The 40th Anniversary Conference at the Grove Park Inn in 2027: A New Date and A New Reservation Number

 

 

 

Energy for the 39th National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn is certainly gaining speed and bringing back collectors from around the country back to Asheville, North Carolina.

The February 20th – 22nd, 2026 conference agenda has been posted — and will feature at least six seminars, group discussions, pre-conference workshops, historic house tours, and the variety of activities one has expected of the National conference and shows at the historic hotel. In fact, next month will see an improved registration process — with a brand new dedicated reservation line for conference attendees!

But first, plans have taken on a new challenge in the making for the anticipated 40th anniversary conference in 2027. Because of a brand new renovation scheduled to occur at the Omni Grove Park Inn, the highly anticipated milestone 2027 conference will happen a little earlier than expected.

 

A New Date for the 40th Anniversary Conference

Starting January 20th of 2027, the Omni Grove Park Inn will start a massive renovation that will include all meeting rooms, both of the Grove Park Inn’s ballrooms, and the Vanderbilt Wing rooms — a fact revealed to this author last month. The renovation is expected to last through June of 2027, potentially going further into the month of July depending on the progress made.

Naturally, it was essential to act quickly to ensure that the 40th anniversary conference snagged dates before the beginning of the renovation. Both parties can now confirm that the 40th anniversary conference will make its milestone anniversary return to the Grove Park Inn during the weekend of January 8th – 10th, 2027 with preparations to start the very first week of 2027’s year.

“This is a classic example of taking lemons and choosing to make lemonade,” says Kate Nixon, director of the 39th National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows at the Grove Park Inn. “It’s a different time frame and people might get a little nervous about the weather. However, weather does not stop people coming to the Grove Park Inn from all over the country to celebrate New Year’s Eve! The Grove Park Inn is one of their very favorite places and now you get the chance to celebrate not only this milestone event, but kick off the very beginning of a brand new year with the Arts and Crafts style! It’s your first show of the year — it might as well be at GPI!”

The decision did not come easily for director Kate. She knew all audiences involved in the beloved show were used to traveling mid-February and this event was an essential addition to both collectors and dealers and artisans. She knew that while the opportunity to change things up was a possibility, she couldn’t stop thinking about the support she received – and the city of Asheville received – this past February, the first show after the damage wrought by Hurricane and Tropical Storm Helene. “It was providing Western North Carolina locals with some much needed normalcy. It wasn’t just me. It was my hard working crew who have been involved with this show for years, decades even. Knowing how much Asheville needs tourism and knowing how beloved Asheville is to my audience of collectors… one doesn’t easily consider moving the show and not reckon with the fallout it might cause.”

Kate eventually decided to stay with the Grove Park Inn as the host hotel for the 40th anniversary of the National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows. “While moving the conference and shows to happen in early January is something different, I know what this conference means to not only my local crew for the shows, but those employees at the Grove Park Inn who remember the conference in 1990s and subsequent eras. Seeing our dedicated collectors come back to the hotel year after year… friendships, camaraderie, loyalty… it truly happens. I’m not even trying to be cliche. People just bond here among each other surrounded by the aesthetic.”

 

A New Reservation Phone Number

In time for the 40th anniversary conference, we will have a new phone number to call to reserve a room!

Starting at 10 AM EST on January 20th, 2026, those wanting to reserve their room for the 40th Anniversary Conference and Shows at the Grove Park Inn can call a NEW NUMBER

The New National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows Reservation number:

(877) 910-7878.

Here’s what to know about our new phone line:

• This dedicated telephone number will be available from 8:30a-5:30p EST , 7days per week.
• If a guest called the above phone number after hours, the caller will receive a close message and instructions to call back on the next business day.
• This dedicated phone number will be serviced by the Grove Park Inn agents and a few chosen Omaha agents.

As of January 20th, people should call this new number, NOT the 1-800 number or the Grove Park Inn to reserve a room reservation. This line was set up special for the Arts and Crafts Conference attendees and will be the primary and only number for people to call regarding room reservations.

For additional information about the National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows, please visit Arts-CraftsConference.com

 

 

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