July 15, 2021

NEWS | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | & MORE

Join Explore Asheville in Focusing on Sustainability & Responsible Travel

Special partner events on August 3 will share ideas & info

One of Explore Asheville's four strategic pillars is Encourage Safe & Responsible Travel. As part of this commitment, we're hosting two events for partners on how you can take part in these efforts. Join us on Tuesday, August 3 at 10 a.m. for a webinar featuring a presentation from Tourism Cares, followed by an update from Explore Asheville on related initiatives. We’ll wrap up the 75-minute webinar with a panel of fellow tourism partners who are embracing sustainability measures in their businesses.

Then, bring your thoughts, ideas and inspiration to the Explore Asheville Summer Social, August 3, from 4 to 6 p.m., where several local organizations focused on sustainability and the environment will be on hand to offer suggestions on ways your business can become involved.

MORE PARTNER RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

Got news? We're looking for ways to promote our partners!

The Explore Asheville PR and Content teams have our eyes on fall and we're looking for ways to promote our partners. Do you have new experiences or menu items, creative travel packages or deals, fall-related events or offerings, or environmentally friendly travel offerings? Click through to submit your news through a simple form no later than Friday, August 5. Got questions? Need more info? Email us at news@exploreasheville.com.

Missed the deadline for this month's delivery of Asheville Visitor Guides? Order today by 5 p.m.!

How's your supply of Official Asheville Visitor Guides? The deadline for July orders has been extended to TODAY, July 15 at 5 p.m., with delivery slated for July 19 and 20. The next deadline is August 9 for delivery August 12 and 13. Reminder: Even if you previously signed up to receive monthly deliveries, we still need a completed form each month. 

IN THE NEWS: ASHEVILLE MEDIA COVERAGE

LGBTQ media outlets showcase Asheville during Pride Month

Telling the Asheville story and keeping our vibrant Blue Ridge Mountain region top-of-mind for media nationwide is a constant focus of Explore Asheville’s Public Relations team. The following recent clips are related to our strategic imperative to Engage & Invite More Diverse Audiences:

• Thrillist | Get Out, Drink Up and Celebrate in These Gay-Friendly Honeymoon Destinations
• Pride Journeys | Asheville, North Carolina’s Top LGBTQ-owned Businesses
• TravelingIQ.com | Small Town Prides Are Poppin’ in 2021
• TravelPulse (also picked up by MSN) | 21 Great LGBTQ Summer Destinations
• Tripadvisor | Pride With a Local Flavor

GROUP GURUS: UPDATES FROM SALES

Trips & trade shows: On the road to bring customers to Asheville

Travel and attendance at in-person industry events by the Group Sales team is back in full swing, including recent sales calls and a client event in Chicago (shown below: Senior Sales Manager Tina Porter with Chicago-based clients). Click through to see events attended since May 2021 and scheduled through the end of July.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: UPCOMING EVENTS

• WHAT: Partner Salon | Optimize Your Presence on ExploreAsheville.com
• WHERE: Explore Asheville CVB Offices
  
• WHO: Presented by Explore Asheville Team
• HOW: Get info & register here

• WHAT: Monthly Meeting of Buncombe County TDA
  
• WHERE: Explore Asheville CVB
  
• WHO: Open to the Public
  
• HOW: Details to be posted here

• WHAT: Webinar | Responsible Travel & Sustainability in Tourism
  
• WHERE: Virtual, via Zoom Webinar
  
• WHO: Various Speakers & Panelists
  
• HOW: Get info & register here

• WHAT: Summer Social & Sustainability Resource Fair
  
• WHERE: Highland Brewing Company
  
• WHO: Hosted by Explore Asheville
  
• HOW: Get info & register here

TIPS |  FACTS | FAQs | UPDATES

Q: Can I connect my social media to my listing? A: Yes! Here's a quick how-to for connecting your Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Yelp, Flickr, Pinterest, and TripAdvisor channels.

Have you checked your listing's amenities on ExploreAsheville lately? With clearer search filters available to site visitors, ensuring that your amenities are up to date is more important than ever. Find out how!

Each month, Explore Asheville generates a statistical report of our output, providing a snapshot of the local tourism economy month-to-month. Take a look at the Destination Dashboard here.

 The TOURISM COMMUNITY UPDATE newsletter provides highlights of Buncombe County TDA meetings. June's meeting included a presentation on Explore Asheville’s new agency-of-record and an update on community projects supported by BCTDA and the Tourism Product Development Fund.