2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit

April 14-16, 2026 | Asheville, North Carolina

The North American Meaningful Travel Summit, scheduled for April 14-16, 2026, in Asheville, North Carolina, is a three-day gathering for travel and tourism professionals dedicated to advancing sustainable tourism through education, connections, and hands-on learning. Set in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville was selected as the host due to the area’s commitment to prioritizing environmental responsibility and social impact, while using tourism as a catalyst to ensure long-term recovery after the region was impacted by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

Get ready to learn best practices in sustainable tourism, connect with peers, and immerse yourself in the community – sampling local food and drinks, meeting small businesses, and experiencing Asheville’s creative culture and natural beauty firsthand. Participants will leave inspired and equipped with actionable strategies to strengthen their organizations while directly supporting Asheville’s resilient community.

Why Attend?

  • Sustainable tourism education sessions featuring local tourism businesses, regional organizations, and industry experts.

  • In-community experiences, tours, and volunteering, showcasing Asheville’s diverse initiatives—ranging from its vibrant cultures and small businesses to its natural heritage and vast ecosystems.

  • Interactive networking and collaboration among industry professionals and local stakeholders to chart a path forward for tourism that is as meaningful as it is impactful.

Attendance & Sponsorship

If you are interested in attending or sponsoring this event, please fill out the following form, and a Tourism Cares team member will follow up with you directly.

Please contact Carrie Hodgen, Director of Community Development, at carrie.hodgen@tourismcares.org for more information about sponsorship.

Meaningful Travel Summit Program Goals

  • Provide connections to vetted non-profits and social enterprises for new product development

  • Engage in education sessions around universal topics in sustainability and meaningful travel

  • Create cross-sector networking opportunities with other travel and tourism professionals

  • Offer actionable best practices in destination stewardship and community tourism

  • Inspire collective action through the commitments made by Summit attendees. Learn more here.

This program is helping to further the following Sustainable Development Goals:

Thank You to Our Host & Sponsors:

SPOTLIGHT: THE PEOPLE + PLACES OF TOURISM CARES

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre | Tourism Cares Grantee

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre was provided support on behalf of Globus Family of Brands to support ongoing mentorship, build capacity and foster resiliency for Indigenous community members through meaningful employment. The grant funds will also be used to develop a new guided tour called ANCIENT MEDICINES, enriching and connecting the cultural identity of the Indigenous Youth Ambassadors and Cultural Ambassadors the Centre works with.