Applications Now Open: Explore Asheville Travel & Hospitality Internship and Explore Asheville Hospitality Scholarship
Two Opportunities for Buncombe County Students—Apply by March 18

We’re excited to announce two opportunities for Buncombe County students in 2026—the Explore Asheville Travel & Hospitality Internship and the Explore Asheville Hospitality Scholarship. These programs are designed to enrich the lives of residents through educational opportunities and foster growth and advancement in the travel and hospitality industry and related fields.

While these are separate programs, both share the same March 18 application deadline. Internship applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we strongly encourage students to apply now.

The Explore Asheville Travel & Hospitality Internship provides students with an introduction to the travel and hospitality industry through hands-on experience. Interns can develop a variety of hard and soft skills in customer service, public speaking, and time management by observing, shadowing, and assisting at Explore Asheville, as well as local partner businesses and organizations in the following sectors:

• Destination Marketing and Management
• Food and Beverage
• Accommodations
• Recreation, Parks, and Sports
• Arts and Culture
• Retail

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Must be at minimum a rising high school junior or senior in Buncombe County OR a permanent resident of Buncombe County

Internship Timeline:

• Application Opens: January 14
• Application Deadline: March 18
• Interviews: March 30–April 3
• Awards Ceremony: May 4

For more details, including example schedules and assignments, click below.

The Explore Asheville Hospitality Scholarship aims to support the development, recruitment, and retention of the hospitality workforce in Buncombe County. The scholarship awards up to $2,500 annually for tuition, housing, books, and other educational expenses at any North Carolina post-secondary institution for students pursuing careers in hospitality or related fields.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Must be a high school senior in Buncombe County OR enrolled in a North Carolina Higher Education Institution while maintaining permanent residency in Buncombe County
• Minimum 2.5 GPA

Scholarship Timeline:

• Application Opens: January 14
• Application Deadline: March 18
• Decisions Issued: April 6
• Awards Ceremony: May 4

Apply early! Applications for the internship will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For questions about either program, contact Destination Project Manager Kimberly Puryear at kypurear@exploreasheville.com.

Explore Asheville needs your help spreading the word and getting these opportunities in front of students. Please share this message with counselors, teachers, or any students you know interested in hospitality. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of students in our second year of these programs!