Mountain
AshevilleMeetings.com; @VisitAsheville
Asheville gets a lot of repeat business from satisfied planners and groups who love the region’s distinctive mix of awe-inspiring landscapes, vibrant culinary and arts scenes, and a creative vibe, according to Connie Holliday, CMP, director of sales for Explore Asheville.
“Expanded flight service and the construction of a new terminal at Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)—which will double gate capacity—make it easy for groups to reach us by air, ensuring a seamless travel experience for events, meetings, and retreats,” Holliday adds.
The historic Omni Grove Park Inn features 513 rooms and 86,852 square feet of event space across 31 meeting rooms and two ballrooms; the largest space can accommodate up to 2,200 people theater style. The 219-room Inn on Biltmore Estate has event space for up to 80 guests, while the Biltmore Estate itself offers several venues and accommodates up to 600 people in its largest outdoor space. The 104-room Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, Autograph Collection has 5,560 square feet of event space for up to 200 people. Downtown Asheville’s 71-room Flat Iron Hotel features six intimate event spaces, including a rooftop for receptions of up to 95 people. The 128-room Kimpton Hotel Arras accommodates 150 for receptions, while the 60-room Restoration Asheville can accommodate 250 theater style.
For unique options, Marquee Asheville reintroduced event space within its 50,000-square-foot facility. The new ReMixIt—a nonprofit creative reuse center and thrift store for art supplies—offers groups a colorful, community-focused option for meetings and teambuilding. Full-store rentals and mobile programming options will be available later this year. Revival Asheville, a 350-person-capacity concert hall, pairs a restored setting with a restaurant, an outdoor patio, and a bar serving small-batch cocktails.
Asheville’s food scene includes MICHELIN-recognized venues with private dining or buyout options, such as Cúrate, Soprana, Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, Golden Hour, Mother, and Luminosa. Little Chango offers intimate dining and can also cater to groups of 20, while Sunny Point Café has a private event space for up to 50 guests.
