Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season from all of us at Explore Asheville! Thank you for being incredible partners in this year of remarkable recovery and progress. We're grateful for all we've accomplished together and looking forward to what's ahead in 2026.

Examples of what to send include grand openings or new locations, seasonal events or special promotions, awards or recognitions, seasonal menu changes, or community initiatives or partnerships. Please send your news at least four to six weeks in advance, if possible—this gives our team time to work it into our content calendars. Keeping us informed helps maximize exposure for your offerings and events.

Now is the time to get ahead of stocking the 2026 Official Asheville Destination Guide (formerly called the Visitor Guide)! This editorial-forward guide highlights Asheville’s creative culture through original storytelling, local artist features, and curated recommendations that resonate with both visitors and locals alike. Designed to live on shelves year-round, the Destination Guide offers businesses an early opportunity to provide guests and customers with a high-quality, locally rooted resource that reflects what makes Asheville distinct and worth exploring. Order yours today to ensure January delivery.

Do you want to advertise your business as a workspace for visitors? We just launched a new listing category and landing page specifically for Coworking Spaces on ExploreAsheville.com. This page highlights unique workspaces across the Asheville area and Buncombe County, like coffee shops that welcome coworking, maker studios with flexible space, dedicated coworking hubs, and more. If you’d like your listing to be featured on the new Coworking Spaces page, message us at partnersupport@exploreasheville.com.

There's still time to save 25% on a special one-day locals pass for the 2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit! Explore Asheville is excited to partner with travel industry nonprofit Tourism Cares to host this three-day gathering, which will bring together more than 150 travel professionals, tour operators, meeting planners, destinations, and travel advisors who are shaping the future of responsible travel. 

Local Opportunity: Asheville-area businesses can purchase a special one-day pass to participate in the Summit’s Education Day and Networking Reception on April 14—a unique chance to connect directly with the travel trade, share your story, and explore new collaboration opportunities.

At the Summit, you'll:

• Gain best practices in sustainable tourism from peers and industry experts
• Build meaningful connections with global travel trade professionals
• Experience firsthand how meaningful travel can drive impact and growth

Lock in your early bird pricing before the new year! Register by December 31 to get 25% off your one-day local pass.

The 2026 Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) Passport is on sale now! The AIR Passport provides exclusive offers at more than 40 independently owned restaurants across Asheville and Buncombe County. With the passport, not only will you enjoy fantastic savings, but you’re also directly supporting AIR and its vibrant network of local eateries. 

“The Passport is a great way to step out of your comfort zone and try new restaurants, and it's the perfect gift for anyone on your list,” said Meghan Rogers, AIR’s executive director. “It’s also an important fundraiser for AIR, allowing us to provide critical education, advocacy, collaboration, and marketing support for our independent restaurant community.”

Click below to view participating restaurants and secure your 2026 AIR passport today.

Western North Carolina is home to a strong and diverse outdoor industry. Just in time for holiday shopping, Made X MTNS is bringing all the goods to one place with its WNC Outdoor Gift Guide! The guide features outdoor gear and apparel, guided experiences, gift cards, gift memberships to conservation partners, and more. This holiday season, gift the outdoor lovers in your life high-quality gear for their next adventure, or book fun outside experiences to make memories together in the mountains of Western North Carolina!

Last month, Forest Millwork and The Play Nice Agency launched #FeedWNC, a citywide food drive aiming to collect 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food by January 9 to support local families who rely on SNAP and MANNA Foodbank.

Explore Asheville has joined the effort as an official donation drop-off location, and we’re calling on our travel and hospitality community to leverage our collective network and make a meaningful impact.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• Drop off non-perishable food items at Explore Asheville's offices at 27 College Place, Asheville, NC, 28801, now through January 9. The donation box is located on the first-floor lobby under the stairs, on the right as you enter.
• Share this post or forward this message to help amplify the Feed WNC initiative within your networks, encourage donations, and keep this effort top of mind in our community.

This is what community looks like. Let’s bring in the New Year by feeding hope—and each other. 

We're looking forward to welcoming partners, industry colleagues, and community leaders at The Year Ahead: Inspiring Community and Collaboration—Explore Asheville's first partner event of 2026! Attendees will get an exclusive look at what's coming to Buncombe County in 2026—and more importantly, how to plug in to these opportunities.

From high-profile sporting events like the PGA TOUR's Biltmore Championship in Asheville, to immersive arts and cultural experiences, including the debut of Luminere at Biltmore, to new venues and aligned conferences shaping the future of our community, this event will help organizations identify how to engage, collaborate, and play a meaningful role in the momentum building across the county.

The program will also include the 13th Annual Explore Asheville Superstar Awards and recognition of $12.4 million in 2025 Tourism Product Development Fund investments supporting community projects throughout the county. 

We invite you to come early and stick around for networking, coffee, and light bites from Everyday Gourmet. Seating is limited—register today!

• Blue Star Gallery
• Favillas NY Pizza
• Georgie's Bunker
• Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort
• Lake Julian Disc Golf Course

• LivBiltmore Rental Properties
• Richmond Hill Disc Golf Course
• Sand Hill Disc Golf Course
• The Love Cats
• The Relaxation Retreat