Explore Asheville

As this formidable year comes to a close, we reflect on the incredible progress throughout Asheville, Buncombe County, and much of Western North Carolina these past three months. Our community has begun to transform catastrophe into an extraordinary tale of rebirth. Each rebuilding project, each reopened business, and each restored home represents a rising seed of renewal. Our community’s spirit has blossomed in unexpected ways, creating a stronger, more meaningful place to live, work, and visit. Though each person's road to recovery is unique, our community continues to show unwavering resilience together. Just this week, Forbes named Asheville one of its top 12 destinations for 2025, and the US-70 bridge in East Asheville has reopened after being rebuilt. We are heartened to share that more than 1,000 partners have reported reopening. Our business development team has confirmed 90 group events projected to generate $32 million in direct community spending in the first half of 2025, equating roughly to group business from the same period earlier this year. From the #AlwaysAshevilleFund, Explore Asheville has distributed 95% of grants totaling more than $1 million of the $1.1 million raised thus far. Through a series of new events, we hope to raise another half million in the first quarter of 2025. We know others are answering the call as well, with Dogwood Health Trust announcing today another $10 million for the #WesternNorthCarolinaSmallBusinessInitiative administered by Mountain BizWorks. Along with the rest of our region, we eagerly await a new federal disaster bill to be passed by Congress. While currently facing political headwinds in Washington, the bill announced yesterday includes: 🪙 $12 billion for CDBG-DR with specific eligibility to provide grants to small businesses and authority for the Secretary to waive eligibility requirements. 🪙 $1.5 billion for Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA). 🪙 $2.25 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program. We are grateful for the many leaders and residents who have advocated for the dire need for significant federal relief, including Congressmen Chuck Edwards, Thom Tillis, and Ted Budd. We have been working with local partners to secure a calendar full of joyful events set to inspire residents, visitors, and large groups to be part of the comeback for Asheville with heart this winter shoulder season. As we navigate these challenging times, we’re honored to shine a spotlight on the creative spirit, determination, and resilience that define our deeply rooted, ever-evolving Appalachian community.

Today, Governor-Elect Joshua Stein met with local business leaders in Asheville to highlight downtown’s swift revival, nearly three months after Hurricane Helene. His visit underscores the critical need to welcome visitors back to the Asheville and Buncombe County area to help accelerate the community’s economic recovery. We are grateful for his support of our small, independent businesses and his message that Asheville is open and welcoming visitors. Asheville's resilience and spirit are on full display as our community comes together and collaborates to reopen and welcome guests once again. Today’s visit was filled with optimism and hope, and we are grateful to continue building on that momentum. We encourage guests to #BePartoftheComeback by planning their trips with heart, by visiting Explore Asheville to see what’s open. For those who want to support Asheville businesses from their corner of the world, we encourage your mindful travel community to visit #LoveAshevilleFromAfar to shop local businesses and contribute to the #AlwaysAshevilleFund, a small business grant program that’s already provided more than $1 million in financial support to 320 local travel and hospitality businesses. For guests who are interested in donating their time and talent during a visit, there are numerous #voluntourism opportunities to get involved, from river cleanups to food distribution services. Spark your seasonal spirit and know that every ticket, restaurant reservation or locally purchased holiday gift offers hope and help for our deeply rooted creative community. Asheville Downtown Association Mast General Store Wedge Brewery The Foundry Hotel Asheville, Curio Collection by Hilton Chai Pani Restaurant Group Lexington Glassworks Bender Gallery French Broad Chocolates, PBC Blue Spiral 1, Gallery of Fine Art and Craft, Asheville NC

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships (March 6–10) and the Explore Asheville SoCon Wrestling Championships (March 7–8). The return of the tournament showcases the long-standing partnership between the Southern Conference and the Asheville community, with the added benefit of boosting local tourism, businesses, and the city’s numerous entertainment venues. 🗣️"We are excited to host these championships in Asheville at a time of significant need,” said Michael Cross, Commissioner of the Southern Conference. “The partnerships we’ve built with the city and its vibrant community have allowed us to not only elevate our championships but are important contributors to the economic recovery of local businesses. Asheville’s charm and hospitality make it the perfect backdrop for these exciting events, and we encourage fans of all SoCon institutions to spend the weekend in Asheville and see what we mean by “It’s All Here.” For the first time, basketball and wrestling will share the spotlight in Asheville, creating a unique atmosphere of competition, celebration, and community pride. These overlapping events will be a must-see for local fans and visitors from across the region. 🗣️ “Sporting events bring people together to inspire hope and pride, so this expanded partnership with SoCon takes on a deeper meaning for our community this year,” shared Vic Isley CEO & President of Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority. “These simultaneous championships will mark the first signs of spring and foster further economic revival for our community. We look forward to welcoming fans and families from across all SoCon destinations and wrapping our fellow residents into these events with heart.” Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action! Get your tickets today 🔗https://soconsports.com/

No one could have anticipated Hurricane Helene and the water system failure in Asheville and Western North Carolina; it couldn’t have struck at a worse time for our mountain communities. Based on preliminary estimates, Explore Asheville projects Buncombe County visitor economy may experience a 70% decline in Q4 2024 alone, translating to more than $584 million in lost revenue for restaurants and breweries, lodging, recreation and entertainment companies, retail shops and art galleries, and transportation partners. This matters to our entire community as it translates to lower revenues for local businesses, wages for workers, and tax revenues for municipal partners in a time when peak season generally carries us through to spring. Even in the face of these unprecedented challenges, we continue to see beacons of hope. Just seven weeks after Helene, the City of Asheville restored potable water—a significant milestone for residents and businesses. Biltmore Estate and the Omni Grove Park Inn are now open to guests, many of our famed restaurants and breweries have reopened their doors to customers, and hotels and inns are open to welcome overnight guests. More than 970 partners have reported reopening their businesses, representing a 37% increase from last week. Explore Asheville and Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority's role is to support the health of our economy by shining a spotlight on our community's creative and resilient spirit. We are working more closely than ever with partners and collaborating with agencies near and far to help our community come back stronger than ever. Takeaways from the October board meeting include: 📊 Finance Committee recommended revisiting a budget amendment at the next board meeting in January 2025; 📉 October lodging occupancy and demand hit record lows for what is traditionally peak season; 🔍 Damage assessment of community capital project investments and grant fund cycles recalibrated for longer-range planning; 💝 Marketing strategy encourages visitors to plan their trip with heart this season, building on collaborative promotional and research efforts with Biltmore and Visit NC. The spirit of holiday travel takes on a deeper meaning this year.

A BIG milestone for Asheville residents and businesses—clean water has been restored to the city’s taps, and the boil water notice has been lifted! This is another incredible example of the resiliency and strength of our local mountain community. With power fully restored and potable water widely restored, attractions, restaurants, breweries, music venues, hotels, inns, and businesses (outside of higher impact areas such as Swannanoa and parts of the River Arts District) are open, widely available, and welcoming guests across the Asheville area. Return with heart and be part of our comeback. Your support means the world to our deeply rooted, creative community.

Travel and hospitality-related businesses in Buncombe County can now apply for financial support from the #AlwaysAshevilleFund to reopen following devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. More than $750,000 is available in microgrants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Eligibility Requirements: 👥 Business must be a small, independent business with at least two employees and not more than 100 employees as of September 26, 2024. 📅 Business must have been in operation before July 1, 2024. 🎡 Business must provide direct in-person visitor experience. A business providing lodging, in whole or in part, is not eligible. 🗺 Business must be physically located within Buncombe County. ☔️ Applicant must be able to demonstrate the business was impacted by Hurricane Helene, including but not limited to business interruption, physical damage, and/or loss of equipment or inventory. 📋 Business must provide a clear plan to re-open quickly and a detailed description of grant fund use. Businesses must apply before 5 pm on Nov. 11, 2024. Explore Asheville will host open office hours Monday, Nov. 4, through Friday, Nov. 8, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Explore Asheville’s office. To apply, visit https://lnkd.in/eKVWRYC8

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we are heartened by the incredible grit, gumption, and resolve of our Appalachian community. As we support our community’s commitment to recover and rebound, each of us has a role to play in building a stronger future together. Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s role is to shine a spotlight on this creative community to support economic vitality for small businesses and neighborhoods to prevent an economic disaster on the heels of a natural disaster. We are working with our partners to understand their needs on the ground and to maintain jobs for residents in Asheville, Buncombe County, and the broader Western North Carolina region. Alongside our partners at U.S. Travel Association, Visit North Carolina, and Tourism Economics, history shows that most destinations recover from named storms within a year. Visitor spending recovery in Puerto Rico and New Orleans took two and four years, respectively. Given our region’s terrain and the failure of our city’s water system, our comeback is facing distinct challenges. Asheville is opening in stages and pockets. Reopening milestones throughout the community give us hope and are aligned with requests to begin welcoming back customers respectfully and in tune with our community, when and where it’s safe to do so. Takeaways from the October board meeting include: 📌 A forecast reducing net revenue projections by $10.1 million to $24.2 million from $34.3 million based upon Tourism Economics data; 📌 September lodging occupancy and demand; 📌 Hurricane Helene recovery response initiatives Love Asheville From Afar, the Always Asheville Fund, and Concert for Carolina; 📌 Supporting merchant Recovery and reopening messaging, the Visit NC Travel Advisory Map, and the new Explore Asheville website; 📌 Business continuity efforts and recovery resources; 📌 Tourism Product Development Fund, Legacy Investment From Tourism Fund, and Festivals and Cultural Events Support Fund updates. Explore Asheville and the authority will continue to support the recovery of small and local businesses and our community in the months and years to come, and we hope that you join us in that effort.  Click here for a full recap of the first BCTDA Board of Directors Meeting post-Hurricane Helene: https://lnkd.in/e5naqWmV

Our community is making progress slowly but surely and safely. Here is the latest update on western North Carolina, including Asheville and Buncombe County: ➡️ Many businesses and restaurants are reopening as widespread power and water service return. Please let us know your business status here: https://lnkd.in/dTGmDErf ✈️ The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating. 🏰 Biltmore has announced plans to welcome guests on November 2. ⛰ Areas of the Pisgah Ranger District have reopened, and Grandfather Mountain will reopen tomorrow, October 23. 🌆 Downtown Asheville infrastructure remained largely untouched by the storm, allowing shops and restaurants to reopen, some with limited operations. ⚠️ There are areas that need more time and support. We are mindful that high impact areas—including Biltmore Village, Swannanoa, and parts of the River Arts District—have a much longer road ahead, so travel to these areas is not advised. We are here for our neighbors throughout western North Carolina. 🗺 Visit North Carolina will continue to update its travel advisory map to reflect the conditions of each community. https://lnkd.in/dcCDceJ9 Our deeply rooted, creative community needs support from those inspired to visit our majestic region. We are asking visitors to please be patient, gentle, and respectful as they plan their return❤️🩹 #AlwaysAsheville

Join us for the free Concert for Carolina Official Community Viewing Event 📍 Thomas Wolfe Auditorium 📅 October 26 ⏱ Doors: 4 p.m. | Live stream: 5 p.m. 📋 Register for free here: https://lnkd.in/eQbFxPwY The live Concert for Carolina may be sold out, but we are bringing the experience to you! Join us for a powerful evening of community, connection, and music, including a star-studded lineup of artists coming together to support the communities affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. A few local restaurants will provide small bites from 5–7 p.m., and artists affected by Helene will vend their work during the show. We look forward to seeing you there.

Local, independent businesses are the heart of the Asheville area—home to growers who are artists and artists whose work grows. Thought leaders and thought provokers, musicians and storytellers, entrepreneurs and educators, foodies and beer lovers, hippies, healers, adventurers, creators and innovators. We craft and brew and paint and carve, handcrafted by real hands. Now, those hands need a helping hand. And a hug. This weekend, Explore Asheville, in partnership with Asheville Downtown Association, Go Local Asheville, ArtsAVL, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, ASHEVILLE INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION INC, WNC: MADE X MTNS, Mountain BizWorks, and JD Ellison and Company, launched the Love Asheville From Afar page. This page gathers shop links and direct donation platforms for Buncombe County businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Businesses located in or selling from Buncombe County can participate by completing this submission form: https://lnkd.in/gFFiH_V2 Your support can make a real difference—shop local or donate to help rebuild: https://lnkd.in/gA9Mmq39