 In this issue:
• N.C. Governor's Conference starts this Sunday
• Winter sports media tour generates $43,600 in in coverage – and counting
• RetireNC promoted at Ideal Living Expo in the Greater D.C. area
...and more
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| N.C. Governor's Conference on Tourism starts this Sunday |  Don't miss this year's N.C. Governor's Conference on Tourism, in Pinehurst March 8-10! In addition to the powerful keynote speakers and educational program scheduled, the conference provides a number of opportunities for networking among tourism professionals.
Pre-conference sessions spotlight two popular themes, Tourism Research and PR Boot Camp. Join your colleagues from across the state at Sunday evening's opening reception. On Monday, noted author and educator Shawn Achor will explain his Happiness Advantage; digital marketing expert and best-selling author Jay Baer, on Tuesday, will discuss a new marketing approach that cuts through the clutter. The conference program also includes more educational sessions, an issues forum, a preview of Visit North Carolina's 2015-16 marketing plan and co-op opportunities, and valuable interaction with peers and media partners. There's no better opportunity to network with more than 500 of the state's tourism industry leaders and gain insights into North Carolina's growing travel industry. And be sure to take time to speak with sponsoring exhibitors at breakfast on Monday and Tuesday during breaks or at the tradeshow.
Registration is still available online for the 2015 Governor's Conference.
Attendees should definitely download the mobile conference app, too! This powerful app brings the conference to your mobile device and allows you to create and maintain a public profile; manage a personalized schedule of sessions; send in-app messages to other attendees; view and connect with sponsors; view the floor plan for the conference; and access the agenda with session descriptions. If a registrant hasn't downloaded the app and needs login information, contact Database and Social Media Specialist Nick Parker at (919) 447-7787.
While the Pinehurst Resort room block is sold out, other accommodations are available that aren't far from the conference. Rates for the closest, Homewood Suites, begin at $131; you can book either online or by calling (910) 255-0300 with corporate account 0002987838. SpringHill Suites is offering $89 + taxes via (910) 695-0234; Hampton Inn is offering $94 + taxes for standard room and $104+ for suite via (910) 693-4330.
For area information, including a list of restaurants for Monday night's Dine Around consideration, visit the Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen Area CVB's Governor's Conference page.
There's no better opportunity than the Governor's Conference to network with more than 500 of the state's tourism industry leaders and gain insights into North Carolina's growing travel industry.
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| Winter sports media tour generates $53,000 in coverage – and counting |  | The photo above from
the media tour appeared
in Florida Today |
A January media tour hosted by Visit North Carolina and High Country partners has generated more than $53,000 in coverage of wintertime recreation. Writers from Florida, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina, plus an Indiana-based freelancer, participated in the Skiing, Tubing and Brewing Tour, which featured overnight stays in Blowing Rock and Beech Mountain. The first coverage arrived within days of the Jan. 7-11 trip with a Roanoke Times post, and coverage continued in flurries via Edible Orlando and Florida Today. Other highlights include three "Tarheel Traveler" segments on WRAL-TV. In previous years, the winter sports media tour has generated coverage in long-lead publications the following season.
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| RetireNC promoted at the Ideal Living Expo in the Greater D.C. area |  | Retire Pittsboro's Pat Richardson (lf) and
Edenton Chowan Partnership's
Jake Forbes (ct) talk to attendees |
Partner Relations Manager André Nabors promoted North Carolina as a retirement destination at the Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo in Tysons Corner, Va., this past weekend. The Expo drew approximately 1,100 potential retirees from the region who were interested in exploring opportunities and conversing with exhibitors from across the Southeast. Attendees talked with experts from towns and community developers to gain insights and get answers to help plan, design and enjoy their retirement. North Carolina has consistently been one of the most requested states by the attendees. Visit North Carolina attended the Expo, along with community partners from Edenton Chowan Partnership and Retire Pittsboro, to continue its efforts to promote 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 or Visit North Carolina's marketing initiatives for retirement relocation, contact Andre Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
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| North Carolina promoted at Visit USA Roadshows in Ireland |  In February, North Carolina was represented at Visit USA's Roadshows in Ireland, which took place in three key cities: Limerick, Cork and Dublin. The tradeshows facilitated networking and engaging with 20-25 key operators per event, their owners and senior managers. The Roadshows provided excellent opportunities to showcase the state and formally talk about North Carolina. The events were extensively picked up by the Irish travel trade (Irish Travel Trade News, TravelBiz.ie and TravelExtra), which resulted in coverage throughout the Irish travel trade both in real-time and post event. |
| Visit North Carolina's TRAC in Yadkinville March 26 |  | | Previous TRAC in Fayetteville |
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. 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 on March 26.
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 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 Andre Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
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| Grimstead joins Visit North Carolina as marketing specialist |  Dana Grimstead has joined the EDPNC team as Visit North Carolina's new marketing specialist. Her duties will include serving as the central point of contact for Film and Tourism Marketing for Visit North Carolina. In addition, Grimstead will manage the office's marketing budget traffic flow, serve as the primary contact for inter-agency relations and assist in all aspects of Visit North Carolina's marketing development. She'll also manage the N.C. Governor's Conference on Tourism, starting with the 2016 event. Grimstead may be contacted at (919) 447-7761 or via dana.grimstead@visitnc.com.
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| Asheville readies for Southern Conference tournament | |
The banners are hanging all over downtown, two basketball arenas have shiny floors awaiting play and restaurants, bars and shops are readying for a wave of fans to arrive as Asheville prepares to welcome the Southern Conference basketball tournament this week. After four women's games at Kimmel Arena on the UNC Asheville campus on Thursday, the remainder of the tournament will be played at the U.S. Cellular Center Friday through Monday, with the men's and women's champions earning invitations to the NCAA tournament. More than 100,000 fans have attended the event the last three years, producing an economic impact estimated at $12 million and profits of $485,000 for the conference and the city.
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| MAPL volleyball tournament returns to Raleigh |  The Mid-Atlantic Power League volleyball tournament returns to Raleigh, March 7-8. According to the Triangle Volleyball Club, the tournament's official host, 24 courts will be set up on the Raleigh Convention Center's exhibit hall floor to accommodate 156 teams visiting from New York to Georgia. The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance is projecting 4,000 total visitors and approximately 1,500 hotel room-nights at 15 area hotels, with visitor spending estimated at $500,000.
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| N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences opens in Whiteville |  | Dr. Emlyn Koster (ct) at the ribbon cutting,
assisted by local officials and children |
The newly renovated branch of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville opened to the public this past Saturday. The indoor-outdoor nature and science learning center has been repurposed to feature new exhibits, an Investigate Lab, Nature Exploration Center, a Distance Learning Classroom and an outdoor Nature Play Space. The new museum experience in Whiteville is modeled after proven interactive programs at the Museum's Raleigh-based Nature Research Center, Nature Education Center and Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife and Learning, and has several new features. "It is thrilling to extend the reach of our mission into Columbus County," said Dr. Emlyn Koster, director of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. "Made possible through a partnership with the Friends of the Museum in Whiteville, this community now has an indoor-outdoor learning center to enable its students and families to explore the natural world close to home and a base from which the Museum can deliver programs to the surrounding rural region."
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| Brewery tourism becomes hot topic in Asheville | |
Breweries have become one of the fastest-growing attractions that should be taken much more seriously as such, say the people who count those incoming dollars. Asheville long has had a lively beer tourism scene, but visitation has picked up with the opening of the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River. The arrival of Sierra's new taproom and restaurant in March likely will mean another wave of visitors, and local breweries report that they already are feeling that bounce. The cluster of breweries on Asheville's South Slope also has proven to be a draw. Six breweries are open there, with two more under construction. Tracking specific beer tourism is difficult, with no real studies available to say how many visitors are attracted here by area breweries. But across the board, there's agreement that brewery tourist traffic is strong and building. Visitation builds awareness of breweries and can boost sales. It can also lead to more business at area restaurants, shops and attractions, the Asheville CVB says. The 18 breweries in Asheville, with more than 40 total around the mountains, have become a drawing card for craft beer drinkers in both Carolinas. More breweries are on the way, including New Belgium's $140 million site in West Asheville, just minutes from downtown.
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| Southwest Airlines starts flights in August to CLT, RDU from DAL |  Southwest Airlines said it will add nonstop daily flights from Dallas Love Field (DAL) to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport each on Aug. 9.
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| Charlotte among top 'bike-share programs to tour great cities' |
Charlotte is among the best "Bike-share programs to tour great cities," according to USA Today. "Forget a rental car or a taxi: The best way for travelers to explore a city is often on two wheels. And with more than 50 U.S. municipalities offering bike-share programs, it has never been easier for visitors to take to the streets, says Paul DeMaio, a transportation consultant and co-author of the Bike-sharing Blog. 'You're getting to see the sights, see how the city functions and you're able to cover more ground than by simply walking.' Systems typically allow visitors to rent bikes with a credit card and return them at any station in the operating area." Of Charlotte, DeMaio says, "The program's 24 stations focus on downtown and surrounding neighborhoods and parks. Program operator B-cycle, which is owned by Trek Bicycles, has operations in over 40 North and South American cities, and many memberships are reciprocal, meaning visiting riders are eligible for local usage rates."
For its "50 States" segment, USA Today offers "Road trip USA: 50 states, 50 unique stops." For North Carolina, the unique attractions spotlighted is Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, specifically saying, "The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the USA, and it was built to help ships navigate the 'Graveyard of the Atlantic.'"
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| 'Unexpected spots to soothe a Southern soul' featured |  In its March issue, Our State features 10 unexpected spots to soothe a Southern soul, highlighting fulfilling places of healing and hope, solitude and stillness. The photo essay portrays the settings, scenes, backdrops and vistas of six North Carolina authors from a new book. The "State Symbol" spotlights the dogwood and "Carolina Classic" focuses on the pine tree. The March issue is available now. |
| Rockingham County TDA changes email suffixes | |
The Rockingham County TDA has changed the suffix of its email addresses. Instead of @ncnorthstar.com, the new email suffix is now @co.rockingham.nc.us.
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| VerySurry.com now YadkinValleyNC.com |  The Tourism Partnership of Surry County has launched a new website, which also includes a URL name change, from VerySurry.com to YadkinValleyNC.com. The new name aims to do a better job conveying Surry County's stature and position in the Yadkin Valley wine region. |
 | | NC GreenTravel: Rethinking solar | |
Recent advancements and plummeting prices in solar technology suggest that it may be time to reconsider installing a solar energy system in a facility. When photovoltaic (PV) cells were first marketed, they were prohibitively expensive and only used in places far off the grid or by firms with very deep pockets. The price of solar systems has dropped 99 percent in the last three decades, from $76.67/watt in 1977 to $0.74/watt in 2013. Another incentive is the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which is a 30 percent tax credit that is expected to expire on December 31, 2016. Along with increasingly attractive costs, the solar energy industry continues to advance in storage technology and product variety, adding roof tiles, window panes and paving materials to the familiar PV panels. Today, 90 percent of Americans want to see an expanded use of solar, which suggests a potential increase in guest satisfaction at tourism facilities from visitors seeking "green" properties. The Solar Energy Industries Association provides a variety of information, including details about the Solar Investment Tax Credit here. A webinar on clean energy in North Carolina will take place March 9; for more information, click here. For information on sustainable tourism, contact NC GreenTravel program manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140, or Liz Brown-Pickren with ECU's Center for Sustainability at (252) 737-4296.
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For the week of March 5 on North Carolina Weekend, "Fitness Files" visits Rocky Knob Mountain Bike Park in Boone. "Collecting Carolina" tours the John Campbell Folk School. Check out the centennial celebrations for the Duke Mansion in Charlotte. And tempt your taste buds at Crafted in Greensboro. (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 Weekend available online..
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The most popular activities for overnight visitors to North Carolina's Piedmont Region in 2013 were visiting relatives (40 percent), shopping (20 percent), visiting friends (19 percent), fine dining (15 percent), and museums (9 percent). Other popular activities were rural sightseeing, urban sightseeing, nightclubs/dancing and visiting historic sites/churches. For more 2013 visitor profile information, click here. For more information on tourism research, contact Director of Tourism Research Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748.
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| Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events | Through March 8 – ITB Berlin, Berlin, Germany
March 5-7 – AFCI Locations Trade Show, Los Angeles, Calif.
March 8-10 – N.C. Governor's Conference on Tourism, Pinehurst
March 13-21 – SXSW Film Festival & Conference, Austin, Texas
March 14-17 – AARP Life@50 + Expo, Miami, Fla.
March 18-20 – N.C. Main Street Conference, Morganton
March 19 – Visit North Carolina's New York Media Mission, New York City, N.Y.
March 22-25 – Travel South Showcase, Shreveport, La.
March 25-26 – 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.
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15000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513 |
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