” idiom means that an overreaction can lead to self-harm. My story is just one of hundreds who have been targeted by whomever thinks they will benefit from cutting off this branch of economic development and tourism. City leaders need to take a serious, objective look at ordinances that stifle economic growth and contributions to Asheville’s tourism industry. They must embrace future trends and use them for the city’s advantage.
Other cities relying on tourism such as Santa Barbara, California, and Austin, Texas, are two such forward-thinking cities. They put a system in place whereby short term rentals pay a license/registration fee and pay the city a bed, or occupancy, tax. The new city employee in zoning enforcement would be better utilized for economic growth and tourism support in an office handling short-term rental registrations. Since there is controversy in some neighborhoods, why not require approval from adjacent neighbors as part of the registration process? The “Airbnb” wave should be recognized as a viable means of additional revenue, economic stability, and an authentic proponent of WNC tourism.
Tourists come with various needs and preferences. Many are not satisfied nor have their needs met staying in a hotel, but they do come, bringing their tourist dollars, and Asheville should strive to be a great host allowing our guests to have accommodation options. Now that more hotels are being added to the downtown cityscape, concentration is needed in capturing more of the conference/convention market which is what they’re best suited for. The hotel association’s lobbyist would serve our city better by tracking down corporations who need a place to have a conference rather than spending time railing against small, tourism-oriented local businesses who contribute to the local economy.
“Cutting off the nose to spite the face” is said to have originated with the legend of St. Ebba, Mother Superior of a monastery in Scotland, who in 867 AD heard of a forthcoming invasion by Viking pirates. She and her nuns disfigured themselves by cutting off their noses and upper lips to make themselves unattractive and thereby saving their chastity. As it turned out, the Vikings were so disgusted, they burned the monastery to the ground with the nuns inside.
When I told a repeat guest from Dallas that I could no longer provide my place as a rental, she was so put off by the city’s attitude that she stated she and her husband would go elsewhere where they could get the type of accommodation they wanted (probably in Austin). I urge city leaders to leave the small-business economy and the beautiful, friendly face of Asheville tourism unmarred lest we all burn.
Melanie Curlee is a retired travel industry professional (15 years) and a retired ESL teacher (10 years) who visited Asheville in 2011, fell in love with the whole area, and moved here a year later.
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