About Asheville
Nestled in the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, near the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, is Asheville. Located at a high elevation, it has earned the nickname the “Land of the Sky”. This keeps temperatures pleasant throughout the year, though the summers are warm, and the winters are cold.
Asheville straddles the line between a picturesque mountain retreat and a bustling metropolis. Here you can participate in outdoor activities such as hiking routes, scenic drives, and waterfall exploration.
Local art and music, great cuisine, a bustling downtown area with prominent architectural structures, and indoor recreational activities such as museums and art galleries are all accessible. Asheville is the ideal location for your meeting, with a variety of facilities to rent and leisure activities to treat your colleagues or clients to.
Meeting Options in Asheville
Preparing for a meeting can be hectic. To set up your Asheville meeting space, consider the following options to maximize the effect.
- Catering
Arrange for food to be provided in individual servings or as a buffet at your meeting location. There are numerous caterers to choose from in Asheville, which is recognized for its range of food and cuisines.
- Audio/Visual Set-Up
Does your gathering include conferences and presentations? Consider hiring top-notch audio/visual equipment for your meeting space in Asheville. You will find many companies who rent A/V equipment and other office equipment at good rates in the city.
- Event Planners
When you can engage an event planner to prepare and coordinate your meeting for you, why do all the hard lifting yourself? Speak with a few different event planners to discover who you feel most at ease with.
Meeting Companies in Asheville
Looking for those with expertise to help you set up your meeting?
- Cordial and Craft
Lexie Harvey started Cordial and Craft, a woman-owned event planning firm that coordinates intimate gatherings, corporate events, and private parties. Lexie's background in the arts, theatre, and craft led to a successful career as an event planner. Cordial and Craft is a well-known local business that has been featured in publications such as the Asheville Wine and Food Festival, WeddingWire Couples Choice Awards, and Southern Celebrations Magazine, to name a few.
- Chef Michael’s Catering
Since 2000, Chef Michael's Catering has catered in the Asheville-Brevard Metropolitan Area. It doesn't matter if it's for a business meeting, a private party, or another event. They're famed for their imaginative food and meticulous attention to detail. Whether it's by the pool or in the boardroom, you and your guests will be given exactly what you want, on time.
- Asheville Premier Transportation
Asheville Premier Transportation was started by Dana Kendall in 2012. The company was further expanded in 2015 after Dana purchased Silver Lining Services and Asheville Airport Express from her friend Graham Ramsey. Asheville Premier Transportation provides a stress-free and unique way of travel from airport shuttles and corporate travel to weddings, brewery tours, and customizable trips throughout the area.
Pros and Cons of Meetings in Asheville
Before you book your meeting space in Asheville, double-check to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Advantages
- Plenty of outdoor activities
North Carolina is stunning, and Asheville serves as the entryway to the mountains, which are only a short distance away. If outdoor activities are part of your conference agenda, take your colleagues or clients hiking, cycling, horseback riding or to the beach, which is only a day's journey away.
- Great weather
Asheville's weather is superior to that of the rest of North Carolina. It is much cooler here because it’s in the highlands. Summers are nice, and winters can be cold.
- Good connectivity
Asheville is home to the Asheville Regional Airport, which is a major international airport with connections to practically every part of the globe. There are flights to Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, and Newark, so if you have visitors or colleagues flying in from surrounding locations for your meeting, they will have no trouble getting there.
Disadvantages
- Heavy tourism traffic
Because Asheville is located in a beautiful area and receives a large number of tourists, particularly during the summer, you will find that the traffic is crowded and heavy. Allow sufficient time to travel to and from your meeting space in Asheville.
- Need a car to get around
Asheville's infrastructure is incompatible with the city's fast growth, making it difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to get around. The city is becoming increasingly gridlocked in all directions, making it difficult to walk safely. On the day of your meeting, you'd be better suited renting a car to get around the city.
- Flooding possibilities
Although Asheville is not prone to natural calamities such as tornadoes, it is virtually always flooded when it rains, particularly in the lower valley areas. Because some streets lack sufficient drainage and may flood, find a meeting spot that is in a good location.
Famous Locations in Asheville
- Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore Estate is a renowned tourist attraction near Asheville, as well as a historical house and museum. It is one of the most well-preserved examples of a Gilded Age structure. It was created in the Chateauesque style for George Washington Vanderbilt II and is still the country's largest privately-owned residence. Book a meeting room in downtown Asheville, and then visit the Biltmore Estate, which isn't far away.
- River Arts District
The River Arts District the RAD is an Asheville neighborhood and creative zone. This region used to be filled with warehouses and mills, but now it is filled with stunning murals, artisan studios, art galleries, pottery and glass blowing studios. The nightlife is vibrant, and there are numerous cafés, restaurants, and live music venues. For your meeting, choose an event space in the center of downtown, close to the River Arts District.
- Western North Carolina Nature Center
The city of Asheville runs the Western North Carolina Nature Centre, which is a zoological park. It is 42 acres in size and home to a variety of creatures including the American black bear, American red wolf, barn owls, corn snakes, Eastern box turtles and others. A play area, restrooms, picnic areas, eateries, and plenty of greenery for shade are also available.