The Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau is continuing to see an increase in room tax revenue as more people stay in hotels in Boyle County. 

In the last fiscal year, the CVB saw a 75-percent occupancy rate, according to its Tourism Economic Impact Year in Review report.  

The CVB collected $197,717 from a 3-percent room tax collected from hotels, exceeding its projected revenue by about $32,000, according to the report.

“Any surplus gets rolled into the next year’s budget,” CVB Director Jennifer Kirchner said. “Our fiscal year is July through June and as of January, we are on track for our current projections in 2016-17.” 

Kirchner said the CVB is unable to run a deficit, “which is regulated by our designation as an SPGE (special purpose governmental entity). Our budget must balance.”

The 2015-16 report shows August had the highest average occupancy rate at 86 percent. 

“August is a busy for month for Boyle County,” Kirchner said. “We see increased visits with Centre College parents, and the 127 Yard Sale has historically been and continues to be an event that sells out rooms quickly.”

Boyle County has the higher average occupancy rates in August than Fayette, Jefferson, Nelson and Pulaski counties, according to the report.

Starting in August and running through the rest of the year, the average occupancy rate stayed in the 80-percent range, according to the report.

“Fall is the busiest time for hotels,” Kirchner said. “It starts in August and goes through late October. We have many events such as the Kentucky State BBQ Festival and Perryville Commemoration, Centre parent and sporting events, and overall, it is a popular time to travel to experience our beautiful fall weather.”

While “heads in beds” generates CVB’s budget, Kirchner said “day trippers” are also valuable to the area economy.

The room tax — CVB’s sole source of funding — is the tax amount added to every stay at a hotel, bed & breakfast or room for rent on services such as Airbnb.

Kirchner said the CVB focuses on two main areas — marketing Boyle County to travelers and investing in the community.

Boyle County is the “product” the CVB markets, “so we also see great value in investing in trails, events, our Main Streets, the arts and bourbon,” Kirchner said. “These are some of the reasons travelers choose to enjoy and visit our community so if we create a robust experience, people will come.”