Member Benefits

Membership BenefitsDid you know that the Asheville Chamber is the third largest Chamber in North Carolina? The Asheville Chamber is made up of more than 2,000 businesses, organizations and coalitions, all planning for the future of the Asheville area. The Chamber’s mission is building community through business.

Organized by Chamber departments, tangible benefits of Chamber membership are listed below.

Convention and Visitors Bureau

Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)  |  828.258.6102 |  Email

Brochure and Window Displays

Display your brochure or merchandise to the 150,000+ visitors that enter the Chamber's Visitor Center annually. Window displays are available for additional fees. Call the Chamber's director of events and sponsorships for detailed information at 828.232.2729.

Guides and Website Listings

Reach individuals and groups planning their visit to Asheville. Chamber members may be eligible for a detailed listing on ExploreAsheville.com, the official tourism website for WNC, as well as in publications produced by the Asheville CVB -- free of charge (follow this link for policies concerning web and print listings). Priced advertising is also available. Members in Buncombe County may be included in the Official Asheville Travel Guide. For members involved in the weddings market, the CVB maintains MyWeddingInAsheville.com, a site dedicated to destination weddings, and also produces the Asheville Destination Wedding Guide (policies for inclusion).

Relocation Packet

Reach those thinking about moving to Asheville. More than 2,000 people purchase relocation packets from the Chamber each year. In addition to the Official Asheville Travel Guide and the Asheville Magazine, the packets contain member brochures and collatoral. For additional fees, members can submit materials for inclusion in the packet and receive updated lists of subscribers. Please call the Chamber's information specialist for detailed information at 828.258.6109.

Tourism Statistics

Get the facts. The Chamber maintains important tourism statistics relevant to the hospitality industry.

Economic Development

Economic Development / Small Business & Entrepreneurship  |  828.258.6117  |   Email

Business Plan Review and Counseling

Develop your business intelligently and with the right tools. In a fast-changing business world, attention to professional development and business plan renewal is vital. The small business & entrepreneurship department can counsel members on their business endeavors or can refer members to other qualified counselors, often offering free services. Call 828.258.6116 for more information.

Recognition & Awards

The Chamber takes pride in recognizing Chamber members for outstanding business practices for what they bring to our region and how they inspire others. Find more information about the Chamber's awards and recognition programs, or call 828.273.8295 for more information.

Educational Business Seminars and Workshops

Stay abreast of vital changes in the business world through seminars, workshops and training programs. Members can gain important business management skills at the popular Hot Tips Seminar Series. Many of the programs are free for Chamber members, others are offered for a small fee. Check the Chamber's calendar of events often for programming information.

Existing Industry Program

The existing industry program at the Chamber is responsible for helping local companies prosper by connecting them with the resources immediately available in the area, providing assistance with problem-solving and expansion planning, including incentive information and encouraging buy-local and partnering.

Market Research

Keep track of the latest economic and demographic trends in the area. Like having your own research department, the Chamber’s economic development department’s research team can help you find the information you need to make accurate, timely business decisions. Much of what the research team provides is free or offered at a discounted price for members. Information offerings include monthly economic indicators, economic and demographic briefs, business directories and an annual economic outlook conference. Call 828.258.6120 for more information.

New Business Start Up

Receive vital information for starting a new business. The Chamber has a toolkit available for those starting or growing a business.

Member Services/Communication

Member Services & Communications  |  828.258.6114 |  Email

E-Newsletter

Get the latest Chamber e-newsletter delivered to your inbox each Tuesday and keep up with events, programs, community news important to Western North Carolina's business community and additional benefits of your membership.

Chamber Savings Program

The Chamber Savings Program is a package of exclusive benefits offered to Asheville Chamber members. We've partnered with companies to negotiate special pricing on the products and services our members use most. By taking advantage of one or more of these offers, your business will see a return on your membership investment immediately.

Total Resource Campaign

The Chamber's annual sponsorship drive funds business programming, initiatives and events throughout the year. Sponsorship opportunities are available to increase exposure of your business for a variety of events and programs, sponsorships in the Visitor Center, discounted advertising in Chamber online and print publications. View the Sponsorship Opportunities Guide for a comprehensive overview of the sponsorships available.

Media List

Work the PR angle by using the Chamber's media list to pitch story ideas and get the word out about exciting news to newspapers, online outlets, magazines, radio and TV. Chamber members may contact the Chamber's communications director or call 828.258.6131 for an up-to-date media list to help facilitate publicity outreach efforts.

Networking Events

Network and advance your business relationships by attending Business Before and After Hours, popular monthly morning and evening networking events. Take advantage of other various networking events and programs, including the Chamber’s Professional Networking Group (PNG), which consists of 30 Chamber member business representatives who meet weekly to share leads, contacts, business ideas and referrals. Other networking events include Member Orientation, Mega Networking and more. Contact the Chamber's director of events & sponsorships or call 828.232.2729 for more information.

Photo/Image Archives

Chamber members are welcome to pull from a selection of copyright-free images from the Chamber's photo library to help promote your business. Members may contact the member services department or call 828.258.6114 for login information.

Ribbon Cuttings

Introduce your business to the Asheville community with an official Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony. These events usually celebrate an opening, expansion or major year anniversary. This is a free ceremony for members, coordinated and attended by Chamber ambassadors. Members may contact the member services department or call 828.258.6114 for information on setting up a ribbon cutting at their place of business.

Asheville Magazine

Advertise or be featured in the Asheville Magazine, a high quality magazine distributed by the Chamber to more than 2,000 people requesting relocation packets annually. It is also distributed in the Chamber's Visitor Center and by members promoting the area, such as real estate agents. More than 15,000 magazines are distributed annually. Contact the member services department or call 828.258.6114 for more information on this publication.

Mailing List

Direct mail the entire membership your marketing materials by purchasing mailing labels for our nearly 2,000 members. It is $200 for a one-time use Excel list  ($500 for nonmembers.) E-mail contact information is not made available through this program. Contact the member services department or call 828.258.6114 for more information.

Referrals

A business thrives on referrals, and the Chamber makes them happen every day. Each year, more than 190,000 people visit the Chamber's Visitor Center and thousands of people call the Chamber. All of these people are referred to Chamber members.

Online Advertising

Receive referrals and website visits from potential clients who visit the Chamber's searchable online business directory. Web enhancements to increase visibility in the online directory are available for additional fees. View the various advertising opportunities with the Chamber or contact the communications director for more information.

Public Policy

Public Policy  |  828.258.6118  |  Email

Annual InterCity Visit

Positively impact area planning initiatives by attending the annual InterCity Visit. The InterCity Visit is an annual program organized by the Chamber to offer participating members a first-hand look at another city's successes and challenges. These ideas are brought back for community and economic development planning initiatives in the Asheville-Buncombe area.

Legislative Visits

Meet with our local, state and national elected officials in Asheville, Raleigh and Washington, D.C. The Chamber gives members the first-hand opportunity to network with important decision makers and to influence and stay up-to-date with changing policy that impacts the marketplace. Programs include: legislative visits to Washington and Raleigh, the Legislative Weekend when Asheville hosts the North Carolina general assembly members and spouses, public policy forums, the Legislative Reception.

Governmental Affairs Task Force

Influence business regulations, policies and civic leadership at the local, regional, state and federal levels, and participate in leadership opportunities within this task force. The Chamber's Governmental Affairs Task Force works closely with Asheville City Council, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, the North Carolina General Assembly and congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. to promote public policy decisions that reflect the priorities of membership. Policy positions for the Chamber's annual legislative agenda are conducted through an inclusive process by the Governmental Affairs Task Force.

Advocacy Toolkit

The Chamber has compiled resources for members on the best way to advocate on behalf of the business community in Western North Carolina. View our toolkit for helpful tips and resources on everything from our government officials' contact information to tips on testifying on issues in front of Asheville City Council.