This “mountain town is becoming more traveler-friendly than ever, with new offerings that showcase the sophisticated side of Appalachia,” writes Travel + Leisure of Asheville, North Carolina. The popular travel magazine named the city one of its 50 best places to travel in 2020—and it’s not hard to see why.
With easy access to the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, James Beard-nominated chefs and a wide variety of meeting space sizes, Asheville is easily a hidden gem. Downtown alone, within a block of one another, planners will find the newly opened Kimpton Hotel Arras (and its 3,000 square feet of meeting space); the Asheville Art Museum, which recently reopened after a more than $24 million renovation and expansion; and Cúrate, a Spanish tapas restaurant that offers a private dining room for 30. Consider Asheville for your next under-the-radar destination.
[Related: Asheville, N.C., Is an Artistic Mountain Meetings Magnet]
By the Numbers
Meeting spaces range from 2,500 to 83,000 square feet
8,000 hotel rooms
50 direct flights daily to 19 destinations from Asheville Regional Airport
Photo: Biltmore, a French-chateaux mansion you can reserve for events; Credit: ExploreAsheville.com
Noteworthy Venue
Billed as America’s largest family owned home, Biltmore is a true wow factor in Asheville. The French chateaux-style mansion, built by George Vanderbilt, boasts 8,000 acres on a stunning property. Planners can host everything from an “elegant ballroom event to a barbecue under the stars with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” said Carli Adams, group communications and services manager for Explore Asheville. “It’s a must-see for meeting planners.”
Photo: Biltmore, a French-chateaux mansion you can reserve for events; Credit: ExploreAsheville.com
Teambuilding Activity
Adams says Explore Asheville has seen an increase in wellness-related activities for teambuilding. Asheville Wellness Tours can take groups on “yoga hikes,” a two-mile hike through the Blue Ridge Mountains and a one-hour yoga session at the summit, as well as lead them through tarot card readings, sound healing or essential oil blending. “They make wellness activities accessible for planners who wouldn’t have considered it several years ago incorporating it into an event,” Adams said.
Where It’s At
Asheville is located in Buncombe County, North Carolina, on the western side of the state in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
CVB
Explore Asheville | 828.258.6129
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