
With its spectacular scenery, celebrated local cuisine and impressive range of meeting facilities, Asheville, N.C. represents an exceptional destination for meeting and convention planners.
Asheville, North Carolina is situated in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is one of America's most vibrant destinations for meeting planners. The breathtaking scenery is met with a sophisticated yet bohemian culture and provides an ideal backdrop for inspired meetings. Asheville has a bountiful array of conference hotel properties, from boutique hotels to grand resorts, from elegant inns to one of the many chic, modern hotels downtown. The mountain setting offers a myriad of opportunities for outdoor adventure, unconventional team building and other group activities.
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.
Asheville is centrally located in the southeast. Atlanta-based attendees can drive to Asheville in approximately 3 1/2 to 4 hours. From Columbia, S.C. the drive time is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. Nashville, T.N. is approximately a four-and-a-half-hour trip. Charlotte, N.C. is a 2-hour drive, and Raleigh, N.C. is approximately a four-hour trip.
The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is located just 20 minutes from downtown. Click for detailed flight travel information.
And, once you get here, you are surrounded by the region’s highest peaks, national parks, state forests and the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. The wide-open spaces and deep cultural connections make it a hidden gem outside densely populated areas — but within a 600-mile radius of 50 percent of the country’s population.
Asheville is a four-season destination. Think comfortable summers, crisp autumns, mild winters and glorious springs. In fact, Asheville's temperate climate and clean mountain air have been a featured attraction for generations of visitors.
The Explore Asheville CVB offers vital planning services to help create the most successful meeting ever. Our award-winning staff is a meeting planner’s connection to the best local information to find the right hotel and create memorable destination experiences for attendees. Working with our team makes planners eligible to our full menu of Exclusive Services including Attraction Value Cards, VIP Welcome Gifts, Registration Assistance and more. And when you send your RFP through Explore Asheville, your meeting may be eligible for our Have More Fun on Us incentive program.
Asheville has the resources you need to plan a successful meeting. Below are local options for group transportation companies and Destination Management Companies. These DMCs can arrange a variety of group tour programs, plan an event, or coordinate transportation.
For information on more local resources contact the CVB Convention Service Manager at 828.258.6106.
“We chose Asheville for our conference not only for the beauty of the setting, but for its rich and diverse culture and support of the arts. As a very walkable city, Asheville provided our attendees a background of entertainment, amazing food, and creative drinks while learning about how to make a living in the field of jewelry and metals. The large amount of galleries in the downtown are provided for a rich exhibition crawl filled with unique and varied exhibitions.
Gwynne Rukenbrod Smith
Executive Director
Society of North American Goldsmiths
(He/Him)
Vice President of Business Development
mkryzanek@exploreasheville.com
(She/Her)
Director of Sales
cholliday@exploreasheville.com
(She/Her)
Senior Sales Manager
tporter@exploreasheville.com
States: AZ, CA, CO, IA, IL, ID, KS, MN, MT, NE, NM, ND, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY
Markets: Sports, Health & Wellness, Outdoor Products & Industries
(He/Him)
Senior Sales Manager
sboone@ExploreAsheville.com
States: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, OH, SC, TN
Markets: Technology Nationwide, Manufacturing Nationwide, Including Food and Beverage, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Nationwide
(She/Her)
Sales Manager
kdewey@exploreasheville.com
States: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV
Markets: Life Sciences, Medical, Pharmaceutical; Climate & Environmental
(She/Her)
Sales Manager
bmckinney@exploreasheville.com
Markets: Social & Adventure Travel – Weddings; Group Tours; Reunions; Social, Military, Educational, Religious & Fraternal groups (20 hotel rooms on the peak night or fewer without meeting space).
(She/Her)
Group Marketing Manager
cadams@exploreasheville.com
(She/Her)
Group Service Manager
ecrosby@exploreasheville.com
(He/Him)
Group Sales Coordinator
kkhoury@exploreasheville.com
(He/Him)
Group Service Coordinator
jdawson@exploreasheville.com
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