Marshall County tourism office touts $90M impact, eyes online transient‑tax payments amid Airbnb dispute

A tourism office presenter identified in the transcript as Lena Blevens briefed the fiscal court on April 7, saying the county’s 2024 tourism economic impact topped roughly $90 million and that fishing tournaments and sports events remain major drivers of overnight stays.

Blevens proposed a one‑time $3,500 investment to set up an online transient‑tax payment portal and said the county would pass a 3% credit‑card processing fee through to payers, the statutory maximum cited in discussion. She said the portal would create an electronic record, send notifications to the tourism office and the treasurer, and could be a convenience that encourages short‑term rental owners to comply. The tourism office is still evaluating monthly service charges and credit‑card fees before recommending implementation.

The presenter also reported the county’s ongoing litigation with Airbnb, saying the platform is not collecting the transient tax on behalf of property owners; the county continues to collect from other platforms and individual properties that remit independently. The tourism office estimated collections from registrants and alternative platforms were significant and said success in litigation would likely increase revenues.

Blevens outlined marketing efforts (regional drive markets, a new tear‑sheet map and two online commercials) and said the office is pursuing an integrated online community calendar and expanding sports tourism partnerships. She requested permission to continue vetting the online payment portal and said she would report back with vendor cost details to better estimate net revenue and fees.

The court had follow‑up questions about vendor fees and monthly charges and asked staff to gather comparative data from Lake Cumberland and other counties before the next meeting.