NEWS | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | & MORE
In This Issue | January 12, 2022
Locals on National Travel Show | Partner Webinar Jan. 19 | Time to Update Your Listing | Visitor Guide Update | Fan-tastic Op with SoCon | | COVID Relief Grant Deadline Jan. 31 | Upcoming Events | Meet Our New Community Engagement Manager
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'Samantha Brown's Places To Love' Kicks Off Season 5 in Asheville
One of the highest-rated travel shows on PBS, airing in more than 97% of U.S. households, kicked off its fifth season on Jan. 8 with a focus on Asheville and our community’s creative spirit, cultural depth and natural beauty. Explore Asheville was delighted to partner with Samantha Brown and the crew of the Emmy-winning “Places to Love” series last year, which can now be seen on PBS stations nationwide. Check local listings or click the button below to view the entire 30-minute episode featuring several familiar local faces and places. *Shown above: Screenshots from the Asheville episode of "Samantha Brown's Places To Love."
| WATCH: 'Places To Love' Featuring Asheville |
More Recent Clips To Check Out
- Southern Living | 8 Winter Vacation Ideas Where You Can Still Enjoy the Outdoors
- Travel Awaits | 9 Festive North Carolina Towns Perfect To Visit During Christmas
- Hemispheres Magazine | 6 Essential Places to Visit in Asheville's Bohemian River Arts District
- MSN.com | The most picturesque mountain towns in America
- Y Travel Blog | Things to Do in Downtown Asheville
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Find Out How To 'Get Group Ready!' at Webinar Next Week
From conferences and meetings to weddings and reunions, Explore Asheville's Sales Team is dedicated to bringing groups to our community – and customers for your business. What can you do to get in the minds and hearts of meeting planners looking to bring their event to Asheville? Tune in to learn more about Explore Asheville’s group sales strategy and how to partner with us.
NOTE: This event, originally scheduled to take place in person, will now take place virtually to allow more partners to comfortably and safely attend. If you previously registered to attend in person via Eventbrite, please re-register here for the Zoom webinar. Our apologies for the inconvenience.
| REGISTER: 'Get Group Ready!' Webinar |
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Start the New Year with an Updated Listing - Learn How!
Accurate and fully completed listings aren't just helpful to travelers making plans, but also to the Explore Asheville team as we promote the destination. The start of the new year is a great time to review and refresh the following:
- AMENITIES: The more amenities you include in your listing, the more chances you have to attract visitors using the filtering function to discover businesses like yours.
- IMAGES: Great images, correctly sized, seasonally appropriate and with optimal resolution, will always get more attention!
- BUSINESS CATEGORY: If your business is BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and/or woman owned, be sure to indicate so under "Business Category."
- SOCIAL MEDIA: Are the links to your social media working? Are all your channels listed? Are there some you've listed but you're not able to maintain – so they should perhaps be deleted from your listing?
- CONTACTS: Be sure that the contacts for your business are up to date and have Extranet permissions set up.
Need help? Check out our online education center for downloadable PDF instruction sheets, video tutorials and other assistance. (Or email anytime at PartnerSupport@ExploreAsheville.com.)
| HOW TO: Update Listings |
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The 2022 Official Asheville Visitor Guide Is Here!
Our hot-off-the-press, jam-packed-with-stories-that-will-inspire-travelers, Official Asheville Visitor Guide for 2022 is here and we're thrilled to share it with you! Currently, we're working out logistics and distribution, so watch your inbox for more on that in the coming days. Meanwhile, If you need to replenish your supply, stop by Explore Asheville during regular business hours to pick some up. Thanks for your patience!
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The Southern Conference Basketball Championships are just weeks away! Attract fans to your business by listing your coupon on the SoCon microsite on ExploreAsheville.com. Get Explore Asheville Extranet coupon instructions below. Use the coupon category “SoCon.” (Get tickets while you're at it! Go here.)
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REMINDER: Application Deadline for COVID Relief Through 'Business Recovery Grant Program' Is January 31
If your business experienced gross revenue losses due to the pandemic and it's classified under NAICS codes 71 or 72 (arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodations, food services), you may be eligible for up to $500,000 in a one-time grant through the Business Recovery Grant Program. Additional funding is available for businesses that do not fall within NAICS codes 71 and 72. The one-page application must be received by January 31. An informational webinar takes place on Jan. 18, 10–11 a.m. Register here.
| DETAILS & APPLY: Business Recovery Grant Program |
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COMMUNITY NOTES
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Buncombe County TDA-Supported Events this Month Focus on History, Culture & Creativity
In alignment with Explore Asheville's four strategic imperatives, Buncombe County TDA is a supporter of the following January events through sponsorships and the Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund grant program:
- 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration | Jan. 15–19 | MORE INFO
- 10th Annual Asheville Restaurant Week | Jan. 18–24 | MORE INFO
- ALT ASO Chamber Orchestra at Highland Brewing | Jan. 25 | MORE INFO
- The 20th Asheville Fringe Arts Festival | Jan. 27–30 | MORE INFO
Funding for sponsorships and grants for local events comes from revenue earned through initiatives such as advertising by partners on ExploreAsheville.com (occupancy tax revenue is not legislated for use in this manner). Applications for grants in 2023 through the Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund will be due in the fall of 2022. The next deadline for making sponsorship requests, which are reviewed quarterly, is Feb. 15.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- WHAT: "Get Group Ready!" Partner Webinar: Information & inspiration from Explore Asheville's "group gurus" in the Sales Department
- WHEN: 9:00–10:00 a.m.
- HOW: Via Zoom Webinar
- MORE INFO: Details & register
- WHAT: Monthly meeting of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
- WHEN: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
- HOW: Via Zoom Webinar
- MORE INFO: Details to come here
In case you missed our recent Facebook post, we're pleased to introduce you to Explore Asheville's new Community Engagement Manager! A graduate of Asheville High, Crystal Sherriff earned a B.S. in Sociology and Women and Religious Studies from UNC Charlotte. After stints in New York City and New Orleans, she joined the Peace Corps in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Living abroad and getting to experience the commonalities – but also the stark contrast of life elsewhere – helped Crystal not only cement her love for travel, but also her passion for community. She's here to help our partners maximize the services and benefits available through Explore Asheville. Let Crystal know how she can help you!
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