2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit
April 14-16, 2026 | Asheville, North Carolina
Over three days, travel professionals from across North America came together to build the knowledge, relationships, and perspective needed to lead on sustainability in today’s travel industry.
Through focused education, peer exchange, and hands-on learning, attendees explored how meaningful travel is being applied across destinations and organizations, and how those approaches translate into stronger performance, credibility, and long-term value. The Summit brings together industry leaders who are committed to moving sustainability beyond intention and into implementation.
Hosted in Asheville, North Carolina, the 2026 North American Meaningful Travel Summit used the destination as a living case study. Asheville’s commitment to environmental responsibility, social impact, and recovery following Hurricane Helene offers timely insights into how tourism can support communities while remaining commercially viable. From engaging with local enterprises to experiencing trade-ready impact in action, the learning was designed to inform and strengthen all of our businesses, collectively.
We’re in this together.
Tourism Cares events are unique in that the goal is to bring the entire industry together around a shared purpose.
Attendees come from across the industry to learn how their own businesses can support a more sustainable model for tourism development, and how the industry can better collaborate across sectors. Here’s a breakdown of the attendees in Asheville by sector.
Explore Our Host Destination
A vibrant blend of styles and ideas, where creativity flows as freely as the seasons change, Asheville, North Carolina, is deeply rooted in community, committed to sustainability, and inspired by the call to protect our climate. Asheville is ever-evolving, resilient, and innovative.
Learn more by visiting Explore Asheville and check out the partners featured below on the Meaningful Travel Map of Asheville.
Thank You to Our Host & Sponsors:
The Tourism Cares North American Meaningful Travel Summit is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors to help further Tourism Cares’ mission and the Summit’s impact on Asheville.
Thank You to Our Local Sponsors:
This program is helping to further the following Sustainable Development Goals:
SPOTLIGHT: THE PEOPLE + PLACES OF TOURISM CARES
More to Love | Meaningful Travel Map Partner
More To Love is Asheville’s only locally owned shop devoted exclusively to plus-size fashion, offering a curated collection of new and like-new clothing in sizes 12+. Every purchase supports local consignors, pays them 35–40%, and helps keep fashion dollars circulating in the community. We celebrate and empower plus-size bodies while promoting environmental and economic sustainability—both in-store and online.