NEWS | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | & MORE

In This Issue | March 9, 2022
March Event: LGBTQ+ Diverse Audience Training | Successful SoCon Puts Asheville in the Spotlight | Hoops Against Hunger Winners | Launch of Fairview Microsite | Partner Resources & Ops | Upcoming Events | ICYMI: African American Heritage Trail, Tourism Product Development Fund Grant Cycle & More

Upcoming event supports commitment to
'ENGAGE & INVITE MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCES'

March 30: ‘Everyone Welcome’ LGBTQ+ diverse audience training for tourism partners, at Wortham Center for Performing Arts

To accelerate our community’s efforts to extend a genuine invitation to diverse audiences, Explore Asheville has engaged with HospitableMe, a global leader in inclusive hospitality, to deliver their signature LGBTQ+ diverse audience training program for our internal team and tourism partners.

The 90-minute, in-person training session, “Everyone Welcome,” will discuss evolving language, the growing market, unconscious bias, the challenges LGBTQ+ people face when traveling, best practices for marketing to and engaging with LGBTQ+ consumers and communities, and ways we can collectively and individually do better in making diverse guests and customers feel more welcomed.

Please join us on Wednesday, March 30, 3:30 – 5 p.m. at the Wortham Center for Performing Arts, followed by a reception until 6 p.m. Doors open at 3 p.m.

LOOKING BACK AT ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SOCON

Game-winning buzzer-beating shot at SoCon gets visibility for ExploreAsheville.com on national morning news shows

As if the thousands of fans flocking to Asheville last weekend for the Southern Conference Basketball Championships weren't enough (not to mention the visibility our city got from the live TV coverage), Asheville got an unexpected boost in the national media, thanks to a spectacular end to the men's final on Monday night.

A game-winning three-point basket on the buzzer (in overtime, no less!) also won coverage on scores of outlets, including Good Morning America and CBS Mornings, and garnered the #1 spot on ESPN’s Top 10 Plays. For a time after the game, it was also the #1 trending topic on Twitter. "ExploreAsheville.com" was highly visible on the floor beneath the amazing winning basket.

Host hotels join together during SoCon to collect food for local families through Eblen Charities campaign

Cheers to the staffs at Hilton Garden Inn Asheville Downtown,1st place winners in the Eblen Charities Hoops Against Hunger, and DoubleTree Biltmore Hotel, recognized for team spirit. They and these other Southern Conference championship host hotels participated in the food drive, now in its 8th year, to benefit local families in our community: Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Asheville, DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville Downtown, Four Points by Sheraton, Hilton Biltmore Park, Holiday Inn Asheville - Biltmore West, and Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel.

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE: FAIRVIEW

Series of neighborhood video profiles continues with an up-close look at Fairview's people, places...and animals!

One way Explore Asheville is taking action on our strategic imperative to Deliver Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth is by inviting visitors to explore Asheville's nearby towns and neighborhoods. We recently launched a new microsite for Fairview. Take a look and feel free to share!

PARTNER RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

Don't run from this opportunity to reach marathoners next week!

Explore Asheville will have a visitor information table at the Health & Fitness Race Expo on Friday, March 18, leading up to the 10th Annual Asheville Marathon & Half that takes off on Saturday morning in downtown Asheville and through the River Arts District. If you'd like your attraction or experience brochures to be placed at the table, please drop them off at the Explore Asheville reception desk, marked ATTN: AVL MARATHON, by Wednesday, March 16 at 1 p.m. More about the race here >>

Reminder: Place your Visitor Guide orders by April 1 for free delivery

Got Guides? The next deadline for a supply of Official Asheville Visitor Guides is April 1 for free delivery the second full week of the month. Or, pick up copies anytime from the front desk of the Asheville Visitor Center. Place your order here >>

COMMUNITY NOTES

Upcoming local events supported by Buncombe County TDA

In alignment with Explore Asheville's strategic imperatives (see below), Buncombe County TDA is a supporter of the following upcoming events:

• The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival | March 24-27
  
• {Re} HAPPENING 10 | April 2
• WNC Black Business Expo | April 8-10
  

Funding for sponsorships and grants for local events comes from revenue earned through initiatives such as advertising by partners on ExploreAsheville.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

• WHAT: Buncombe County TDA: Monthly Meeting
  
• WHEN: 9:00–10:00 a.m.
• HOW: Via Zoom Webinar
• MORE INFO: Details to come here

• WHAT: Buncombe County TDA: Annual Planning Session
  
• WHEN: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• WHERE: Inn on Biltmore Estate
  
• MORE INFO: Details to come here

• WHAT: Partner Event: "Everyone Welcome" LGBTQ+ Diverse Audience Training
  
• WHEN: 3:30–6:00 p.m.
• WHERE: Wortham Center for Performing Arts
  
• MORE INFO & REGISTER: Here

• WHAT: Partner Salon: How To Work With the Explore Asheville PR Team
  
• WHEN: 8:30–10:00 a.m.
• WHERE: Explore Asheville
  
• MORE INFO: Details to come here

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• 18 local residents to advise direction of Asheville's African American Heritage Trail
  
• Buncombe County TDA opens Tourism Product Development Fund grant cycle with $15.1M projected to be available by end of June
  
• Explore Asheville marketing plans include a minimum of $1 million in paid media to Black-owned media publishers & creators
  
• Hotel room demand rebounds in 2021, exceeding pre-pandemic levels
• ....and more!

EXPLORE ASHEVILLE'S STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES
Deliver Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth | Encourage Safe & Responsible Travel |
Engage & Invite More Diverse Audiences | Promote & Support Asheville's Creative Spirit