Tourism Development Authority Regular Meeting- Rescheduled from November

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

The authority approved $3,500 in transportation funding for Duke's Small Town USA photography program, after Duke instructor Susie Post-Rust said budget cuts at the university had left the course unable to bring students without cars to Hillsborough. Members also voted to pull the money from the tourism fund balance if needed, and adopted a draft 2026 meeting schedule presented by Planning and Economic Development Manager Shannan Campbell.

In a monthly update, Campbell discussed rising short-term rental prices and the difficulty of tracking down owners of whole-home rentals held by LLCs or trusts for tax compliance. Members also weighed lodging capacity for a proposed 2026 CycleNC ride that would bring about 1,000 people to town for one night, with roughly half needing hotel rooms; the town has about 300 hotel rooms combined and 25 to 30 short-term rentals in the immediate downtown area.

How the votes went

The authority voted 3-0, its full three-member board, on every motion, including the $3,500 funding request and the 2026 meeting schedule.

From the published minutes.