Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - April 26, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC partners with Travelzoo for ‘Unplug for real along North Carolina's coast’
* Visit NC PR team generates motorsports coverage
* N.C. has strong presence at STS Domestic Showcase
* N.C.-filmed 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret' opens in theaters this Friday
Visit NC partners with Travelzoo for ‘Unplug for real along North Carolina's coast’
Travelzoo invited its readers to explore North Carolina's outer and inner coastal region in the custom content article “Unplug for real along North Carolina's coast.” The article suggested “Dig in a little deeper and enjoy the for-real hospitality, whether you want an off-the-beaten-path romantic escape, family adventure or friends' getaway... for some of the best ways to connect with each other – and the place.” Eighteen counties – Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Halifax, Hyde, Jones, Martin, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Tyrrell, and Washington – are featured. Visit NC commissioned and produced the piece in partnership with Travelzoo.
Travelzoo is a website that offers a variety of travel options at discounted rates to its 30 million members worldwide. The message resonates with Travelzoo's engaged audience while showcasing Visit NC's authentic brand voice.
Visit NC PR team generates motorsports coverage
With NASCAR marking its 75th anniversary and the 2023 All-Star Race heading to North Wilkesboro Speedway, efforts by Visit NC’s PR team have yielded a pair of high-reach placements. Britain’s Metro tabloid published “The Need for Speed
” after a Visit NC-supported roadtrip with hospitality from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Explore Cabarrus and the Wilkesboro TDA. The article focused on moonshine, NASCAR’s history in North Carolina and the restoration of the North Wilkesboro Speedway for the May 19-21 racing action. Metro, which has a circulation of 1.4 million, is distributed free each weekday on buses and at railway/Underground stations, airports and hospitals in Britain’s urban areas.
Conversations with a Thrillist.com contributor inspired coverage in “Race Into Warm Weather with These May Travel Ideas.” The post directs travelers to follow the North Carolina Moonshine & Motorsports Trail to “the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame in Mooresville and the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord. … Finish it off in Wilkes County, the ‘moonshine capital of the world,’ and home to the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway.” Thrillist.com attracts 6 million unique monthly visitors.
Visit NC media fam leads to Triangle coverage in Canadian outlet
A themed familiarization tour organized by the Visit NC PR team around the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stadium Series game has yielded coverage at Curiocity.com with “BBQ, Sports & Culture: Why every Canadian should consider a trip to this American gem
.” The writer described Raleigh, where fam participants were based, described the Capital City’s downtown as “walkable and clean, with a mix of southern heritage and modern conveniences. You can smile and wave at passersby, and if you sit down at a bartop just about anywhere in town, you’re likely to start a conversation with a local.” With excursions to Chapel Hill and Durham, the post turned the spotlight on sports culture with the Durham Bulls and the ACC trio of basketball schools, and barbecue found favor with visits to Sam Jones BBQ, Picnic and Longleaf Swine. Curiocity.com reaches 659,000 unique monthly visitors.
Partners during appointments
N.C. has strong presence at STS Domestic Showcase Visit NC’s Amanda Baker led a group of N.C. partners during the STS Domestic Showcase tradeshow last week in Huntsville, Ala. Domestic Showcase is a marketplace event where tourism professionals gathered for two days of meetings with goals of delivering more visitors, who will spend more time and more money in the Southeast region. This regional appointment-style marketplace offered the targeted opportunity for group tour operators, tour wholesalers, group tour leaders and media representatives to meet face-to-face with suppliers from the Southeast region. The North Carolina delegation included Asheville Hotel Group, Biltmore, Billy Graham Library, Cleveland County Tourism, Crystal Coast TDA, Explore Asheville, Explore Cabarrus, Heart of NC, Kersey
Valley Attractions, Lake Junaluska, Nash County T&T, Ocracoke TDA, Outer Banks VB, Randolph County Tourism, Visit Raleigh, and Visit Winston-Salem.
Visit NC’s Baker speaks at SORBA Summit about Year of the Trail and Outdoor NC
Visit NC's Amanda Baker spoke during the Southern Off- Road Bicycling Association (SORBA) Mountain Biking Summit in Old Fort on April 14. The SORBA Summit brought together more than 250 registered participants including SORBA’s volunteers, land managers, advocates and members from across the southeast for a week of trail stewardship. Baker spoke on Year of the Trail and its partnership with Outdoor NC. In addition, she highlighted other Outdoor NC partnerships, noting local SORBA chapters’ participation in developing the Outdoor NC Mountain Biking principles and McDowell County’s participation in the program, plus how the initiative drives sustainable tourism and helps encourage the protection of the state’s natural assets. To
find out more about SORBA, click here.
Visit NC's May webinar looks at Outdoor NC initiative
For its May webinar, Visit NC will share information on the Outdoor NC initiative. Working in partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, the initiative launched in 2020 to ensure North Carolina's treasured outdoor resources continue to thrive for the 51 million people who visit these spaces annually. The webinar will serve as a recap on where the initiative started, how it got to where it is now, and the direction it's headed. The webinar will be held at 10 a.m. on May 11. Click
here
to register.
N.C.-filmed 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret' opens in theaters this Friday
The N.C.-filmed “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” opens in theaters this Friday. Starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and Abby Ryder Fortson as 11-year-old Margaret, the story follows Margaret when she moves to a new town and begins to contemplate everything about life, friendship and adolescence. The feature film adaption of the beloved Judy Bloom book by the same name filmed in the Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Union Counties in Spring 2021. The production was approved for a N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant award of up to $7 million, which would result in a direct in-state spend of at least $28 million. View the trailer
here.
'We're on a steady path' - Western North Carolina continues to lure Hollywood production
This month, filming began on a big budget feature titled “Summer Camp” in Henderson County. The film tells the story of three women – played by Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard – who reunite at their childhood sleepaway summer camp.
“We’re on a steady path to being back up into one of the top locations within the Southeast U.S.,” says the N.C. Film Office's Guy Gaster, referring to the amount of film and television being shot in the state. “Projects that we’ve been able to successfully recruit to Western North Carolina have been very location heavy. Those forests, those waterfalls, rolling hills, even mountains – those are the types of locations that other parts of the state can’t offer.”
As for the stars and the crew, the film's producer Dori Rath said everyone has fallen in love with the area. When asked if she'd consider filming in WNC again, Rath responded with "Absolutely. Because the state filming incentive is valuable, the people and locations are very welcoming, which makes our jobs 1,000% easier ... the housing options are lovely, and the 'perks,' local shops and restaurants, are fantastic, so our cast and crew really appreciate being here."
According to Business Travel News, a recent report from American Express showed that travel and entertainment spending during the first quarter of 2023 increased more than 40 percent from 2022, reaching $26 billion, indicating no slowdown in demand.
Delta Airlines also reported a strong first quarter, with record revenues of nearly $13 billion, a 36 percent increase from last year. The airline’s revenues were 14 percent higher than 2019 on two percent less capacity. Delta noted that business travel improved during the first quarter and is nearly to 2019 levels (85 percent of 2019). The airline also noted that travel behaviors continue to shift and the hybrid workplace continues to blur the lines between business and leisure travel. As well, the length of trip has increased.
United Airlines also reported improved revenues. United’s Scott Kirby said that “in absolute dollars, the last 14 days have been the best booking days for business traffic revenue that we have seen since the pandemic.” The executive also noted that traditional patterns of seasonality are changing. March through October are stronger for leisure travel than pre-pandemic while months typically busy for business travel are weaker.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies.
Odom new executive director for McDowell County TDA Shannon Odom has been named executive director for the McDowell County TDA, effective May 1. He may be contacted at (828) 668-4282 or via execdirector@blueridgetravelers.com.
Vote for N.C. nominations among ‘Best Beach of the South’
North Carolina has several beaches nominated among the Best Beach of the South category, part of USA Today’s 10Best’s “Best Beaches in the U.S.” Daily online voting is open until noon on May 22.
Cosmopolitan magazine recently offered “Grab Your Fam and Get Going to Lake Norman, North Carolina, for the Vacation of Your Dreams." The article noted, “Lake Norman is a chill lake spot, outdoorsy if you want it to be but by no means required if you’ve got relatives who would sooner disown you than don hiking boots. There are unique shopping options, A+ restaurants, and of course nothing beats being on the lake itself.” In addition, the article suggested various activities for a family visit, along with places to shop and dine.
May brings a ‘Soaring Salute’ For its May edition, Our State magazine offers a “Soaring Salute.” “Local’s Guide” visits Southern Pines; “Restaurant” highlights Grand Olde Station in Lake Toxaway; “Open House” tours the Cupola House in Edenton; and “Happy Trails” treks CCC Loop Trail at Singletary Lake State Park in Kelly. The May issue is available now.
For the week of April 27, "North Carolina Weekend” goes “Round the state.” Featured segments include the Blue Note Grill in Durham; the food scene on Harkers Island; the Dentzel Carousel in Burlington; Cliff Hangers in Mooresville; and Green Man Brewing in Asheville. (Check local listings for schedule; segments are subject to change.) "North Carolina Weekend" is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, PBS North Carolina has recent editions of "North Carolina Weekend" available online.
Visit North Carolina is part of Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
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