ASHEVILLE, NC – October 29, 2024 – In light of the significant devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in Asheville and its surrounding communities, the 8th annual DIY Tourism Marketing Conference has been postponed to March 2025. Initially scheduled for November 2024, the conference will now take place on March 17-18, 2025, at the same location, the Renaissance Hotel Downtown Asheville.
The decision to postpone was driven by the extensive damage to essential services, including widespread power outages, disrupted internet and cell services, washed-out roadways, and the unavailability of city water in most of Asheville. These conditions have posed significant logistical challenges, impacting the safety and comfort of conference attendees and speakers.
We are incredibly grateful for The Renaissance Hotel’s unwavering support and extraordinary flexibility during this challenging time. Their immediate responsiveness and willingness to collaborate in rescheduling the event exemplifies their commitment to our community and the conference’s success. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported us during this difficult period.
Despite the current hardships, the Asheville community has shown remarkable resilience. Local, state, and federal officials are working tirelessly to restore essential services, and the support from neighboring states and communities beyond the Southeast has been invaluable in assisting recovery efforts. This collective effort is a testament to the strength and unity of our community.
The DIY Tourism Marketing Conference remains committed to providing tourism professionals with cutting-edge digital marketing strategies and tools. During the 2025 event, attendees can expect sessions on digital storytelling, social media strategies, AI marketing platforms, SEO, and more, all designed to equip them with actionable skills to enhance their marketing efforts.
Benoit expressed her heartfelt sentiments for the Asheville community: “While the road to recovery for Asheville is challenging, the strength and solidarity of our community are unmatched. We are excited to bring the conference back in March 2025 with renewed energy and a commitment to support the city’s revitalization through innovative tourism marketing strategies.”
In the meantime, the JB Media Institute continues to offer marketing knowledge and support through free monthly digital marketing webinars called Digital Drop-ins. These webinars cover a range of topics, from social media strategies to SEO, and are designed to provide actionable insights for your marketing efforts. Those interested can learn about the following topic on the JB Media Institute website.
For further inquiries about the event or to register for the webinar, please contact Sarah Benoit at [email protected].
The DIY Tourism Marketing Conference looks forward to welcoming tourism professionals to Asheville in March 2025, where attendees can still enjoy the city’s vibrant culture and hospitality. The organizers remain dedicated to creating a space where destinations, attractions, and local businesses can share ideas and experiences to drive the future of tourism marketing.
If you’d like to donate to relief efforts after Hurricane Helene, the DIY Tourism Marketing website has information about participating local organizations.
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About JB Media Institute:
The JB Media Institute empowers students to learn skills and maintain expertise on current strategies in the ever-changing digital marketing landscape through actionable training, creative encouragement, and continuous education.
Contact:
Sarah Benoit
jbmediainstitute.com
diytourismmarketing.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (828) 242-0277