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ExploreAsheville.com Guidelines and Procedures

ExploreAsheville.com, Asheville’s official tourism Web site, is maintained by the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) on behalf of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) as a planning and decision-making resource for travel consumers. The site also features information useful for meeting planners and group tour operators.

The following Guidelines and Procedures outline the policies that determine eligibility for inclusion on the site and specify information that Buncombe County room tax-collecting accommodations and Asheville-area attractions, event hosts, and restaurants may submit for posting on ExploreAsheville.com.

Accommodations/Meeting Facilities

All room tax-collecting Buncombe County accommodations and meeting facilities will receive a complimentary listing on ExploreAsheville.com.

Non-room tax-collecting bed & breakfasts, cabins, cottages, chalets, hostels and vacation rentals located within Buncombe County that purchase a “Visitor Guide” display advertisement will also receive one complimentary Web site listing. Please contact Dianna Jackson Pierce, ACVB director of tourism, for details about purchasing a "Visitor Guide" display advertisement.

The following information will be provided by the accommodation:

  • Name, address, local phone, toll-free number, fax, email address and Web site URL.
  • A brief description of the property (225 character – with spaces – limit).
  • Accommodation rates.
  • Online booking information.
  • Meeting space specifications.
  • Amenities.
  • Special offer and packaging information.
  • Directions.
  • Photo of accommodation (.jpg or .gif file; maximum size 250x175 at 72 dpi).
The following properties and business enterprises are not eligible for listing in the accommodations section of ExploreAsheville.com:
  1. Accommodations located outside Buncombe County.
  2. For-profit and not-for-profit properties or meeting facilities with on-site accommodations that are exempted by law from collecting accommodations taxes, or are located outside Buncombe County.
  3. Internet-based enterprises whose primary business is to book real-time online accommodation reservations.
Special Packages and Promotions

ExploreAsheville.com “Deals & Packages” page is reserved for:
  1. Area attractions, dining and/or accommodations promotions organized by the ACVB with Buncombe County-based industry partners.
  2. Packages for which the ACVB has contracted with an outside vendor to produce; any promotional Web pages developed in this manner may not include information about or link to non-Buncombe County accommodations.
  3. Special promotions offered by Western North Carolina-based attractions and restaurants.
Decisions regarding online businesses located outside Buncombe County that have Asheville-based packages will be made on a case-by-case basis by the BCTDA Board. A fee may be assessed for this service.

Attractions

All Western North Carolina attractions may receive a complimentary listing on ExploreAsheville.com. The following information will be provided by the attraction:

  • Name, address, local phone, toll-free number, fax, email address and Web site URL (attraction Web sites that link to accommodations located outside Buncombe County will not be listed).
  • A brief description of the attraction (225 character – with spaces – limit).
  • Admission cost.
  • Online booking information.
  • Amenities, rates and reservations information.
  • Special offer and packaging information.
  • Directions.
  • Photo of attraction (.jpg or .gif file; maximum size 250x175 at 72 dpi).
Attractions and meeting facilities maintained by the federal government, State of North Carolina, a county or city government, or a privately-run organization or business located outside Buncombe County, but within the mountains of Western North Carolina, may receive a complimentary listing containing the above information. The attractions posted shall be those determined by the ACVB to be of interest to visitors to Buncombe County. The ACVB reserves the right to determine eligibility for inclusion on ExploreAsheville.com. The BCTDA and ACVB will make the final determination if there is a question about an attraction.

The following properties and business enterprises are not eligible for listing in the attractions section of ExploreAsheville.com:
  1. For-profit and not-for-profit properties or meeting facilities with on-site accommodations that are exempted by law from collecting accommodations taxes, or are located outside Buncombe County.
Calendar of Events

Events located within Buncombe County and outside Buncombe County but within the mountains of Western North Carolina may be listed at no charge in the Calendar of Events. The events posted shall be those determined by the ACVB to be of interest to visitors to Buncombe County. The ACVB reserves the right to determine eligibility for inclusion on ExploreAsheville.com.

Events may be submitted online.

The following information will be provided by the event host:

  • Name, address, local phone, toll-free number, fax, email address and Web site URL.
  • Sponsoring organization.
  • A brief description of the event (225 characters – with spaces – limit).
  • Date and time.
  • Admission cost.
  • Online booking information.
  • Directions.
  • Photo of event (.jpg or .gif file; maximum size 250x175 at 72 dpi).
The following are not eligible for listing in the calendar of events section of ExploreAsheville.com:
  1. Events hosted by for-profit and not-for-profit properties or meeting facilities with on-site accommodations that are exempted by law from collecting accommodations taxes.
  2. Political events.
Restaurants (organized by cuisine)

All non-fast food restaurants located within Buncombe County may receive a complimentary listing on ExploreAsheville.com. The restaurant will provide the following information:

  • Name, address, local phone, toll-free number, fax, email address and Web site URL.
  • A brief description of the restaurant/cuisine (225 character – with spaces – limit).
  • Menu costs.
  • Directions.
  • Photo of restaurant/cuisine (.jpg or .gif file; maximum size 250x175 at 72 dpi).
Restaurants that are part of a non-Buncombe County tax-collecting lodging facility and offer sleeping rooms may only include information about the restaurant portion of their business.

Restaurants located outside Buncombe County are not eligible for inclusion.

Additional Information

Download a marketing guide for our award-winning Asheville Visitor Guide. The guide includes cost breakdowns, statistical information and more. Please contact the CVB's Online Content Editor if you have any questions.

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