Industry partners gathered at the Seely Pavilion at The Omni Grove Park Inn on September 19, 2018 to attend the BCTDA Annual Meeting featuring an annual report by Explore Asheville CVB staff and a keynote presentation by National Geographic Traveler’s Andrew Nelson. Andrew premiered a sneak-preview of ‘Asheville by Design’, a recently filmed feature on National Geographic Travel Channel. Guests received a Watch Party gift bag with local popcorn and soda, compliments of National Geographic. And, donations were collected for a charity sock-drive.

Download meeting materials:

• BCTDA Annual Meeting 2018 presentation
• BCTDA Annual Report 2017-2018
• BCTDA Sales & Marketing Plan 2018-2019
• 2017 Economic Impact of Tourism in Buncombe County, NC
• Explore Asheville CVB Partner Connect photos on Facebook
• National Geographic Travel Channel’s “Asheville by Design” Preview

Keynote Speaker – Andrew Nelson

Andrew is director of editorial projects for National Geographic Travel, contributor and advising editor for the magazine’s new twice-yearly Luxury edition. His multi-platform production with partner Tourism New Zealand was just named one of the “10 Best Branded Partnerships in 2017” by Ad Age.

His work has also appeared in Cincinnati Magazine, Salon, ReadyMade, the New York Times and San Francisco Magazine. The latter featured Nelson’s monthly history column for more than six years. A resident of New Orleans, he is also visiting professor at Loyola University teaching social media, journalism and travel writing.