In This Issue | October 13, 2023
FY23 BCTDA Annual Report | Welcome Bag Gift Guide | 2024 Festival & Cultural Event Application | LGBTQIA+ Working Group and Window Cling | DIY Tourism Marketing Conference | Spooky Seasonal Guides | Welcome New Partners | Mark Your Calendar | National Spotlights

We are pleased to share our Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report, a comprehensive reflection of the BCTDA and Explore Asheville’s performance and achievements over the past year. As we navigate the evolving post-Covid landscape for our industry and community, we are proud and grateful for our community, partners, and team's resilience, dedication, and innovation.

We encourage you to flip through the pages of the FY23 Annual Report to celebrate our recent collective achievements and where we’re headed together.

The Welcome Bag Gift Guide is now live on the EA website! The guide is an excellent resource for meeting planners, wedding planners, etc. to access our local community and their unique goods. We will continue to accept submissions to build the most robust and representative listing of local products available.

Buncombe County-based nonprofits and municipal partners are invited to apply online for 2024 event grants until 5 pm Friday, October 27. Awards will be announced during the November BCTDA Board meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Grants will be disbursed after successfully completing each event in 2024.

This past summer Explore Asheville hosted a roundtable discussion on the difficulties encountered by the LGBTQIA+ community within the travel and tourism industry. Following the discussion, the Partnership & Destination Management Department formed a designated LGBTQIA+ working group of Explore Asheville staff, local queer business owners, and community leaders to begin addressing these challenges. 

We unveiled a new window cling at this year's Blue Ridge Pride Festival! We encourage partners to proudly display it, signaling their warm welcome to individuals of all identities in their spaces. Email Kpuryear@exploreasheville.com to have your window cling delivered to your buisness!

With the crisp arrival of autumn, Asheville welcomes a magical time of secrets, surprises, and a hint of the supernatural. This spooky season, our content team has crafted new guides on how to experience Halloween in the Asheville area, how to peep fall colors from new heights and perspectives, and where to get your pumpkin spice latte fix.

• Asheville Canoe House
• Paulieboy Enterprises
• Foundation Studios

Are you looking to tell a more impactful story about your local business or attraction online? Then we hope you’ll join us at the 7th annual DIY Tourism Marketing Conference from November 13–14 right here in Asheville! This tourism-focused conference will provide you with the latest digital strategies, resources, and tools. You’ll learn how to reach more potential visitors and motivate them to visit, as well as how to engage your local community.

We’re excited to offer our partners $100 off their registration by using our special promo code EXPLOREAVL.

The regular monthly meeting of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) will take place in the Board Room at the offices of Explore Asheville at 9 am on Wednesday, October 25.  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. 

• The New York Times | The 2023 Restaurant List
• Men's Journal | Exploring the Top 4 Fly Fishing Destinations Stateside
• Bon Appetit | The 24 Best New Restaurants of 2023
• The New York Times | 5 Hotels Where Fall Takes Center Stage
• Pursuitist | Top 5 Best Destinations to Visit This Fall
• Hotel Designs | VIP Arrivals: Hottest Hotels Opening in October 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