 In this issue:
• Visit North Carolina's TRAC in Yadkinville tomorrow
• N.C. focuses on driving group
travel to state during Travel South Domestic Showcase
• New York Media Mission sees
strong attendance, positive response
...and more
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| Visit North Carolina's TRAC in Yadkinville tomorrow |  | The TRAC session in
Wilmington last year
saw record-breaking attendance |
Visit North Carolina's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC), a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses, will be held 10 am - 2 pm at the Yadkin Center at Surry Community College in Yadkinville tomorrow (Thursday).
TRAC offers the chance to talk one-on-one with program managers. Tourism-related businesses in Yadkin County and the surrounding region will have an opportunity to work with Visit North Carolina staff to learn about its research, development and marketing services, and discuss best practices in reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending.
TRAC brings Visit North Carolina's program managers to local communities to discuss the nuts and bolts of working with the organization. This invaluable program is designed to help tourism-related businesses engage more fully with programs offered by Visit North Carolina and its partners. There is no charge to attend, no PowerPoint or "formal" presentations and no reservation is required. Tourism-related businesses are encouraged to come when they can and stay as long as they’d like.
Representatives from the EDPNC's BLNC, N.C. Dept. of Cultural Resources and NC GreenTravel program will also be on hand to discuss services they can provide businesses including strategic planning, assisting with identifying funding sources, and serving as liaisons with other local, state and federal agencies. For additional information on this session, to schedule a specific appointment time – although an appointment isn't necessary – or to learn more about scheduling a TRAC visit to your community, contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
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| N.C. focuses on driving group travel to state during Travel South Domestic Showcase |  | (lf-rt) Crest Mountain Dinner Show’s
Reese Lasher, Biltmore’s Leslie Brewer
and Asheville CVB’s Beth McKinney
talk with a Showcase attendee
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Nineteen industry partners joined Visit North Carolina at the 33rd Annual Travel South Domestic Showcase, March 22-24 in Shreveport, La., to promote group travel to North Carolina. Travel South Domestic Showcase draws nearly 600 tourism professionals, including tour operators and journalists interested in learning about group travel opportunities to and within the South. The only regional marketplace focused solely on the South this year, Travel South is celebrating its 50th year highlighting Southern cultural, musical, artistic and culinary heritage.
Industry Relations Manager Ashlee Kirk had 30 pre-scheduled appointments with tour operators during Showcase. Public Relations Manager Scott Peacock met with 38 travel journalists from as far away as Italy. Many had not been to North Carolina before and were interested in unique arts, culture, outdoor adventure, and culinary experiences.
Participating partners were Asheville CVB, Billy Graham Library, Biltmore, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership, Blue Star Hospitality, Burlington/Alamance County CVB, Cabarrus County CVB, Charlotte Motor Speedway and zMaxDragway, Courtyard Charlotte Billy Graham Parkway, Crest Mountain Dinner Show, High Point CVB, Outer Banks Days Inn, Outer Banks VB, Ramada Plaza Outer Banks, Richard Childress Racing Museum, Visit Charlotte, Visit Lake Norman, Visit Lexington NC and Visit Winston-Salem.
Next year’s Travel South Domestic Showcase will be hosted by Visit Winston-Salem. Those interested in receiving domestic group tour operator leads from any conventions Visit North Carolina attends throughout the year, including Travel South, ABA Marketplace and SYTA, should contact Ashlee Kirk at (919) 447-7765.
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| New York Media Mission sees strong attendance, positive response |  | Cabarrus County CVB’s Julie Hinson
talks with a media representative |
More than 25 partners mingled with representatives from top national media outlets last week at Visit North Carolina's annual New York Media Mission. The 62 media guests included staffers from BudgetTravel.com, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Family Circle, National Geographic Travel Group and Fodor's Travel Wire plus contributors to other top brands such as Travel + Leisure, The New York Times and Yahoo! Travel. The guests talked travel and sampled fare from North Carolina chefs, brewers, distillers and winemakers. Live tweets included a colorful comment from an About.com editor: "Well ‘butter my buns and call me a biscuit!’ I think I need to go to North Carolina!"
Partners included Asheville CVB, Bald Head Island, Biltmore, Brevard Music Center, Cabarrus County CVB, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Durham CVB, Fearrington House, Greater Raleigh CVB, Greensboro Area CVB, Haywood County TDA, High Country Host, Jackson County TDA, John C. Campbell Folk School, Johnston County Visitors Bureau, NC's Brunswick Islands, N.C. Craft Brewers Guild, New Bern-Craven County CVB, Replacements, Ltd., Transylvania County TDA, The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Visit Winston-Salem, and Wilmington and Beaches CVB. Culinary partners were Aubriana's, Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, Rose's Meat Market and Sweet Shop, and Seven Sows/Blind Pig Supper Club.
The event, held last Thursday at Midtown Loft & Terrace, was rescheduled from January after the forecast of a major snowstorm forced cancellation.
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| EDPNC/Visit North Carolina promote partnership at N.C. Main Street Conference |  | Andre Nabors (lf) and Bill Slagle
await attendees |
Partner Relations Manager André Nabors and EDPNC Business Services Representative Bill Slagle promoted North Carolina as a retirement and business services destination and business services at the 35th Annual N.C. Main Street Conference last week in Morganton. The conference drew approximately 500 people from across the state, all there to learn and discuss ways to create and implement successful downtown economic development strategies for their respective areas. The EDPNC attended the conference to continue its efforts to promote the services provided by Business Services and the N.C. Certified Retirement Community Program, which consists of Asheboro, Eden, Edenton, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, Pittsboro, Sanford, Tarboro and Winterville. For more information about the Certified Retirement Community Program and Visit North Carolina marketing initiatives for retirement relocation, contact Andre Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
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| Trailers for two N.C.-filmed productions, Max and Paper Towns, released | Trailers for two productions that filmed in North Carolina debuted last week. Max, which filmed in the Charlotte, Western NC and Piedmont Triad Regions in early 2014, is the story of a military dog that returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler’s family following a traumatic incident. It stars Robbie Arnell, Josh Wiggins, Lauren Graham and Thomas Haden Church and was directed by Boaz Yelton. It is expected to be in theaters on June 26.
Paper Towns is the second young adult novel from John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) to be adapted into a feature film and stars Nat Wolff, Cara Delevingne and Halston Sage. It is the coming of age story of a teenage boy and his enigmatic female neighbor, who loves mysteries so much she becomes one. The film shot in the Charlotte region in late 2014 and is expected in theaters on July 24.
Both productions were part of the more than 50 productions that registered with the N.C. Film Office and shot in the state in 2014. All combined, those productions resulted in a direct in-state spend of more than $316 million while creating 19,000+ job opportunities during the course of 3,300+ production days and filming in more than one third of the state’s counties.
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| Gear up for N.C. & National Travel & Tourism week |  The dates this year for National Travel & Tourism Week – and N.C. Travel & Tourism Week – are May 2-10. The theme for this year’s observation is "Travel is ______," as in "Travel is family memories," "Travel is creating American jobs," and "Travel is essential to our economy and our lives."
Plans are still in the works for N.C. Travel & Tourism Day. More details will be available in future NewsLinks.
To help travel industry partners prepare for their local events and activities. US Travel has developed a toolkit with logos and graphics, talking points and sample proclamations partners can customize to promote National Travel & Tourism Week. From now through May, join the conversation by following @USTravel on Twitter and using #NTTW2015.
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| Cold snow season was 'hot' for WNC ski areas |  | Young girl on skis at
Wolf Ridge Resort in Mars Hill |
While planning a living based on cold and snow is always dicey in the South, for the past few decades, N.C. ski areas have been hitting high marks. The N.C. Ski Areas Association is still crunching numbers on its economic impact for last year, but the group's most recent economic value analysis report shows the ski industry in North Carolina generated more than $32 million in gross revenue from ski area operations, including lift tickets, lessons, equipment rental, retail stores and food, during the 2009-10 season. The report also found the ski areas, which generally operate mid-November to the end of March, had an economic impact of $146 million in Western North Carolina, providing 96 year-round jobs and 1,557 seasonal jobs.
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| NCAAs worth $15 million to Charlotte |  March Madness was expected to pump about $15 million into the Charlotte economy this past weekend, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority estimates. Time Warner Cable Arena had four games on Friday and two more Sunday afternoon. NCAA men's tournament games were last played in Charlotte in 2011. CRVA’s Tom Murray said that, based on the 2008 NCAA impact figures, the 2015 tournament games should improve on that by several million dollars because of price increases and other factors. And, while the CIAA tournament brings higher spending, the NCAA tournament comes with national TV coverage.
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| Tryon Palace reopens blacksmith shop, adds living history demonstrations |  | | (photo courtesy Tryon Palace) |
One of Tryon Palace’s most popular attractions, the blacksmith shop, has reopened to the public after being closed for more than three years. Tryon Palace’s LeRae Umfleet said the blacksmith shop is a key attraction for visitors to make a connection with their tours of the palace and grounds. "I think for the visitor experience, having things like the blacksmith shop open for visitors to see, smell and hear is very important," Umfleet said. "In my mind the blacksmith shop was one of the first things we needed to find a solution for when I came on board. Once I discovered we had a core group of volunteers interested in making that happen, I said, ‘let’s make it happen.’" A crucial grant from the Kellenberger Historical Foundation helped kick-start the initiative to restore the blacksmith shop.
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| Carowinds opens Fury 325 this Saturday |  This Saturday, Carowinds in Charlotte will open its newest roller coaster, Fury 325, which the amusement park calls the "world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster." The roller coaster lifts riders 325 feet up – more than 30 stories – before plunging them down at an 81-degree drop at almost 100 miles per hour. It contains three 32-passenger open air trains and 6,602 feet of track. The opening of Fury 325 gives Carowinds two of the 10 tallest rollercoasters in North America," said Carowinds’ Mike Fehnel. The addition of Fury 325 is part of a $50 million multiyear investment that also includes the SlingShot, another thrill ride, a new guest entrance and more dining options.
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| Asheville Riverfront to get $50 million makeover | | Public spending on greenways, road rerouting and other infrastructure upgrades in and around what has become known as Asheville’s River Arts District will reach $50 million in the next six years, municipal staff involved with the projects say. That infusion of public funding into a once-industrial district will be accompanied by about $200 million in private investment. The overhaul is being led by the city, though about 44 percent of public money is coming from federal and state sources. Some of the most notable changes will be the rerouting of roads and the addition of pedestrian and bicycle amenities. The district has seen a surge in walkers and cyclists.
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| Fontana Dam designated Appalachian Trail Community | | Fontana Dam will officially be designated an Appalachian Trail Community tomorrow (Thursday) during a ceremony at Fontana Dam. Franklin and Hot Springs are the other N.C. towns recognized by the program. The Appalachian Trail Community program was created by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to recognize communities that promote and care for the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Working with a growing network of trailside community partners, the program supports communities that play a role in advocating the A.T. as a significant local and national asset and as an international icon. The program assists communities by generating awareness and stimulating outdoor recreation while preserving and protecting the A.T.
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| ‘Dig into Local Best Menu N.C.’ new restaurant contest for locally sourced ingredients on menus |  The N.C. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services is launching a new contest for restaurants that use locally sourced ingredients on their menus. The "Dig into Local" Best Menu N.C. contest is part of an expanding array of foodservice programs offered by the department through its Got to Be N.C. and Savor NC marketing programs. Menus will be judged on several criteria, including clearly identifying N.C. agricultural products, farms and manufacturers; highlighting seasonal produce; identifying items with unique regional connections; offering N.C. wine, beer and spirit selections on the menu; including multiple courses featuring N.C. ingredients; and offering a good balance of N.C. products across protein, grain and produce categories. Restaurants interested in participating should submit applications by May 31. Department staff will visit each restaurant between June and September to evaluate menus. Online menus also will be reviewed during the process. The top 10 menus will be recognized in October, and cash prizes will be awarded to the top five restaurants.
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| Asheville, Raleigh among ‘Best Places To Retire In 2015’ | | Forbes has pinpointed 25 communities of wildly differing sizes and styles for its 2015 list of The Best Places To Retire and includes Asheville and Raleigh among the list. Of Asheville, Forbes says, "Strong economy amid scenic terrain and good weather, cost of living 3 percent below national norm, average home price $206,000. Abundant doctors. High volunteering culture. Population 87,000. On list in 2012 and 2013. TRIVIA: City inspired Thomas Wolfe's first novel in 1929, Look Homeward, Angel: A Story of The Buried Life." Of Raleigh, Forbes notes,
"Hot diversified economy from state capital, tech and colleges (North Carolina State University, Shaw University). Cost of living at national average, median home price $213,000. Moderate climate. Population 432,000. New to list. TRIVIA: Birthplace of U.S. President Andrew Jackson."
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| Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends | Responding to social media boosts occupancy – Hotels that actively engage with social media reviews grow occupancy faster than properties that do not respond, according to a new study from Medallia. The study examined customer and business data from more than 4,400 hotels worldwide from April 2013 to September 2014. Hotels that responded to more than 50 percent of social reviews grew occupancy rates by 6.4 percent, more than twice the rate of properties that largely ignored social media reviews. Socially engaged properties also outperformed the hospitality industry as a whole, which achieved a 4.3 percent occupancy growth rate during the same period.
Top 10 Meeting Trends for 2015 - During the balance of 2015, hotels and meeting planners are likely to see rising group rates, customized meeting packages, and an increased focus on experiential meetings, predicts Benchmark Hospitality, which has released its list of the "Top 10 Meeting Trends for 2015." The list includes an emphasis on experience for meeting attendees, increased connectivity with Wi-Fi, unique venues and vast meeting space, offering options for a conference to grow.
Hotel images matter: Hotel photos that best encourage online bookings – It is well known that the quality of a hotel's online brochure has a direct impact on shopper conversion and bookings. Robust hotel descriptions, a good collection of reviews and nearby points of interest all help the customer decide whether the hotel is right for them. Rounding out this list is compelling imagery, which can have a profound impact on a shopper's opinion of a hotel. Based on findings from a recent study commissioned by Expedia, this paper reveals findings on the most effective hotel imagery to convert shoppers into bookers. Several types of images and image attributes were found to consistently evoke emotional reactions in shoppers. The predominant hotel image theme that evoked delight was the image of a bedroom with a window view that had a visual scene to gaze upon and light pouring in to brighten the room. Views from other vantage points such as living room, terrace and restaurant were also deemed appealing when there were vistas of something interesting or beautiful. Standard lens images were considered more trustworthy and reliable, whereas distorted fisheye lens shots evoked negative emotion and suspicion that the hotel was "hiding something." A number of other image attributes were identified that evoked either delight or negative reactions in the shoppers and are detailed in this paper.
Hotels help guests score a good night's sleep – For corporate trekkers, making it to the hotel is only half the battle. All the preparation in the world may not do much good if a business traveler is exhausted for their big presentation the next day. So a growing number of hotel properties and brands are rolling out features to help business travelers and other guests get a better night's sleep, from special lighting and plush mattresses to aromatherapy and guided meditations. The hotel industry is "in the business of providing a safe and comfortable place for people to rest, so sleep should always be on the top of the agenda for operators,'' says a representative with STR. "Business travelers ... need to be ready to go in the morning, and anything that enhances that sleep experience for them to be more productive is worth exploring.''
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 | | NC GreenTravel: N.C. Beer Month spotlights brew industry, events, packages | |
As spring begins to blossom throughout North Carolina and cities come alive with activity, the state is preparing to celebrate this upcoming April as the third annual N.C. Beer Month. More than 90 breweries from the Outer Banks to the Mountains will host an exciting assortment of beer-inspired activities that include festivals, tastings, dinners, special discounts, travel deals and giveaways. By encouraging guests to visit the N.C. Beer Month website, they will discover several avenues in which they can connect with local breweries and learn more about N.C. Beer Month-sponsored activities in each region. North Carolina has become a recognized leader in the microbrewing revolution within the U.S. with more microbrewing facilities operating here than any other state in the Southeast. Microbreweries in North Carolina help stimulate the local economy and create jobs. According to the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild, breweries and brewpubs have generated more than 10,000 jobs and $791 million in economic impacts in North Carolina. For more information on craft breweries in North Carolina, click here. For information on sustainable tourism, contact NC GreenTravel program manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140, or Daniel Johnson with ECU’s Center for Sustainability at (252) 737-4296.
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For the week of March 26 on North Carolina Weekend, join in the fun at the Easter Hat Parade in Dillsboro. Tempt your taste buds at Firewürst in Cary. Celebrate the visual, literary and performing arts at Palustris Arts Festival in Moore County. Lift a glass at Fair Game Beverage Company in Pittsboro. And the "House Special" samples the fare at Duke’s Grill in Monroe. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, UNC-TV has made recent editions of North Carolina Weekendavailable online.
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German and Italian visitors allocate a larger proportion of total spending on auto rental and gasoline/oil than other visitors to North Carolina, followed closely by visitors from Switzerland, Japan and South Korea. Canadians spend nearly 10 percent of their spending in-state on oil, but as many are drive travelers, have a lower percentage of spending on car rentals. Spending in clothing and jewelry stores ranks fairly high in most countries of origin, particularly China/Hong Kong, Venezuela and Sweden. For more information on international visitors to North Carolina, click here. For more information on tourism research, contact Director of Tourism Research Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748.
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| Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events | Thru March 26 – U.S. Travel Association's Destination: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
March 26 – Visit North Carolina’s TRAC Session, Yadkinville
March 30-April 1 – STS Spring Symposium, Charlotte
March 31 – N.C. Sports Association Meeting, Greenville
April 21 – Visit North Carolina’s Atlanta Media Mission, Atlanta
April 27-30 - NASC Sports Event Symposium, Milwaukee, Wis.
May 2-10 – National Travel & Tourism Week, nationwide
May 5 – N.C. Travel & Tourism Day, statewide
May 5 – NC Travel and Tourism Board Meeting, Raleigh
May 6-7 – Blue Ridge Parkway Association Annual Membership Meeting, Wytheville, Va.
May 30-June 3 – U.S. Travel Association IPW, Orlando, Fla.
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15000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513 |
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