Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, August 11, 2021 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Vote for Visit NC for 'People’s Choice Award' in U.S. Travel competition * Visit NC webinar focuses on Meetings & Conventions recovery - Sept. 8 * PR efforts lead to Atlantic Beach among '4 beach towns to hit this fall once the crowds are gone’ |
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Vote for Visit NC for 'People’s Choice Award' in U.S. Travel competition Visit North Carolina’s research-driven and partner-focused COVID response and recovery efforts have been recognized as a finalist for a prestigious Mercury Award by the U.S. Travel Association’s National Council of State Tourism Directors. Visit NC’s entry in the Advocacy and Grassroots Campaign is also eligible from among all submissions for the “People’s Choice Award,” and partners can vote for Visit NC’s efforts here. Highlights of the campaign entry can be viewed here. Winners will be announced Aug. 17 during U.S. Travel’s annual ESTO Conference in Los Angeles. |
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Visit NC webinar focuses on Meetings & Conventions recovery - Sept. 8 Visit NC is hosting a webinar focusing on Meetings & Conventions recovery on Sept. 8. Research has never been more critical to guiding Visit North Carolina’s decision-making than it is now. While the travel industry has been hardest hit by the pandemic, the meetings industry has taken the biggest hit. The recovery of this market is key to the overall tourism recovery in N.C. Chris Davidson, with MMGY Global, will provide updates from the Meetings Travel study. The webinar is free and will be recorded for later availability. Click here to register. |
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PR efforts lead to Atlantic Beach among '4 beach towns to hit this fall once the crowds are gone’ Efforts by Visit NC's PR team have led to Atlantic Beach among USA Today's "4 Beach Towns to Hit This Fall Once the Crowds are Gone.” The PR team pitched several towns to the writer, who then selected Atlantic Beach for the story. Of Atlantic Beach, the online article explained, in part, "What's great about North Carolina is its drivability from so many states. Atlantic Beach, situated on a beautiful barrier island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Sound, boasts an abundance of public beaches to enjoy. The town is family-friendly and gets even better after Labor Day. Plan an afternoon at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, or plan a day at Fort Macon State Park, which has a coastal education center and shoreline for swimming and beachcombing.” USAToday.com garners more than 55.4 million unique monthly visitors. |
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Cary Chamber learns about Visit NC recovery efforts Visit NC's Heidi Walters spoke at the Cary Chamber EDC meeting last week in Cary. Walters gave an overview of Visit NC and also discussed the various ways Visit NC has communicated to visitors and residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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Deadline for new applications for Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program – Aug. 20 The U.S. Small Business Administration is announcing a call to all eligible Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) applicants seeking economic aid for live entertainment small businesses, nonprofits, and venues. New applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. PT on Aug. 20. The SVOG program has so far awarded $8.4 billion in grants to more than 10,800 businesses to assist in getting the nation’s cultural institutions, which are critical to the economy and were among the first to shutter, back on track. While the application portal will close to new applicants, the SBA will continue delivering economic aid to help venues recover by providing critical relief through the supplemental awards program. Later this month the SBA will open the program for supplemental SVOGs for 50 percent of the original award amount, capped at a total of $10 million (initial and supplemental combined). Details will be announced at a later date. Additionally, to ensure no eligible venue is left behind, the SBA is currently accepting, by invitation, applications for reconsideration of award amounts and appeals. |
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Research shows dropping optimism regarding virus but many still planning fall trips Optimism about the pandemic has dropped to winter levels, reports Destination Analysts this week. Since early June, optimism about the outlook has dropped 40 points and more than half of American travelers now expect the situation to get worse during the next month. |
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While enthusiasm for travel and confidence in traveling safely has also decreased, data shows that the majority of travelers still feel safe on road trips, dining in restaurants, staying in a hotel and participating in outdoor activities. Traveling internationally, taking a cruise and using public transportation are among the least safe-perceived activities of travelers. |
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On a more positive note, despite current decreased enthusiasm for travel, many Americans are still planning fall travel. Nearly a quarter of travelers say they have travel plans for September and 26 percent have travel plans for October. Recent forecast data for North Carolina from STR shows year-end 2021 hotel room demand projected to be up 32 percent from 2020 (down 8.5 percent from 2019) with a recovery to pre-COVID levels in 2022. |
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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Little League Softball World Series expected to have nearly $858,000 impact on Greenville area As Greenville winds up for the opening pitches at the Little League Softball World Series today (Wednesday), officials say the honor of hosting the 10 best softball teams in the nation is paying big dividends economically, reports The (Greenville) Daily Reflector. Teams from as far away as Nevada and Arizona and as close as Virginia and Salisbury, N.C., will play with safety protocols in place. According to the Greenville-Pitt County Sports Commission, the series is expected to yield $857,496 in economic impact, support 150 total jobs and raise sales for hospitality, retail and transportation businesses across the county. ESPN is covering the tournament via its network family, with the Little League Softball World Series Championship airing Aug. 18 on ESPN. |
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Kinard new manager at I-95 North N.C. Welcome Center James Kinard is the new manager at the I-95 North N.C. Welcome Center in Pleasant Hill. Frieda Day, the previous manager, retired this past spring. Kinard may be contacted at (252) 537-3365 or via james.kinard@nccommerce.com. |
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Sutton new executive director for Statesville CVB Cindy Sutton is the new executive director for the Statesville CVB. She may be contacted at (704) 878-3480 or via cindy@visitstatesville.com. |
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Sanford TDA has new offices The Sanford TDA has moved its offices to Depot Park at 106 Charlotte Ave. in Sanford (27330). Phone numbers and emails remain the same. |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Aug. 12, "North Carolina Weekend" showcases “Hidden Gems.” Segments feature the Old Mill of Guilford in Oak Ridge; Surry County's Sestercentennial, basing the story in Dobson; Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem; Mount Olive; and The Table restaurant and Back to Earth Farm in Asheboro. (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. |
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Resources for travel industry regarding COVID-19
As the travel industry is facing challenging times in the ever-changing situation of COVID-19 and its effects, there are several useful resources available to help with information, communications, planning and guidance. |
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NewsLink is a publication of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina 150 Fayetteville St., Suite 1200, Raleigh, NC 27601 |
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