Explore Asheville opens internships and scholarships to build hospitality workforce

Explore Asheville announced on Jan. 15 that its Workforce Development Program is now accepting applications for the 2026 Asheville Travel & Hospitality Internship Program and the Explore Asheville Hospitality Scholarship. Applications opened Jan. 14 and the deadline for both programs is March 18, 2026. The initiative was piloted last year and returns as a targeted effort to strengthen the local talent pipeline for a tourism sector still rebuilding after Tropical Storm Helene.

The program offers hands-on internships across multiple tourism-related sectors, including destination marketing, food and beverage, accommodations, parks and sports, and arts and culture. Scholarship awards will be available to Buncombe County students pursuing careers in hospitality, with individual grants of up to $2,500. Explore Asheville described interview and award timelines in its announcement for applicants to review.

Organizers framed the initiative as part of regional recovery and long-term investment in workforce capacity. For a county where hospitality and tourism represent a large share of employment and local tax revenue, the program aims to connect classroom learning with on-the-ground experience at local employers. Returning the program after a pilot year signals a priority shift toward reskilling and retention amid ongoing recovery from storm-related disruptions to the visitor economy.

Beyond immediate training opportunities, the program raises policy and accountability questions for local stakeholders. Key details that will affect equity and effectiveness include outreach to students from historically underrepresented neighborhoods, the structure and compensation of internships, and measures for tracking whether participants stay in Buncombe County jobs after completion. Public officials and residents should expect clarity on those points from Explore Asheville and any partner employers, since program design will influence the county’s longer-term labor supply and tax base.

The program also underscores the need for coordination between tourism marketing organizations, community colleges, public schools, and county workforce services. If scaled and paired with transparent outcomes reporting, internships and scholarships can reduce skills mismatches and stabilize seasonal labor cycles that have challenged restaurants, hotels, and attractions in recent years.

Buncombe County students considering a hospitality career have a limited window to apply before the March 18 deadline; interested applicants should consult Explore Asheville’s program materials for interview and award timing. For the broader community, the program offers a practical step toward rebuilding a resilient tourism workforce, but its ultimate value will depend on implementation details, outreach effectiveness, and follow-through on promised outcomes.