In This Issue | August 18, 2023
Summer Social Photos | Travel & Hospitality Night at McCormick Field | 2024 Visitor Guide | Partner Q&A Training Hour | Grassoots Arts Program Grant | Duke Energy Improvements | Affordable Parking Program Expansion | Welcome New Partners | Who's Coming to Town | Mark Your Calendar | National Spotlights
SAVOR SUMMER TO THE LAST DROP
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| Thank You for Joining Us at the Summer Social |
The Explore Asheville Summer Social was a smashing success thanks to our nearly 300 partners in attendance, the hospitable staff, and the incredible vendors and entertainers who made the evening so memorable. We couldn’t have done it without you all!
We would like to give a special thanks to The Restoration Hotel, Brian Konutko Photography, Buggy Pops, WilderKin Beekeeping, EZ Productions (Captain EZ the Vibe Conductor, Lee Bones, and Cpt. HyperDrive), OG Synergy (DJ Mike) who all worked behind the scenes to shape this fantastic event.
We are proud of your charitable donations totaling over 60 pounds of arts supplies that will be distributed to Buncombe County Schools this school year. Congratulations to Sheri Riffle of 1899 Wright Inn & Carriage House who won our raffle!
Stay on the lookout for an invite to the 2023 Annual Meeting taking place September 19 at the Wortham Theater from 3 to 6 pm. This will be an event you won’t want to miss!
| Spot Yourself in the Summer Social Pics |
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| Travel & Hospitality Nights at McCormick Field |
Picture yourself cheering from the bleachers with your industry colleagues as the Asheville Tourists take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods. As a token of appreciation to our local businesses, industry partners, and hospitality workers who shape and support our vibrant community, Explore Asheville and the BCTDA along with the Asheville Tourists Baseball Club are pleased to offer discounted tickets at $4 each. Tickets must be purchased online and are available with the code: ExploreAVL.
This is made possible through a partnership with the Asheville Tourist Baseball Club as part of the McCormick Field Major Works Tourism Development Product Fund (TPDF) investment.
| Travel & Hospitality Night Ticket Instructions |
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PARTNER RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
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| Shine Brightly in the 2024 Official Asheville Visitor Guide |
According to an Explore Asheville survey, 97% of readers’ expectations were met or exceeded after using the Visitor Guide to plan their trip. Distributed throughout western North Carolina, the guide can be accessed on the go through our digital flipbook or ordered in print on ExploreAsheville.com. Our targeted distribution and engaging content make the Official Asheville Visitor Guide the most effective way to get your business in front of the millions of travelers that visit this area each year.
Learn how your business can be featured by by calling 828.776.8886 or emailing account executive Terri Well.
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| Improve Your Listing in Our Weekly Partner Drop-In Q&A |
Have questions about your account or want to learn how to expand your business's reach on ExploreAsheville.com? Join our new Partner Drop-In Q&A every Friday on Zoom from 11 am to 12 pm. Log in anytime to troubleshoot issues and ask questions about your account with Explore Asheville.
RSVP for any session or just log in to learn how to improve your Explore Asheville account. Fridays won’t fit into your schedule? Check out our education library or sign up for a one-on-one session on Wednesdays.
| RSVP for Partner Drop-In Q+A |
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Now through September 15, Buncombe County arts programs and nonprofit arts organizations are invited to apply for the 2023-24 Grassroots Arts Program (GAP). Grants for FY24 will cover programmatic and operating support ranging from $2,500-7,500 depending on the size of the organization. Multicultural programs and organizations located outside of the City of Asheville will receive special consideration.
| Arts AVL Application |
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| Duke Energy Improvements Coming to Downtown Asheville |
To ensure reliable electricity service to downtown, Asheville Duke Energy is upgrading underground electrical infrastructure to increase reliability and resiliency and improve remote restoration capabilities. Duke Energy plans to replace electrical equipment in 32 Vaults in the downtown Asheville area between July 2023 and December 2024.
Work will take place in the highlighted area in the map. All businesses and residents within the boundary will not necessarily be impacted by this work. Businesses and residents who may experience outages associated with this work will be contacted directly by Duke Energy.
| Contact Duke Energy Engagement Specialist |
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Starting Monday, August 21, downtown service industry and retail workers can apply for a limited number of $40 monthly parking spots at the 164 College St parking deck. Applicants must work in Downtown Asheville and make less than $22.88 per hour or $3,967 per month to be eligible for one of the 50 discounted parking spaces. This Buncombe County initiative that launched last February also includes 150 parking spaces at the Coxe Avenue parking deck.
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Earlier this month, our sales team attended the ASAE Annual Meeting in Atlanta with our local partners at Biltmore Farms, Renaissance Asheville Hotel, The Foundry, The Restoration, Doubletree Downtown, and Embassy Suites to inspire visits to our destination. This event, often dubbed “The Superbowl of Meetings,” attracted more than 5,200 attendees and nearly 2,900 association professionals.
Through the remainder of August to mid-September, Explore Asheville estimates that it will generate more than a $2.4M economic impact by attracting groups to Buncombe County.
Groups in Town with More Than 350 Attendees
August 18–19 | River Summer Shootout - Boys | 1050 attendees
August 25–26 | River Summer Shootout - Girls | 1150 attendees
August 27–29 | SEA4 Conference | 600 attendees
September 1–2 | Beer City Cup | 800 attendees
September 8–13 | NCACPA Annual Meeting | 250 attendees
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The Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund Grant Program is designed to provide financial support for events that serve both the residents of Buncombe County and the visitors who travel to the Asheville area. Upcoming events include: Downtown After 5 | August 18 | Enjoy this free event on Lexington Avenue each 3rd Friday; catch The Asheville All Stars plus Asheville Rock Academy this month. 103.3 Asheville FM Record Fair | August 26 | Mark your calendars for 103.3 FM's fourth annual record fair at Harrah’s Cherokee Center for a day filled with live music, food, collectable cds, and vinyl records. Symphony in the Park | August 27 | Join the Asheville Symphony for the third annual Symphony in the Park at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville. This sunday concert is free to the public with reserved seating available for purchase. Does your organization have an event coming up this fall or winter? Keep us in the loop at news@exploreasheville.com and submit your events to the Explore Asheville Calendar. |
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| Arts AVL Hosts a Town Hall on the Future of Thomas Wolfe Auditorium |
Mounting maintenance needs at the auditorium have forced the City to reduce the venue’s operating capacity, resulting in major revenue losses with impacts to area restaurants and businesses. On Monday, August 21, at 3 p.m., Arts AVL is convening a panel of speakers, including Explore Asheville’s President & CEO Vic Isley, to share their insight and perspective on the space.
| Arts AVL Thomas Wolfe Town Hall |
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The regular monthly meeting of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) will take place at the library of the North Carolina Arboretum beginning at 9 am, Wednesday, August 30. All board meetings are open to the public, and the agenda will be posted 48 hours in advance. Following the meeting, all materials will be posted here.
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- Travel + Leisure | Travel + Leisure Readers' 15 Favorite Cities in the United States in 2023
- Rolling Stone | Kurt Vile, Nikki Lane, and Skynyrd's Ex-Drummer Help Asheville Get Into the Festival Game
- National Geographic | 10 Best Things to do in North Carolina
- The Travel | 10 Incredible U.S. Destinations to Visit in August (That Aren't Too Hot, But are Just Right)
- AFAR | 10 Best Places to Travel in September
- Black Wall Street Times | Skyview Golf Tournament Honors First U.S. Golfer John Shippen
- U.S. News | Best Fall Vacations for 2023
EXPLORE ASHEVILLE'S STRATEGIC PILLARS
Delivering Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth | Encouraging Safe & Responsible Travel |
Engaging & Inviting More Diverse Audiences | Promoting & Supporting Asheville's Creative Spirit
| Follow Our Progress |
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