April 15, 2021

Planning for the Future:
DEEP Community Conversations

Explore Asheville is charting a new course for the tourism community aligned with broader community goals. These efforts are being organized around four strategic pillars that were approved by the Buncombe County TDA board in its annual planning retreat last month.

Starting May 10, we "deconstruct" our annual Tourism Summit – a springtime tradition celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week – to host a series of four webinars over two week, “Planning for the Future: DEEP Community Conversations,” each focusing on one of these strategic pillars:

• Deliver Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth (Monday, May 10)
  
• Encourage Safe & Responsible Travel (Wednesday, May 12)
  
• Engage & Invite More Diverse Audiences (Monday, May 17)
  
• Promote & Support Asheville’s Creative Spirit (Wednesday, May 19)
  

These webinars will take place from 12 noon to 1:15 p.m. on the dates listed, so grab your lunch and plan to tune in for an enlightening discussion on the future of tourism in Asheville and Buncombe County.

DEEP Community Conversation #1:
‘Deliver Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth’

Each webinar will feature community leaders and partners who will share their ideas and insights around Explore Asheville's four strategic pillars. 

The following will participate in our DEEP Community Conversation with Explore Asheville President & CEO Vic Isley on May 10, discussing the strategic imperative Deliver Balanced Recovery and Sustainable Growth: Nancy J. Cable, Chancellor, UNC Asheville; Debra D. Campbell, Asheville City Manager; Kit Cramer, President & CEO, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce; Avril Pinder, Buncombe County Manager.

Register today for this free virtual event >>

• WEBINAR: Tourism Summit 2021 | DEEP Community Conversations Panel 1
  
• DATE: Monday, May 10 | 12 - 1:15 p.m.
  
• TOPIC: Tourism's Strategic Pillars | 'Deliver Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth'

*Note: This series of Zoom webinars will be recorded and posted after each event on AshevilleCVB.com.

Setting the Stage:
Thought Leader Adam Sacks, Tourism Economics

For Asheville and Buncombe County to fully achieve economic recovery from the pandemic, the travel sector has to be the focus. That was the bottom-line message from industry forecaster Adam Sacks, Founder and President of Tourism Economics, when he spoke at the recent Buncombe County TDA annual planning retreat.

He provided data, insights and ideas to spark discussion around one of Explore Asheville’s four strategic pillars: Deliver Balanced Recovery & Sustainable Growth.

We invite you to spend a few minutes viewing Adam’s presentation, then get ready for a DEEP Community Conversation on May 10 on how Explore Asheville can balance the needs of the community with the economic necessity of encouraging sustainable, long-term growth of tourism, which will play an integral part in Asheville and Buncombe County’s economic recovery.

This strategic pillar also means balancing visitor growth across all seasons and throughout the entire county and encompasses a balance between business travelers and leisure travelers.

Watch for details on our other May webinars as part of  Explore Asheville's

TOURISM SUMMIT 2021
Planning for the Future: DEEP Community Conversations