| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | April 1, 2020 |
|
| IN THIS ISSUE:
* 'React. Respond. Initiate' webinar, future webinars
* Research updates from tourism data specialists * U.S. Travel Association webinar deciphers the CARES Act
* Visit NC PR team's efforts lead to N.C. moonshine in the spotlight |
|
'React. Respond. Initiate'" webinar; future webinars
Visit NC held its second webinar today (Wednesday), "'React. Respond. Initiate," which examined crisis research and crisis communications, along with suggestions for recovery strategies. Visit NC's Marlise Taylor led the segment on crisis research with additional information provided by the University of Florida's director of Tourism Crisis Management Initiative, Lori Pennington-Gray. Taylor presented current topline data and how to keep current in your research strategies. Penniington-Gray discussed additional research data and what best practices you can emulate in your destination, plus how to be ready for questions following a crisis. Taylor and Pennington-Gray also looked at best practices with examples from tourism entities within the accommodations, destination and food and beverage sectors. The Crisis Communications segment was led by Visit NC's Eleanor Talley and Chelsey Kirby, with J Public Relations, which Visit NC contracts with. Talley noted "Right now, we are seeing media adapt their needs to focus on one of three content areas: How the hospitality industry is giving back to local communities; Taking travel online through virtual programming; and Inspirational travel ideas (where photography is key). She also suggested compiling a 30/60/90-day Comeback Plan. Visit NC's Wit Tuttell provided information on what Visit NC is doing as part of its recovery strategy, including continuing consumer research and efforts to secure additional marketing funds from the N.C. legislature. Tuttell also n modifying social media engagements and changes to the N.C. Travel Guide layout and ad rates.
A recording of last week's webinar, "NC Tourism Amid COVID-19," is available at Partners.VisitNC - COVID-19 and Visit NC 365, the tourism conference's website. Visit NC will post the full Q&A from last week's webinar on the same sites as soon as possible. Today's webinar will be posted on these sites, too.
Visit NC plans to host a webinar each Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the next month. Topics will be posted as available on Partners.VisitNC - COVID-19 and Visit NC 365.
Next week's webinar (on April 8) will unveil Visit North Carolina's Partner Program Opportunities. The Partner Program team from LGA, Michelle Murdoch and Hailey Weddington, will walk through the opportunities for 2020-2021, including those newly developed and evolved-to-help our state's COVID-19 response. Click here to register.
|
Research updates from tourism data specialists
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to impact the travel industry, many tourism data vendors are performing research to help destinations best understand travelers' perceptions, intentions and actions so that the industry is better able to move forward amidst uncertain conditions. According to a Longwoods International study sponsored by Miles Partnership, fielded March 25-26 to 1000 U.S. adults, 84 percent of travelers planning to travel in the next six months will change their travel plans due to coronavirus. The study found 50 percent have cancelled a trip completely and more than one-third have reduced travel plans. This research also suggests that it is not just COVID-19 impacting travel plans but concerns about the economy due to the virus that are causing potential travelers to pull back on travel planning. Though travelling currently elicits fear and nearly all travel is currently restricted, Americans are still anxious to travel when the time is right. Destination Analysts' March 30 poll reports that two-thirds of the respondents to its agree or strongly agree that they miss travel and cannot wait to get out and travel again. However, when they do begin travelling again, there are questions as to whether the types of travel will change as a result of this crisis.In the Destination Analysts week 3 study, nearly one-third of American travelers now say they will change the types of destinations they choose to visit after the coronavirus situation is resolved and 46 percent of respondents indicated that they will take more regional trips near home rather that plan long haul travel. While it has been made clear that now is not the time to continue traditional travel marketing, there are ways to keep destinations in the mind of potential travelers in the short term. The Longwoods study notes that there is some interest in travel related activities such as online virtual tours of museums, art galleries, and other visitor attractions (22 percent), videos of inspirational or interesting travel destinations (22 percent), live streams of performances by local musicians, artists, or theater groups (21 percent), 360-degree images/videos or virtual reality experiences of travel destinations (17 percent) and sharing travel experiences or ideas with others online during this time (16 percent). Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink each week with links to available studies. |
U.S. Travel Association webinar deciphers the CARES Act The U.S. Travel Association did a webinar Monday, breaking down the CARES Act stimulus package and its related provisions for travel companies and workers, including eligibility requirements, financial benefits, application processes and specificities the federal government still needs to define. A recording of the webinar can be viewed here. U.S. Travel also has a summary of the benefits, plus a guide to eligibility. |
Visit NC PR team's efforts lead to N.C. moonshine in the spotlight
Efforts by the Visit NC PR team have led to two N.C. distilleries included in Bloomberg's "The United States of Moonshine." The PR team pitched several N.C. distilleries to the writer, who selected Troy & Sons of Asheville Distilling Co. in Asheville and Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon of Piedmont Distillers in Madison. Of Troy & Sons, one panelist in the article noted," The depth you'll find is amazing: hints of vanilla and a little oak, which is fascinating for something that hasn't lived in a barrel." Of Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon, the article explained, "Triple-distilled in copper, it's extra smooth - try one of the fruity flavors, made simply by steeping strawberries or cherries in the bottle, then use the potent fruit as a cocktail garnish." |
|
|
|
|
