Asheville is known for arts and crafts, outdoor adventures and equally adventuresome people. Set among breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has thrived as a destination for trailblazers since at least the 1800s. Over the past decade, it has also emerged as one of North Carolina’s most cosmopolitan cities.
The biggest challenge for meeting planners may be deciding what activities not to choose for excursions in Asheville. With plenty of resorts, such as the famous Biltmore estate, the city is one of the best places in the country to relax and gaze. When they aren’t hiking, biking or kayaking, guests can stroll downtown. The area is bursting with independent boutiques, art galleries and restaurants.
The city has more than 7,500 hotel rooms, according to the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau. An estimated 1,500 additional guest rooms are on the way, with several companies opening business hotels in 2017 and 2018, including Hilton and Hyatt.
For today’s event planners, Omni Grove Park Inn has an 18-hole Donald Ross-designed championship golf course. The hotel offers 513 guest rooms, 55,000 sq. ft. of event space and 30 meeting rooms, with the largest being 17,760 sq. ft.
Crowne Plaza Tennis and Golf Resort–Asheville offers 272 guest rooms and 34,300 sq. ft. of event space. The hotel contains 17 meeting rooms for up to 272 guests, with the largest being 16,600 sq. ft. Marriott’s Renaissance Asheville Hotel offers 270 guest rooms, 22,849 sq. ft. of meeting space and 13 event rooms, with the largest being 8,075 sq. ft. and able to accommodate up to 1,000. The hotel also has an 8,000-square-foot ballroom.
Event planners searching for restaurants that accommodate groups should consider Rhubarb, Posana, Buxton Hall BBQ, and Curate.
