Explore Asheville

We're less than one week out from the second annual #TravelandHospitalityNight at McCormick Field! Join your colleagues in cheering on The Asheville Tourists during this celebration of our industry and its impact on our community! ⚾ 🎆 Tickets are going fast and are still available for a discounted price with the code 828NIGHT for travel & hospitality professionals! Click this link to purchase them online 🎟 : https://lnkd.in/ez5HY7hs Want a commemorative memento from the evening that benefits our local industry? Place a bid for one of the game-worn #PowerofTravel jerseys custom-designed for the occasion. Proceeds benefit ASHEVILLE INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION INC's Financial Empowerment Program. Place your bid here 👕 : https://lnkd.in/eMGHDr-f

The Olympics may be over, but the Explore Asheville team is still making the podium🏆 Congratulations to our business development team for winning 3rd place in #bestinshow for booth design at the 2024 ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership Annual Meeting & Exposition in Cleveland last week! We were proud to be joined by our incredible partners at Biltmore Farms, Parks Hospitality Group, and Renaissance Asheville Hotel — each shining a spotlight on Asheville’s deeply rooted, ever-evolving, innovative community. We're honored to represent Asheville as a top meeting destination where creativity and innovation translate into unforgettable events.

Reserve your spot at the 2024 Explore Asheville Annual Meeting, taking place Monday, September 16, 3-6pm at the Crest Center & Pavilion. Travel and hospitality partners, community leaders and colleagues are invited to celebrate more than 40 years of shaping and investing in Asheville's deeply rooted, ever-evolving community.  🌟 Keynote speaker Rohit Bhargava is a trend-watching speaker on a mission to inspire audiences to think and market in non-obvious ways.   🌟The recipient of the 25th annual William A.V. Cecil Award will be revealed and recognized.   🌟Gain meaningful insights and foster stronger partnerships through networking. 🌟Stick around after the presentation to enjoy tasty bites, craft beverages, beautiful views from the Crest Pavilion and valuable networking with industry colleagues and friends. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ejWPhG6s

Visitors to Buncombe County generated a record-breaking $2.97 billion in 2023, according to Tourism Economics and Longwoods International data. Three billion dollars equates to 20% of Buncombe County’s total annual economy. Nearly $3 billion in visitor spending benefits a wide variety of businesses – 70% of spending took place outside of lodging businesses -- in restaurants and breweries, retail shops and galleries, with tour outfitters and transportation providers. Nearly 2,000 Explore Asheville partner businesses and organizations both serve and benefit from guests to our community. We are grateful for travel and hospitality businesses and their team members for delivering quality experiences and services to customers every day. This virtuous cycle is what makes travel such an economic powerhouse, job creator and community builder for our Asheville, Buncombe County and the state of North Carolina! Other key findings on the #economicimpact of #visitors in Asheville and Buncombe County can be found in this report: https://lnkd.in/ektEVHAt

At last week's #BCTDA board meeting, Vice President of Business Development Michael Kryzanek recapped FY24 sales performance. Explore Asheville brought in nearly $50 million in direct group spending last fiscal year and booked 415 events, a 5.3% increase from FY23. Other takeaways from the July board meeting include: 📈 June lodging occupancy and demand; 📹 Sharing of the latest commercial spot, the #SoundsofAlwaysAVL 🥇 Highlights of Q4 Business Development, Marketing, Partnership, and Culture efforts and achievements towards Explore Asheville's Strategic Imperatives; 👟 Jay Curwen was named Explore Asheville's new director of sports, film & entertainment. Click the link below to read the entire recap: https://lnkd.in/eKS98Nr5

That's a wrap on the 2024 Explore Asheville Summer Social! Thank you to the more than 300 partners, colleagues, community members, and friends who came out to celebrate the summer season at Eulogy and the newly launched Visuals Rooftop Bar! Guests explored the partner showcase, highlighting goods and experiences from ADORAtherapy, Haywood Famous, and Folk Saints , enjoyed music from Nex Millen and DJ NHN, and snacked on delicious bites from Good Hot Fish and GQC Deli, Market, Food Truck. We can't wait to do it all again!

Did you see the fleet of vintage Ford Model A's in our community this past weekend? It wasn't a mere coincidence. The MODEL A FORD CLUB OF AMERICA convened a showroom full of antique vehicles, offering a unique glimpse into automotive history. This Explore Asheville-recruited event spotlights our region as a destination for automotive events and has an anticipated economic impact of more than $820k to our region. The talented Andre Daugherty captured this exciting event, which took place at multiple properties, including Biltmore and Tanger Outlets, Asheville. Learn more about other inspiring automotive events taking place in Asheville: https://lnkd.in/dkJ43MSp

We're excited to announce that Asheville recently secured two major events, endorsing our position as a sports and business destination. 2024 Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship 📅 November 21-24, 2024 📍 Harrah's Cherokee Center–Asheville In a historic first, the @Southern Conference Volleyball Championship will be held at a neutral location. Asheville secured this event for the next three years through collaborative efforts of Explore Asheville, the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, and Harrah's Cherokee Center-Asheville. MO Summit 2025 📅 April 21-23, 2025 📍 Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel The MO Summit, presented by Big Path Capital, returns to Asheville after a five-year hiatus. This gathering of 100+ impact CEOs will explore ways to redefine capitalism and address global challenges. Explore Asheville leads as headline sponsor, supported by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Coalition. The summit's anticipated $250,000 economic impact will provide a significant boost to local businesses midweek. We're excited to welcome these gatherings to our community and showcase all that Asheville has to offer!

The 64th Annual Skyview Golf Tournament has officially teed off this morning at the newly renovated Asheville Municipal Golf Course. This historic event, running through July 11, showcases both professional and amateur talent, with over 160 players competing for a substantial $40,000 purse. Highlights include: ⭐ Rising stars from HBCUs demonstrating their skills ⭐ Appearances by notable golf influencers like Tania Tare, Erick Lottary, Rory Blaklroy, and Schyler Horne ⭐ The debut of the freshly upgraded "Muni" course, benefiting from a $1.4M investment by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority This tournament isn't just about golf – it's about history and community. As the longest-running Black-owned golf tournament, Skyview represents a significant legacy in the sport. The event takes place on the Donald Ross-designed course, offering participants and spectators alike the chance to experience top-tier golf against the backdrop of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. Follow @VisitAsheville and @skyviewgolfassociation on Instagram for updates and highlights from the Skyview Golf Tournament. 

Join us for an afternoon of celebration and connection at Eulogy and its newly launched Visuals Rooftop Bar. We’re turning up the summer heat with live DJ sets inside and up on the roof! Indulge in delicious bites, enjoy craft beverages, and explore our partners showcase, spotlighting a variety of new and exciting products and experiences in Buncombe County. Let's bring in the summer season together! Register here: https://lnkd.in/e-mEfJ8x