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April 24, 2019 A biweekly newsletter from HCTDA

AAA/CAA Travel Counselors Tour Blue Ridge Parkway & Hendersonville Visit North Carolina partnered with Virginia and the Blue Ridge Parkway Association to host travel counselors from AAA and CAA to familiarize them with the area. The 23 AAA/CAA counselors were from 6 states and 2 provinces. The North Carolina portion of the Parkway tour showcased several sites and towns, including Appalachian Ridge, Asheville, Biltmore Estate, Blowing Rock, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, Boone, Chimney Rock, Elevated Mountain Distilling Company, Grandfather Mountain, Hendersonville, Linville Caverns, Maggie Valley, Mast General Store, Mount Airy, Mystery Hill, Point Lookout Vineyards, Waynesville, West Jefferson, and Wheels Through Time Museum. (Source VisitNC) The Hendersonville portion of the tour was conducted by Michael Arrowood, Henderson County Tourism Development Authority’s Group Sales Coordinator. Their visit to Hendersonville included an overnight stay, dinner and a tour of Henderson County’s apple country, vineyards and downtown. The AAA representatives were very impressed with our area and its hospitality, and departed ready to share what they learned here with future travelers. HCTDA would like to thank the businesses that participated with the tour.

Tourism Tidbits

ArtScape The new ArtScape banners have been installed in the downtown Hendersonville area. The artwork selected was a result of a jury process, which was then reproduced on 41 banners that hang from lamp posts on Main Street, 7th Avenue, and side streets. The project’s objective is to create a twist on an outdoor gallery experience making Hendersonville an exciting and unique art destination. A self-guided brochure featuring all of the ArtScape banners is available at the Visitor Center at 201 South Main Street or online at https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/wp-content/uploads/artscape-brochure-2019.pdf.

Garden Jubilee is Seeking Volunteers Approximately 50 volunteers of all ages and abilities are needed to pitch in and make Garden Jubilee successful. Encourage your friends and neighbors to be a part of this unique and exciting annual event. The duties and skill levels are quite varied. The Garden Jubilee Volunteer Training & Sign-up Dinner will be held on Wednesday, May 8 at the Visitor Center @ 5:30pm. RSVP by Friday, May 3rd for the training dinner. Anyone interested in volunteering may call Amy Boswell at 693-9708 or email events@visithendersonvillenc.org or stop by the Visitor Center located at 201 South Main Street, to fill out an application.

Advertising Grant Program The HCTDA offers advertising grant funds to non-profit organizations. These grants are awarded annually to Henderson County non-profit organizations for the purpose of promoting events, attractions and festivals that draw visitors from more than 40 miles outside Henderson County, and encourage overnight stays, thus stimulating spending and boosting the local economy. All applicants MUST attend the Grant Workshop prior to the grant application to be eligible for a grant on May 14 at the Henderson County Library’s Kaplan Auditorium at 2:30pm. Note: Time Change. For an application and guidelines to go: https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/grants

Tourism Tidbits Page 2

Media Stoplight Ø HCTDA Times-News April Column – https://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20190420/tda-column-spring-is-in-full-bloom-in-hendersonville?fbclid=IwAR3jF4EhNBuyVWYKWZBtW7RqEMenl3fZC0u9FJxF3FQQjiN8G2H25Qeac9w Ø Blue Ridge Parkway Digest / Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend - https://issuu.com/imagewerks/docs/issuu/32 Ø Blue Ridge Parkway Digest / Garden Jubilee - https://issuu.com/imagewerks/docs/issuu/38 Ø AAA Go Carolinas Magazine - https://console.virtualpaper.com/carolinas/aaa-carolinas-go-magazine-mayjune-19/#16/ Ø Carolina Country magazine / Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend Ø Wake Living magazine in Raleigh Ø RaisingYourPetsNaturally.com / featured Barkwells / https://raisingyourpetsnaturally.com/dog-friendly-cottages-lodges-cabins-and-bb-resorts-in-the-us Ø 828.com - https://the828.com/2019/04/04/hendocwd/ Ø

Henderson County TDA Visitor Guide HCTDA has started the process of updating information for a new Hendersonville Visitor Guide. The Guide includes tourism related businesses and activies such as: accommodations, attractions, activities, outdoor recreation and restaurants. A new Guide will be published this summer. The new edition will feature an updated accommodation amenities list, which includes: AC, Handicap Access, Pool/Hot Tub, Breakfast, Allow Pets, Fireplace/Fire Pit, Internet Access, Meeting Facilities, TV/Sat/Cable & number of rooms or rentals. We would appreciate that all lodging properties fill out a form, even if we currently have your information. Download an accommodation form: https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/wp-content/uploads/HCTDA-accommodation-listing-form.pdf Please look at your business listing on the TDA web site, http://www.visithendersonvillenc.org. Click to download an attraction/activity listing form, https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/wp-content/uploads/HCTDA-attraction-listing-form.pdf Return all forms to Karen Baker, kbaker@visithendersonvillenc.org.

Henderson County FAM (Familiarization) Tour HCTDA is once again offering the opportunity to Henderson County tourism related businesses and their employees to learn more about Henderson County. In an effort to continue to raise the bar on customer service, plan to send members of your frontline staff on this Fam Tour. A bus takes participates to numerous attractions and points of interest around the county. The more your staff knows about what there is to see and do in this area, the more they are able to share with your guests. Call ASAP - Only a Few Seats Remain! Wednesday, May 1, 2019 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Meet at the Visitor Center, 201 S. Main St. / Lunch and snacks included To reserve a seat contact, Julie Hayes, TDA Outreach Coordinator 828-693-9708 or via email, outreach@visithendersonvillenc.org.

Contact Us 201 S. Main St. Hendersonville, NC 28792 (828) 693-9708 tourism@visithendersonvillenc.org

www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org Facebook.com/VisitHendersonvilleNC

HCTDA Upcoming Events • Henderson County FAM Tour / May 1 • HCTDA Board Retreat – May 8 / Cascades Mtn Resort / 5-8 pm • Tourism After 5 / May 9 / Sideways Farm & Brewery / 5-7 pm • Grant Workshop / May 14 / Henderson Co. Library / 2:30pm • Restaurant Meeting / May 15 / 10-11am • Merchants Meeting / May 16 / 9-10am • Garden Jubilee / May 25 & 26 / 9am-5pm • Music on Main / June 7 – August 23 / 7-9pm • Monday Night Live / June 10 – 24 / 7-9pm • Street Dance / July 8 – August 12 / 7-9pm

Next Month’s Tourism After Five The next Tourism After Five will be held May 9th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Sideways Farm & Brewery, located at 62 Eade Rd. (off Old 64) in Etowah. Sideways Farm & Brewery is small farm that is taking the craft of brewing back in time to when farmers grew their own ingredients and would craft fine artisan ales by hand. These monthly events help people in the tourism industry know what area attractions/destinations offer so they can make informed recommendations to visitors. Please RSVP to Julie Hayes at 828-693-9708 or at outreach@visithendersonvillenc.org.

Submit completed form to Julie Hayes, outreach@visithendersonvillenc.org, or fax it to 828-697-4996 no later than April 12, 2019. The cards will be printed in early May. The program will be valid from May 10, 2019 to August 30, 2019.

Meet Amy Boswell Amy Boswell is the Event Coordinator for HCTDA, her projects include Garden Jubilee, Music on Main, Monday Night Live and the Street Dances. She will also, be working with organizations and businesses in cultivating existing events and creating new ones throughout the year. Amy has worked in the community recreation industry in aquatics for private, government and non-profit facilities over the last 16 years. She is a dog-lover and all things related to water. Amy grew up in Pilot Mountain, NC (Mount Pilot as it is referred to on the Andy Griffith Show). Amy attended Western Carolina University for her undergrad in Parks and Recreation Management and North Carolina State University for her graduate degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Contact Amy at 828-693-9708 or via events@visithendersonvillenc.org. \