ASHEVILLE, N.C.—One year and two hives later, Renaissance Asheville Hotel’s urban beekeeping project is thriving.
In 2006, when honey bee colonies started disappearing, later dubbed “Colony Collapse Disorder,” beekeepers and non-beekeepers alike became very concerned. After all, one in every three bites of food we eat is courtesy of insect pollination. Equally important, 85 percent of flowering plants and trees rely on pollinators for the survival of their species. While less is known about native bees and other pollinators, we do know that entire species are disappearing at alarming rates as they battle most of the same enemies as honey bees—loss of habitat essential for food and shelter, inappropriate pesticide use, diseases, and parasites.
In June of 2012, Asheville was named “Bee City USA” and in June of 2015, the Renaissance Asheville Hotel decided to offer a home in the middle of downtown to a colony of honeybees. Fast forward to today and the hotel is thrilled to be able to contribute to creating sustainable habitats for pollinators. Formerly located on the rooftop, two hives welcome approximately 70,000 honeybees, and creating a home for bees is important. Scientists say the bee population has been declining due to a combination of factors, including less access to food, and the prevalence of mites, disease and pesticide use.
Due to guest demand to see the bees at work, the hotel is moving the hives.
- New honeycomb design
- Better visuals
- Happier bees
Guests will be able to observe the bee hives from their guestroom windows or hallway windows, getting a better idea of how busy honey bees can be.
