Updated on Feb. 26, 2025: It’s almost time to meet again at the annual DIY Tourism Marketing Conference in Asheville, NC! In preparation for the two-day event, we’ve created a quick list of our top ten tips for getting the most out of your conference experience.
1. Bring a reusable water bottle.
Water stations will be available at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Asheville, where this year’s event is being held. That means, don’t forget to pack a reusable water bottle to save on waste and money. If you forget your reusable water bottle, you can find one at a local shop nearby, like French Broad Coop or Mast General Store. French Broad Coop is a wonderful coop grocery store specializing in organic and local fare. It is one of Asheville’s oldest businesses.
2. Charge your phone, computer, and/or iPad.
While we will have a charging station available in our main room, power will not be available at your table when you are seated for sessions. Our sessions are tactical and hands-on, so you’ll want access to your platforms and tools throughout each day. That means charging up at the beginning and end of the day is helpful so your devices work throughout the event.
3. How to dress at our event.
Asheville is known for its laid-back, “be yourself” vibe, and at our event, our #1 goal is to facilitate an exceptional learning experience. That means we want our attendees to wear attire that makes them feel confident and learning the priority. The majority of attendees in the past have worn business casual, but don’t hesitate to get creative and choose what feels right for you. Our after-party is not formal, but if you have plans to go somewhere fancy afterward, don’t hesitate to dress for a night out!
In addition, we all know that conference rooms can sometimes feel chilly no matter what season it is outside. That’s why we recommend wearing or bringing layers of clothing if the temperature is occasionally unagreeable. We want you to be as present and comfortable as possible!
Finally, we are located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. That means spring weather could be cold and windy or warm and humid – or both LOL. We often have 20 to 30-degree differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures in the spring and fall. Downtown Asheville is very walkable, but you may need to bundle up more once the sun goes down.
4. Bring supplies that support your learning.
Your preferred device or notebook, favorite pen, highlighters, gum, backpack, notebook, fidget spinners—you name it. Whatever you need to get through our two days of learning and connection should be packed with you at the start of the day. Once we get started for the day, you’re not going to want to miss a thing.
5. Be prepared for a night or two on the town.
Luckily, you’ll be done with the workshop each day with enough time to make dinner reservations. There are a ton of spectacular local eateries, all within walking distance of the Renaissance Hotel. Looking for a creative, handcrafted food experience, Chestnut can’t be beaten. Need a more laid-back vibe with creative stone-baked pizzas? Mellow Mushroom is right up your alley. Want some of the most delicious vegetarian and vegan comfort food you’ve ever tasted? Don’t miss out on Rosetta’s Kitchen. You’re in a prime location to see what downtown Asheville has to offer.
6. Expect healthy breakfast and lunch options.
From past events, we know that all attendees love to be a part of the Asheville food scene—we love it, too! That’s why we’ve worked with the fantastic team at the Renaissance Hotel to prepare meals at our event, focusing on healthy local options. That way, you can spend the evening eating all the desserts at Old Europe Pastries, drinking that extra local beer at One World Brewing, and having the perfect cocktail at The Times Bar & Coffee.
7. Park your car at the Renaissance Hotel.
As a DIY attendee, you get a discount on parking at the hotel during the DIY Tourism Marketing Conference. If you’re staying overnight, park at the hotel, and your room will note the reduced rate. If you’re driving in, you can park at the hotel and validate your parking for a discounted rate or use metered parking on the street in front of the hotel. If you are attending for the full day or programming each day, then parking for a reduced rate at the hotel will be the easiest and best option. Parking can be validated at our registration table. Make sure you bring your parking ticket in and get validated at registration before you exit. Our reduced parking rate requires a sticker you scan when you leave. Please leave ample time for parking if you are driving in as an attendee, speaker, or sponsor.
8. Schedule your ride from the AVL airport.
Most of the time, Uber and Lyft are reliable rideshare options here in Asheville, but in the wake of so much loss of property, road access, visitation, and, very sadly, residents, we ask that you have patience and plan ahead when you can. Scheduling in advance and having options is key to getting from the airport to downtown promptly. Depending on the time of day, the ride from the airport will take between 20 and 30 minutes. Here are some tips to ensure you have a safe, easy, and relaxing ride.
- Uber and Lyft can be used to compare availability. If Lyft is taking too long to find a ride, try Uber instead and vice versa. The availability of drivers on the apps changes frequently.
- Not interested in using one of the national apps? Support our local Asheville Taxi team! You can book on their website, download their local rideshare app, or go old school and call them on the phone. Scheduling in advance is still suggested for airport arrivals.
- Looking for a fancier ride? Check out the Asheville Airport’s list of Ground Transportation Providers.
***Please keep in mind our airport is under construction. If you are not sure where the Rideshare Pickup area is visit the Visitor Help Desk near Baggage Claim or ask an airport staff member.
9. Be prepared to make friends and engage.
One of the keys to learning is to connect with others and share your knowledge, skills, and experiences. We believe everyone at our conference has valuable insights to share, so we encourage you to participate in the session activities, introduce yourself to new people, ask questions, and express your creative ideas. Whether you’re introverted, extroverted, or somewhere in between, we hope you’ll challenge yourself to:
- be open-minded,
- assume people have good intentions,
- have the confidence to speak up, and
- engage in active listening.
10. Confirm places you want to visit are open before you go.
Our Asheville community and the entire region of Western North Carolina care deeply about the visitor experience. However, natural disasters create more than just damage to buildings, roads, homes, and businesses. They also cause physical, emotional, and mental stress for those living in the aftermath. This means that sometimes there is inaccurate or out-of-date information online. The best way to make sure you don’t waste time or miss your chance to visit the places you are most excited about is to confirm their hours and location online and by phone before you go. Luckily our sponsors Romantic Asheville and Explore Asheville have created excellent resources for locals and visitors to stay up to date on our business community.
- Small Towns and Attractions Now Open in WNC – Romantic Asheville
- Be Part of the Comeback – Explore Asheville
- Search What’s Open by Category – Explore Asheville
- River Arts District Artists – What’s Open
- See What’s Open in West Asheville – Explore Asheville
We are incredibly excited to welcome everyone to our beautiful mountain town in only a few weeks. View our program schedule to plan your days accordingly.