Industry Sectors

Welcome Meeting Planners

The Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop here has long served as a source of inspiration, fueling those who call the area home to innovate, create and collaborate. This breathtaking scenery is met with a colorful arts community, diverse outdoor adventures, a vibrant culinary scene, live music around every corner and quality experiences that contribute to truly memorable meetings. Asheville is a perfect fit for right-sized groups, with venues ranging from boutique hotels to grand resorts to an array of distinctive spaces for crafting specialized events.

Asheville also supports homegrown brands and attracts purpose-driven companies aligned with local values. This translates into an innovative community prime for group gatherings. Executives and meetings professionals in search of locations to hold meetings, executive retreats, conferences and incentive trips will be inspired by Asheville's creative spirit, scenic beauty and fresh mountain air.

In Asheville, notable industry sectors include outdoor products, climate and environment, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and technology – all of which can trace authentic ties to the destination’s history, inherent attributes and reputation, from possessing the world’s largest archive of climate and weather data, to a legacy of craftmanship and Western North Carolina’s standing as a place for wellness and healing.

INDUSTRY SECTORS

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GETTING HERE

Once lauded as a premier wellness destination and only reachable by railroads, today Asheville’s creative spirit and rich experiences are easily accessible. In fact, 50% of the U.S. population is within 600 miles of Asheville. Located at the center of two major interstates and home to an airport offering direct flights from major hubs, getting to Asheville is uncomplicated for meeting attendees.

Drive
Asheville is centrally located in the Southeast. [For instance: Atlanta-based attendees can drive to Asheville in approximately three and a half to four hours. From Columbia, S.C., the drive time is about two hours and 20 minutes. Nashville, Tenn., is roughly a four-and-a-half-hour trip. Charlotte, N.C., is a two-hour drive and Raleigh, N.C., is around a four-hour trip.

Fly
The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is located just 20 minutes from downtown and has 27 non-stop flights including from major hubs.

We Can Help

View this short step-by-step video illustration of the complimentary meeting planner benefits you’ll receive when you send your RFP to Explore Asheville. Plus, you could qualify for our incentive program by submitting your RFP directly to Explore Asheville.

Contact Our Team

How Meeting Planners Benefit from Partnering with Explore Asheville

Services Offered

From site selection to planning the details, our team offers valuable support and services to meeting and convention planners.

Meeting Hotels

Asheville offers a bountiful array of hotel properties, from historic hotels and grand resorts to elegant inns and modern downtown hotels.

Meeting Venues

Asheville offers a wide variety of venues designed to give you plenty of exceptional options.

Submit Your RFP

Send your meeting RFP to Explore Asheville.

“I helped organize the Southern Appalachian Weather and Climate Workshop, held at the University of North Carolina - Asheville campus. The workshop brought together about 100 students, professionals, academics, and community members from the southeastern U.S. The conference was held in mid-April and it was just so beautiful!

The combination of the natural environment and the city assets themselves made for a winning combination. There were ample hotels to choose from for accommodations, with reasonable pricing. The downtown scene offered fun opportunities, and the food scene was great! Overall, the planning and the execution both were incredibly smooth and enjoyable.

- Dr. Jana Houser, Associate Professor of Meteorology
Atmospheric Sciences Program
The Ohio State University