What’s New
![Perspectives Guest Post | Amplifying Equity & Inclusion in Craft Beer](https://www.ashevillecvb.com/wp-content/uploads/Leah-Ashburn-Perspectives-header.png)
Perspectives Guest Post | Amplifying Equity & Inclusion in Craft Beer
The personal perspective on racial identity by the President of Highland Brewing Company, Leah Wong Ashburn, who also serves as an appointed, volunteer member of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority.
![Tourism Community Update: A Recap of the BCTDA April Board Meeting](https://www.ashevillecvb.com/wp-content/uploads/April-2021-Website-Header.png)
Tourism Community Update: A Recap of the BCTDA April Board Meeting
The TOURISM COMMUNITY UPDATE provides highlights of Buncombe County TDA meetings. Click through for a recap of the BCTDA’s April 2021 meeting, with updates on Explore Asheville’s marketing plans and activities as well as information on tourism’s four strategic pillars.
![Tourism Community Update: A Recap of the BCTDA Annual Planning Retreat + March Board Meeting](https://www.ashevillecvb.com/wp-content/uploads/Website-Headers-2-1.png)
Tourism Community Update: A Recap of the BCTDA Annual Planning Retreat + March Board Meeting
The TOURISM COMMUNITY UPDATE provides highlights of Buncombe County TDA meetings. Click through to read a recap of the BCTDA’s Annual Planning Retreat as well as the March 2021 meeting, with links to recordings.
![Explore Asheville CVB Releases New Toolkit for Meeting Safely & Virtual Planning](https://www.ashevillecvb.com/wp-content/uploads/Website-Headers-5.png)
Explore Asheville CVB Releases New Toolkit for Meeting Safely & Virtual Planning
PRESS RELEASE: With an eye toward the new needs of meeting planners, Explore Asheville has unveiled a brand-new and robust Meeting Planner Toolkit complete with case studies from recent in-person meetings, virtual-planning resources, destination facts and more.
Buncombe County TDA Releases Six-Month Progress Report on Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund
PRESS RELEASE: Six months after the BCTDA awarded $5 million in COVID-relief grants to 394 local small businesses, nearly 98 percent of the 394 local small businesses remained in operation at the end of December, with 3,341 jobs retained or recovered.
![WLOS-TV News Special on the One-Year Anniversary of the Pandemic Includes Interview with CVB](https://www.ashevillecvb.com/wp-content/uploads/Website-Headers-3.png)
WLOS-TV News Special on the One-Year Anniversary of the Pandemic Includes Interview with CVB
Explore Asheville President & CEO Vic Isley was among those invited to participate in a half-hour WLOS-TV News 13 special on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, along with Jane Anderson of AIR, restaurant owner Kevin Westmoreland, and local and state public health authorities.
What’s New
2022 Tourism Product Development Fund Grant Cycle Officially Launches
Buncombe County nonprofits and municipal partners are invited to submit applications to the Buncombe County TDA for grant support through the Tourism Product Development Fund. Phase 1 applications are due June 1.
Sign Up by May 16 for ‘Tourism Summit 2022: The Future of Travel,’ Held on May 18
Explore Asheville’s Tourism Summit 2022: The Future of Travel is at Omni Grove Park Inn, FREE to community partners with advance registration, includes lunch + keynote, diversity training workshop + networking .
Applications for Phase 2 COVID Relief Business Recovery Grant Program Open May 2
$200 million is available to agribusinesses, massage therapists, farmers, and others in addition to arts, entertainment, recreation, hotels, restaurants, bars, food services, and others.
Explore Asheville’s Strategic Imperatives
![Pillar Flag_no logo](https://www.ashevillecvb.com/wp-content/uploads/Pillar-Flag_no-logo.png)
Community Partners