The
Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau has just released a 15-minute “on-demand”
webinar
for meeting planners, providing a virtual tour of the destination and insights
on how this Blue Ridge Mountain city meets their top-level needs. The free tool
offers planners a look at Asheville’s meeting-planning resources and Explore
Asheville’s services – and is particularly convenient for those unable to make
a familiarization trip. Planners who complete
watching the video are invited to select one of four gifts hand-crafted in
Asheville (see options, below).
“I
just watched it and loved the concept,” said Kristy N., Manager, Global
Accounts, Lamont Associates. “I wish all cities would do this! I’m sending to
our entire team as well.”
Asheville’s
hotel product and accessibility have reached a new level. With the addition of
new hotels in downtown, the room inventory continues to expand across all price
points, and meeting hotels range from the modern and chic to grand historic
resorts. Meanwhile, Asheville Regional Airport is now one of the
fastest-growing in the U.S., offering direct flights to an ever-increasing list
of cities.
“Asheville
is well-known as a top leisure destination,” said Stephanie Brown, President
& CEO, Explore Asheville. “Lonely Planet named Asheville its ‘Number One
Best in the U.S. Destination’ for 2017, and Asheville was the only U.S.
destination cited by CNN as a best place to travel in 2018. The goal of our
webinar is to provide a convenient way to acquaint meeting planners with the
many reasons why Asheville is also a great destination for meetings and events.
Asheville is growing in all the ways that are most important for planners, with
a hotel inventory expected to exceed 10,000 rooms by 2020. We know it can be
difficult to attend a familiarization trip or take time out for a personal site
visit and
want to help bring Asheville to you.”
Explore Asheville is a
meeting planner’s connection to the best local information to find the right
hotel and create memorable destination experiences. The award-winning staff
provides exceptional planning support, including Exclusive Services and the
“Have More Fun on Us” incentive program, good for up to $2,500.
Located
among
the highest peaks in the East, Asheville is the ideal location for inspired
meetings.With breathtaking views, a creative culinary scene, an array
of outdoor adventures and unique tours, it’s also easy to incorporate
team-building elements and opportunities for guests to immerse themselves in
authentic and engaging experiences in this vibrant town. Planners recognize
that once-in-a-lifetime activities can be powerful differentiators, and
Asheville has plenty of those to up the wow-factor – from Biltmore, to the Blue
Ridge Parkway or the world-famous spa at The Omni Grove Park Inn.
GIFT OPTIONS
- Asheville
Bee Charmer Honey and “Bee Happy” Clutch
Asheville was the first city to be named Bee City USA in 2012, and the
Asheville Bee Charmer, a local honey shop, supports the bee community through
the sale of local honey products. Get a taste of Appalachian Mountain honey and
a “Bee Happy” canvas clutch made in the USA.
- South
Slope Coffee and French Broad Chocolate Bar
The perfect taste-of-Asheville sampler: locally
roasted coffee and locally made chocolate, both sustainably and ethically
sourced. South Slope Coffee, a micro-roaster dedicated to sourcing coffee beans
from wholesalers dealing directly with farmers, offers coffee from all over the
world. French Broad Chocolate, a craft-chocolate producer, also nurtures
relationships with cacao farmers and suppliers to create “pure, beautiful and
delicious” chocolate.
- Spicewalla Grill & Roast Collection
Spicewalla spice factory offers fresh, whole
and small-batch spices by James Beard-nominated Chef Meherwan Irani. Irani,
dubbed the “spice whisperer,” is the owner of Indian-street-food restaurant
Chai Pani in Asheville. The Grill & Roast six-pack collection takes the
guesswork out of marinades, rubs and seasonings and will keep the grill hot all
summer.
- Handmade Leather-Covered Travel Journal
In Blue Handmade resides in a
converted-warehouse studio space in West Asheville and creates custom leather
products. The journal is the perfect size for tucking in a bag or backpack and
recording travel memories.
###
Also
New for Meeting Planners in 2019…
Hotel
Growth Continues + New Event Spaces at The Omni Grove Park Inn and
Biltmore + Second-Fastest-Growing Airport
NEW
DOWNTOWN: ► The
Foundry Hotel Asheville, Curio Collection by Hilton, opened in November on The
Block,
Asheville’s historical African-American business district, with 3,000 square
feet of functional meeting and event space. The hotel’s 100-seat upscale
restaurant Benne on Eagle, the newest venture of five-time James Beard
semifinalist Chef John Fleer, pays homage to its historic Eagle Street
neighborhood and the often-overlooked contributions of African-American cooks
to Appalachian and Southern food.
COMING
DOWNTOWN 2019:
► Asheville’s famed Art Deco skyline will get a new icon and a four-star luxury
property when Kimpton Hotel Arras opens late this summer. The 128-room hotel
will offer 5,000 square feet of meeting space.
COMING
LATE 2019:
► Element By Westin will bring 100 rooms and 1,200 square feet of meeting space
near downtown.
NEW
AT THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN: ► The
Omni Grove Park Inn has
added a new facility to its more than 55,000 square feet of versatile
event, banquet, convention and meeting space. The 3,200-square-foot Seely
Pavilion, perfect for receptions and meetings, offers floor-to-ceiling
doors and windows giving panoramic views of the surrounding mountain range.
MAJOR
RENOVATION: ► Asheville
Art Museum reopens
soon after a major renovation with a new state-of-the-art building. Self-guided
and guided group tours of its collection and exhibitions, as well as numerous
education-program opportunities, will be available. The expanded facility will
have multiple venues for events of all kinds, including social events and
conferences.
NEW
AT AMERICA’S LARGEST HOME: ►Opened last fall, Amherst is Biltmore’s largest event
venue with 11,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The Amherst
Ballroom features space for 850 people and vast windows displaying the lush forests
and fields of the estate. ► NEW EXHIBIT: Biltmore recently announced its latest exhibition:
“Downton Abbey: The Exhibition” (Nov. 8, 2019 through April 7, 2020) will
feature set recreations, costumes and exclusive multimedia elements while
providing guests with a chance to step inside the world of the global TV
phenomenon and upcoming feature film (hitting theaters on Sept. 20, 2019, in
the U.S.). ► NEW ADVENTURE: Ride the remote trails and roads of
America’s Largest Home via electronic tricycle on the Outrider Tour. This new
adventure tour allows you to explore behind-the-scenes areas of Biltmore’s
8,000-acre estate.
Airport
News
ONE
MILLION PASSENGERS IN 2018: ► The Asheville
Regional Airport (AVL) served more than one million annual
passengers for the first time in its history and is one of the
fastest-growing small airports in the country. ► FAST FACTS: AVL
is located 12 miles from downtown, offers nonstops and easy connections
through major U.S. and international hubs, with 50 direct flights daily to 19
destinations and served by six airlines. Named the second-fastest-growing small
hub airport in the country by Bloomberg News in 2018, AVL is nearing the
completion of $80 million in improvements. ► NEW FLIGHTS: In
2019, United Airlines began offering twice-daily nonstop service to Washington,
D.C., American Airlines started a daily nonstop to Philadelphia and a seasonal
nonstop to LaGuardia (LGA) and Allegiant is now offering nonstop service to
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). Daily nonstop service to
Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW) on American Airlines also began in May. See
all nonstop destinations. ► TSA Pre✓® is also now available
at AVL.
New
& Unique Tour Offerings
► NEW: Asheville
Rooftop Bar Tours give
a bird’s-eye view from some of the city’s newest scenic venues, while Asheville
LIT Tour is
a walking tour focusing on locations with literary themes and authors with ties
to downtown. Namaste
in Nature combines
yoga, meditation and hiking experiences, accommodating 10 or fewer but also
able to split up larger groups. ► Hood
Huggers International leads
interactive tours focusing on Asheville’s African-American community’s
resilient history and future. ► Wai
Mauna offers
a massive, six-person paddleboard, plus stand-up paddleboard tours on the
French Broad River, serving groups up to 30. NEW this season, try Whitewater
SUP! ► NOW OPEN: Offering daily tours, the new French
Broad Chocolate Factory has opened the doors to their sweet new location in
the RAMP (River Arts Makers Place) Studios.
