As the region's travel and hospitality industry continues its recovery, Explore Asheville is doubling down on its investment in the next generation of travel and hospitality professionals. The nonprofit's Workforce Development Program is now accepting applications for the 2026 Asheville Travel & Hospitality Internship Program and the Explore Asheville Hospitality Scholarship.

"At a time when our hospitality industry is still rebuilding—down 2,000 jobs since Hurricane Helene—investing in the next generation of travel & hospitality professionals has never been more critical," said President and CEO of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and Explore Asheville Vic Isley. "These programs represent our commitment to the future of our workforce and community. By providing hands-on experience and financial support to local students, we're building a pipeline to rewarding careers and supporting Asheville's long-term economic recovery."

Explore Asheville, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, established its Workforce Development Program to cultivate the next generation of industry professionals through exposure to partner experiences and networking, training through hands-on opportunities, and educating through scholarship support and career connections. The program is funded through earned revenue from ExploreAsheville.com and ticketed donations from partner events.

The A-B Tech Foundation is proud to partner with Explore Asheville to prepare students for careers across our region,” said A-B Tech Executive Director of College Advancement Amanda Edwards. “This is an example of how the tourism and hospitality industry and higher education are collaborating to serve our residents and the local economy.”

After piloting the program last year with three scholarship recipients and four interns, Explore Asheville is now accepting applications for its second cohort. Applications for both programs are due March 18, 2026. Internship applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and students are encouraged to apply early.

Asheville Travel & Hospitality Internship Program

The internship provides hands-on experience across the local travel & hospitality industry. Participants develop customer service, public speaking, and time management skills at Explore Asheville and local partner businesses across five sectors: Destination Marketing and Management, Food and Beverage, Accommodations, Recreation/Parks/Sports, and Arts and Culture.

Applicants must be at least 16 years old, a rising high school junior or senior in Buncombe County, or a permanent Buncombe County resident.

Explore Asheville Hospitality Scholarship

The scholarship awards up to $2,500 annually toward tuition, housing, books, and other educational expenses at any North Carolina post-secondary institution for students pursuing hospitality careers.

Applicants must be at least 16 years old, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and be either a Buncombe County high school senior or enrolled in a North Carolina higher education institution while maintaining permanent Buncombe County residency.

Key Dates: 

    Applications open: January 14, 2026

    Application deadline: March 18, 2026

    Internship interviews: March 30–April 3, 2026

    Scholarship decisions: April 6, 2026

    Awards ceremony: May 4, 2026

For information or to apply, visit https://www.exploreasheville.com/workforcedev or contact Kimberly Puryear at [email protected].

Source: Explore Asheville