New Asheville Hotel Proposed Near Biltmore Park as Area Hotel Rooms Grow 5% in 2024

Out near the Asheville Regional Airport and just a minute drive away from Biltmore Park, a new hotel could take the place of a former fast-food restaurant, adding to Asheville’s growing hotel industry. A new project has been proposed for 375 Long Shoals Road, where a former Arby’s would be replaced by a Tru by Hilton hotel, according to planning documents from the city of Asheville.

The hotel brand, known as innovative and midscale, was proposed by Asheville-based hotelier Hites Patel. Patel also serves as Treasurer of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. The new South Asheville location would be the second Tru by Hilton in the area. The other is located off of Tunnel Road in East Asheville, and is also owned and managed by Patel’s company Commodore Holdings LLC. Another Hilton location, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, opened in the area early this year. There are at least 16 Hilton brand hotels in the Asheville-area.

If approved, the new hotel would bring 80 rooms to the Asheville-area. In 2024, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority estimates a 5% growth in hotel room inventory, with a total of five new hotels projected to add 498 new rooms in the area.

Hotel Lodging Occupancy

For February 2024, BCTDA reports that hotel lodging occupancy is slightly down from February 2023. Room demand was down by a total of 5,884 rooms. At the same time, lodging demand for vacation rentals increased by 15% from February 2023 to February 2024, adding over 12,000 rooms for the winter months. For fiscal year 2024, the most recent AirDNA data released by the BCTDA indicates demand is up for vacation rentals by 4%.

Tru by Hilton South Project

The Tru by Hilton South project, projected to be six floors with a rooftop patio, will need a Level II review from the city, which requires it pass the city’s Technical Review Committee. However, because it will not be located downtown, the project will not visit the Planning and Zoning Commission. The property was sold for nearly $2.5 million in 2022, according to Buncombe County property records.

The project’s neighborhood meeting was attended by a few local business owners and property owners, where some “expressed a positive outlook on increased foot traffic a hotel would bring to adjacent businesses.” A representative from a nearby company expressed concerns about potential congestion from the development, which the civil engineering team from the Asheville-based Cage Civil Engineering meeting “addressed to the best of the development team’s ability.”

Another potential worry was that with a new hotel the area could see more crime. According to meeting notes, the “adjoining property owners should not expect to see an increase in crime, as the proposed hotel is a Hilton, which holds high standards for property maintenance and security presence.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed new Tru by Hilton hotel near Biltmore Park adds to the growth of the hotel industry in the Asheville area. With a projected 5% increase in hotel room inventory for 2024, the addition of this hotel could provide more options for visitors to the area. As the city continues to see growth in the hospitality sector, developments like these play a significant role in meeting the increasing demand for accommodation.