| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | April 3, 2019 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE: * Visit NC 365 Conference gets stellar reviews
* Winners Circle, inaugural Esse Quam Videri awards
* 2020 North Carolina Travel Guide ad sales start
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Visit NC 365 Conference in Wilmington gets stellar reviews for sessions, Port City's hospitality
The 2019 Visit NC 365 Conference wrapped up yesterday (Tuesday) in Wilmington with stellar reviews for the speakers, educational sessions and hospitality events. Attendance this year was 577. Visit North Carolina would like to thank everyone involved with making the conference such a big success, from the sponsors who, without them, this conference would not be possible, to the dedicated attendees from across the state. Visit North Carolina would like to extend a special thanks to Wilmington and Beaches CVB, the Wilmington Convention Center and the host hotels for ensuring every attendee's experience in Wilmington was memorable. Tourism, business and government leaders from across the state gathered for opening keynote speaker Ingrid Fetell Lee's "The Aesthetics of Joy." Lee's groundbreaking work reveals the hidden influence of our surroundings on our emotions and wellbeing. She empowers people to live a more joyful life through design. Tuesday's closing keynote speaker Dustin Garis shared his world-renowned futurist perspective on powerful global trends impacting the future of travel and redefining "Life Profit," the way people measure their lives, not in dollars, but by richness of memorable experiences. Participants attended educational sessions on a range of subjects that included PR roundtables, Insider tips from Visitor Services, N.C. lodging industry trends, site selection specifics for film location managers, event impact studies, and general data protection regulation for changing security and privacy trends. The 2019-'20 partner co-op program was unveiled, with opportunities in print, digital media. Those interested should contact Brooks Luquire and Michelle Reino at LGA at (704) 552-6565. The final day's breakfast was presented by Explore Asheville, host of the 2020 Visit NC Conference, in Asheville, March 22 - 24, 2020. Many of the presentations from the conference will be available online soon on Visit NC 365 Conference. |
Winners Circle welcomes two inductees; inaugural Esse Quam Videri awarded to two
N.C. Dept. of Commerce Deputy Sec. for Communications and External Affairs Beth Gargan, NC Travel & Tourism board chair Mike Butts (and with Visit Charlotte) and Visit NC's Wit Tuttell welcomed two new members to the Winners Circle for their contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina's tourism industry. This year's Winners Circle recipients were Mary Baggett Martin with the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach and the Fussell family with Duplin Winery in Rose Hill. Winners were recognized during the Visit NC 365 conference's Winners Circle Luncheon on Monday. |
| | | (l-r) Mike Butts, Beth Gargan, Dave Fussell, Jonathan Fussell and Wit Tuttell |
Duplin Winery, which produced its first 20 cases of muscadine wine in 1975, is in its third generation of ownership by the Fussell family. The Rose Hill winery draws travelers from Interstate 40 to the Bistro Restaurant and retail shop, and to a North Myrtle Beach location that opened in 2015. Under the leadership of Dave Fussell, president and CEO, and Jonathan Fussell, head of retail operations, production has grown to 450,000 cases a year and visitation to 150,000. |
| | (l-r) Butts, Gargan, Mary Baggett Martin and Tuttell | |
Mary Baggett Martin has been with the Blockade Runner Resort since 1984, when she and her brother Bill Baggett took the helm of the family-owned property in Wrightsville Beach. Since opening in 1964, this landmark retro resort has hosted generations of families in rooms that face the Atlantic or Banks Channel Sound. Martin, a longtime advocate on environmental issues, has extended her leadership beyond Blockade Runner by serving on the N.C. Travel & Tourism Board, the Southeast Tourism Society board, the N.C. League of Conservation Voters board and other organizations. |
New this year was the Esse Quam Videri award, which recognizes those who embody what it means "to be, rather than to seem." The award is dedicated to those who better their community by freely giving their time, energy and resources for a greater good. In its inaugural year, two were honored with this award: Stephen Hill of Mother Earth Brewing and Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer, both sites in Kinston. |
| | | (l-r) Butts, Gargan, Stephen Hill and Tuttell |
Stephen Hill has built shining examples of what he advocates: the arts, historic preservation and downtown revitalization. Hill and son-in-law Trent Mooring opened a craft brewery in 2009 and called it Mother Earth to reflect their commitment to environmental sustainability. The brewery, the first in the nation to earn LEED Gold status, now shares its name with a distillery and reimagined motor lodge. Hill's contributions to Kinston's appeal also include The O'Neil boutique hotel and the Red Room nightclub, along with his work as founder and board chair for the smART Kinston Foundation. Hill currently serves as chairman of the N.C. Arts Council. |
| | (l-r) Gargan, Gram Spear ahdTuttell | |
Vivian Howard is known by food lovers nationwide for the PBS series A Chef's Life (2013-18). The series focused on the Eastern North Carolina ingredients and traditions at the heart of Chef and the Farmer, the Kinston restaurant she opened with husband Ben Knight in 2006. The series earned numerous awards and also whet travelers' appetites for a taste of Kinston. She and Knight opened the Boiler Room in Kinston in 2013 and Benny's Big Time Pizzeria in Wilmington in 2017. Howard's memoir/cookbook, Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South, was published in 2016. Gram Spencer with the Kinston-Lenoir County TDA accepted the award on Howard's behalf. |
Conference attendees turn out for hurricane recovery support, raising more than $2,000
On Tuesday (yesterday) at the Visit NC 365 conference, attendees were encouraged to wear the Careolinas t-shirt to further show tourism's support for the industry and recovery efforts. After the conference's closing luncheon, many of the attendees gathered for a photo wearing their special shirts. The Careolinas shirt was designed to help raise funds for recovery efforts due to last fall's hurricanes. The shirts were available for sale at the registration desk. Sales of the t-shirt during the Visit NC 365 conference raised $2,060 for the hurricane recovery efforts! |
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2020 North Carolina Travel Guide ad sales start
Ad sales have started for the 2020 Official North Carolina Travel Guide, Visit North Carolina's fulfillment piece for visitors to and within the state. The N.C. Travel Guide is available at the state's nine Welcome Centers, Visitor Centers, via the 1-800-VISITNC Call Center and VisitNC.com, and are also distributed at targeted travel-related shows As an advertiser, your brand will be intrinsically part of a promotional campaign and distribution across publisher's Meredith's additional properties, including:
* Bonus 50,000 copies delivered to known travelers who subscribe to some of Meredith's popular publications such as Martha Stewart Living, Parents and Family Circle
* National promotion within several Meredith publications reaching almost 21 million subscribers
* North Carolina tourism segments on key local Meredith TV stations
* Enewsletters sent to nearly 1.2 million opt-in subscribers
* Promotion on Meredith websites
The Travel Guide offers engaging editorial and captivating photography in an easy-to-read format. Features will include cross-promotion of additional content, including videos, that will also be available in a digital version of the guide. Opportunities start at $500. Space is limited. Advertising sales are available at an early bird discounted rate untilJuly 31. View the 2020 NC Travel Guide Media Kit here. For more information, contact Regional Sales Director Stacey Rosseter at (678) 571-7445. |
| | | A previous TRAC in Ocracoke | |
TRAC coming to Burlington/Alamance County and region April 18
On April 18, tourism-related businesses in Alamance County - plus the surrounding counties - 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) is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses. TRAC will be held 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Drury Inn & Suites, 1767 Glidewell Drive in Burlington. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there is no PowerPoint presentation. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you'd-like event opportunity for all tourism-related businesses to meet one-on-one with program managers to discuss better ways to promote their property or event. 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. Representatives from the EDPNC's BLNC, N.C. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. State Parks, Agritourism, and NC GreenTravel are often 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 or to learn more about scheduling a TRAC visit to your community, contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
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Visit NC PR efforts lead to Omni Grove Park Inn among 'Best "Parkitecture" Hotels for Travelers Who Love the National Parks'
The efforts of the Visit NC PR team have led to the inclusion of the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville among Men's Journal's "Best 'Parkitecture' Hotels for Travelers Who Love the National Parks." As the magazine explains, "Proving mother nature knows best, the national parks inspired their own brand of architecture: parkitecture. Several principles define the architectural style - horizontal lines should dominate and nearby buildings should be in harmony with one another. But the overarching rule governing this architectural style is that buildings should not attempt to visually upstage the natural beauty. surrounding them." Of the Omni Grove Park Inn, the article notes, "About 40 miles outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Grove Park Inn's original builder Edwin Wiley Grove wanted to design a lodge that reflected the 'majesty of the mountains,' according to historical records from the National Park Service. His concept called for building the lodge with natural rough stones from nearby mountains. Local architects couldn't grasp the idea, so he enlisted his son-in-law, who had no formal training, to design the building. Grove Park Inn was built in five sections to resemble the rise and fall of a mountain range. Granite boulders quarried from Sunset Mountain were used in its construction, including the inn's chimneys."
Responding on deadline to a HARO inquiry seeking parkitecture examples, the Visit NC PR team submitted a Grove Park Inn pitch. Once the writer expressed interest in featuring the inn in her roundup, Visit NC contacted Grove Park Inn's PR director for follow-up information and photos. MensJournal.com has a reach of 3.5 million unique visits per month. |
Carolina Publishing lists top historic attractions
Carolina Publishing Associates has released its annual survey of attendance regarding the 30 top historic attractions in the state. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh tops the list with 1,007,188 visitors last year. Rounding out the top 5 are Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach with 903,254 visitors; the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro with 831,748; Discovery Place in Charlotte with 745,688, and Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach with 677,408. To view a slideshow of the top 30, click here. |
Conserving water helps reduce energy costs
For many businesses, water and energy are two separate utility bills, but when water is conserved, it also reduces the electric and gas bills because of the energy needed for hot water. One of the most common sources of hot water waste is at dishwashing stations where an inefficient pre-rinse spray valve can waste as much as 180 gallons of water and 1.5 therms of energy for every 3 hours of use. (It takes about the same energy equivalent of 1.5 therms to boil 140 gallons of water.) Another simple way to reduce a business's hot water usage is to install aerators on faucets, which typically can easily screw on to existing fixtures and can save up $100 in annual energy and water costs. Repairing leaky plumbing equipment and fixtures and developing polices to conserve water will also help reduce energy bills. And not only will conserving hot water reduce energy bills, but it will also reduce the load on the water heater, resulting in less wear and tear which cause costly repairs. For more water saving tips, visit NC GreenTravel Initiative Water Conservation, or contact NC GreenTravel Initiative manager, Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of April 4 on North Carolina Weekend, the program repeats the episode that originally aired Feb. 7. Segments spotlight Conrad & Hinkle Food Market in Lexington; Seymour Johnson Air Force Base tours in Goldsboro; and Studio 32 Gallery in Sunbury; with the "House Special" segment on the Rose Hill Restaurant in Rose Hill. (Check local listings; segments are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, UNC-TV has recent editions of North Carolina Weekend available online. | The Western Prosperity Zone of North Carolina had the highest average hotel/motel room rate (ADR) of all the regions in 2018. The ADR in the region was $133, which was up nearly 3 percent from 2017. This rate is 19 percent higher than the next highest region for room rates (Southwest Prosperity Zone, $109). For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Lodging Reports,or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
through April 5 - AFCI Week, Los Angeles April 18 - Visit NC's TRAC, Burlington May 2 - NC Coast Host Annual Meeting, Surf City May 5-11 - National Travel & Tourism Week, nationwide May 7 - Visit NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, TBD May 12-17 - STS Marketing College, Dahlonega, Ga. |
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