“Tourism is a lifeblood of revenue for this community,” Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive (ACVB) Director Stephanie Brown noted, addressing the audience of attendees at a tourism summit on Friday. “Visitors spend almost $2 billion a year at businesses just like yours – hundreds of family owned local businesses serving customers every day, providing income for employees that totals $810 million of personal income for people living in Buncombe County.”

SPECIAL ALERT: VENUE CHANGE - TOURISM SUMMIT MOVED TO THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN The Renaissance had a water main break last night and they are unable to host the National Tourism Week Summit today. The Omni Grove Park Inn will host the event, starting at 12:30 as scheduled. We appreciate the extraordinary efforts of the Renaissance and Omni Grove Park Inn to change the venue and present the program as planned. Please join us for this celebration of our industry in recognition of National Tourism Week. WHERE: OMNI GROVE PARK INN Sammons Wing | Heritage Ballroom 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville SELF-PARKING IS COMPLIMENTARY WHEN: As scheduled. Registration at noon. Program begins at 12:30 See you soon!    ...

January 11, 2017 – Lewis Real Estate and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) announced plans for the relocation of the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) to the Asheville Office Park at College Street and Town Mountain Road. Previously the home to Shaw University and located adjacent to the soon-to-be built Element Hotel, the two-story building at 31 College Place will be gutted and re-designed over the next six months to create inviting, open space that reflects the region’s destination brand. ACVB will become the anchor tenant and a significant part of the ongoing revitalization of the eastern gateway to the central business district. “The building will be a centerpiece...

October 26, 2016 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) awarded five community projects $3,930,000 in funding today from the Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF). The funds, generated from a portion of the room tax revenues paid by overnight visitors in Buncombe County lodging accommodations, will go toward three theater projects, a WNC Farmers Market revitalization project and additional features at Montreat College’s Pulliam Stadium. “The collection of projects funded in this TPDF cycle holds significant community value while also being supported by the industry,” said BCTDA Chair Paula Wilber, vice president of sales at Biltmore. “Together they will elevate the arts experience,...

September 28, 2016 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) voted today to provide $50,500 in grants to support 14 community festivals and events. Utilizing discretionary advertising revenue from the ExploreAsheville.com website, BCTDA developed a Festivals and Cultural Events Support Fund in early 2016. The new grant program is a mechanism to foster festivals and cultural events that serve Buncombe County residents as well as visitors to the area. The primary purposes of this fund are: • To support and preserve cultural identity within Buncombe County • To stimulate the creation of new or expansion of existing tourism Events • To help events grow With the redesign of the...

August 31, 2016 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) took steps today toward establishing the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau as a new, independent organization. It is anticipated that the process will be finalized by June 30, 2017. The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce has been a stalwart advocate of tourism and served at the forefront of efforts to create the Blue Ridge Parkway, promote the authentic culture of the region and shine a spotlight on the handmade craft industry. This leadership helped shape the Asheville area tourism experience and greatly contributed to the quality of life in the region. The creation of BCTDA in 1983, as part of the hotel occupancy tax...