The BCTDA approved nearly $10 million of new investments in a dozen tourism-related capital projects to benefit visitors and residents. The Legacy Investment from Tourism (LIFT) Fund provides financial investment through grants, loan guarantees, or pledges of debt service to tourism-related capital projects that will increase patronage of lodging facilities and benefit the community at large in Buncombe County.

Join us and your industry colleagues for the inaugural 2024 Explore Asheville Travel & Hospitality Earth Day Cleanup on April 22, with support from Asheville GreenWorks and RiverLink.

In celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week (May 19 – 25), Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority will be accepting nominations for the inaugural Explore Asheville Heroes of Hospitality Awards beginning March 14.

Explore Asheville earned a Bronze Adrian Award from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) for its Always, Asheville storytelling foundation crafted from hundreds of conversations and interviews capturing the collective voice and passions of the local community.

Sheriff Quentin Miller, Chief Michael Lamb, J Chong of J Chong Eats, Reggie Tidwell of Curve Theory, and Jack Benton of Parks Hospitality Group received top honors for their leadership in the local travel and hospitality community.

Thank you to the nearly 400 community leaders and tourism industry partners that gathered Wednesday afternoon at the new Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown for Explore Asheville’s first partner event of 2024, The Year Ahead.