The March/April Wrap-Up

Written By Catherine Campbell

March and April saw a lot of travel (New York! Raleigh! Charleston!), announcements, and news coverage for OFTB’s clientele. Here are some of the highlights:

Two Clients were Featured in Local Palate

The Scheffer Group Announced The Majestic

The Scheffer Group announced it will open The Majestic, a Chinese American counter service restaurant.⁠ The Majestic marks the 5th addition to a portfolio that has come to define the modern Asheville dining landscape. Under the leadership of Asheville’s independent dining pioneer and 25+ year hospitality veteran Eric Scheffer, the group has established a reputation for excellence through concepts like Vinnie’s (Original and South), Jettie Rae’s, and Gan Shan. Read the full release here. We went on a “tasting notes” field trip to Chinatown with Executive Chef Kaya Rehnberg and Eric Scheffer, and you’ll see that footage over on The Majestic socials leading up to opening.

Two Clients were Featured in AFAR Magazine

  • Embassy Suites & Soprana as well as Firelight at Shope Creekwere named two of the “13 Best Hotels in Asheville” in AFAR Magazine. Writer Jenn Rice opens with: “Many travelers come to Asheville for that balance of energy and escape: days spent outdoors or exploring the city, followed by evenings in the mountains. As part of our Hotels We Love series, we’ve selected the 13 hotels that capture the city’s spirit. From historic downtown landmarks to secluded forest retreats, these are the best places to stay in Asheville right now.”

EMBASSY SUITES RECEIVED A CONRAD AWARD

Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown was honored with the 2025 Conrad Achievement Award, placing it in the 1% of all Embassy Suites in the world. This distinction recognizes the property as one of the top-performing hotels across the entire global brand. David Cron, the General Manager at Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, was also named the 2025 General Manager of the Year. Since joining the team in August 2024, David has acted as a catalyst for growth. Leadership in the hospitality sector is often about balancing the invisible with the visible. It is about managing the backend logistics while ensuring the guest experience feels effortless and personal. Read the full release here.

Soprana Hosted Two Special Media Events

  • In March, we hosted a media dinner at with 15 members of press during Visit NC’s annual Tourism Marketing Summit, and in April we coordinated and hosted an after-party (and official accommodations at Embassy Suites) for Hands Please, an invite-only exclusive event celebrating 100+ star culinary talent, media and colleagues from around the country.

…AnD Received Accolades

Jettie Rae’s Hosted Globally Renowned Oyster Sommelier Julie Qiu

  • We had the pleasure of hosting two events at Jettie Rae’swith renowned oyster sommelier and Oyster Master Guild co-founder Julie Qiu. Both events sold out in less than 24 hours. In the master class, attendees learned how to use all of their senses to deepen their oyster appreciation, as well as a deep dive into merroir, climate fluctuations and lifecycles. We tasted some fantastic oysters from Island Creek, Kinnakeet Oyster Company, Walrus & Carpenter Oysters, and Sticky Bottom Oyster Company. The special wine & oyster tasting that followed featured Executive Chef Antonio Perez’s menu to lead guests through a sensory journey into the world of oysters, showcasing some of the best bivalves (and hidden gems) our East Coast farms currently offer. Eric and beverage director Rick selected distinct wines for each course. Bar manager Mitch created a few special cocktails for the evening including a nori infused martini. Jettie Rae’s oyster shuckers, Jeff and Alexis, shucked over 800 oysters in the first 2 hours.

Echo Mountain Celebrated Its Grand Reopening

  • Thank you to the hundreds of people who traveled near and far to join us at the grand reopening of Echo Mountain Recording Studio. The studio has supported Asheville’s evolving music scene 2006 and is home to acclaimed local and national artists such as Band of Horses, Avett Brothers, The War on Drugs, Sylvan Esso, Widespread Panic, Steve Martin, Steep Canyon Rangers, Watchouse, Manchester Orchestra, and many more. Now under the new ownership of longtime studio manager Jessica Tomasin, the studio has big plans for its twentieth year and beyond.Echo Mountain. WLOS stopped by to interview Tomasin and capture some of the 8 hours of complimentary musician portraits done by photographer Sandlin Gaither.

Catherine Campbell

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