Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - August 16, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC meets with Washington County TDA
* Visit NC PR team, partners pitch at Visit NC’s mini-media mission in D.C.
* Visit NC PR team-organized visit leads to UPROXX coverage
* Gaster provides updates on film industry in N.C.
Visit NC meets with Washington County TDA
Visit NC members traveled to Plymouth last week to meet with the Washington TDA and local officials. The group discussed several aspects where working with Visit NC could help the TDA better promote the area to potential visitors. While there, the group was also able to experience a black bear tour and kayaking, in addition to touring several sites in Plymouth.
Visit PR team, partners pitch at Visit NC’s mini-media mission in D.C.
Four destination partners traveled to Washington, D.C., with the Visit NC PR team’s Veda Gilbert earlier this week for a two-day, mini-media mission. During deskside meetings and over coffee and meals, 10 media representatives heard pitches from Discover Jackson County’s Anne Bernard, Explore Brevard’s Mark Bernard, Outer Banks VB’s Aaron Tuell and Visit Ocracoke’s Helena Stevens. The Visit NC PR team, including Ayana Young from Development Counsellors International (DCI), and the partners will follow up with journalists to maximize connections from the event.
To find out more about Visit North Carolina's public relations program, contact Gilbert and Suzanne Brown at media@visitnc.com.
Visit NC PR team-organized visit leads to UPROXX coverage
Destinations from Charlotte to Brevard are featured in the UPROXX article “Road Trip From Charlotte To Asheville: The Ultimate Western North Carolina Adventure Guide
." The online article opened with a reference to the state’s rising popularity for relocation as well as leisure travel, then detailed the trek as a series of high points for dining, overnight stays, spa treatments and outdoor activities. Callouts include Charlotte’s JW Marriott and its Aura Rooftop bar, Henry River Mill Village in Hildebran, Greystone Inn at Lake Toxaway, and the Horse Shoe Farm in Hendersonville plus chasing waterfalls and paddling on the French Broad River. Visit NC’s PR team organized the trip with hospitality from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Discover Burke County, Explore Brevard and Visit Hendersonville. UPROXX.com attracts 4.2 million unique monthly visitors.
Gaster provides updates on film industry in N.C.
NC Film Office’s Guy Gaster joined Spectrum News’ “Capital Tonight” last week to discuss the status of the film industry in the state
. Host Tim Boyum started the discussion on how the recent announcement on the expansion of Dark Horse Studios in Wilmington may impact the state’s ability to recruit productions and also inquired on North Carolina’s competition with other states when it comes to attracting productions. The conversation then turned to the writers’ and actors’ strikes. In continuing the discussions on the state of the industry and what makes North Carolina attractive to productions, Gaster concluded, “At the end of the day, our locations are beautiful, but our biggest tool in our toolkit, other than the incentive, is constantly the people and the crews that we have here in North Carolina being top notch.”
Gaster also appeared as a panelist on WFAE’s “Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins” to discuss "
The impact of the Hollywood strikes on the Carolinas and the state of organized labor
." The discussion noted that the strikes by the writers' and actors' unions mean that film crews are unable to work due to a halt in filming. However, the strikes don’t affect just those individuals who work in the film industry, but also those professions that support the film industry, ranging from caterers to carpenters and painters. Gaster said the N.C. Film Office maintains a film resource directory of 4,000 registered, non-talent individuals available for industry work. Along with incentives, panelists also noted the importance of maintaining the workforce, as workers may need to leave for other non-industry, paying jobs.
N.C.-filmed ‘Mother Couch’ gets world premiere in Toronto
The N.C.-filmed independent feature “Mother Couch” has been selected to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival
, scheduled to take place Sept. 7-17. The project is part of the festival’s “Special Presentation” line-up and tells the story of three adult siblings who are brought together when their mother refuses to move from a couch in a furniture store. “Mother Couch” filmed in the greater Charlotte area in late 2022 and was expected to have a direct in-state spend of more than $6 million. It was selected to receive a rebate via the N.C. Film & Entertainment Grant.
Research notes how American travelers are willing to compromise on travel to save money
Recent data from Destination Analysts reports that nearly two-thirds of American travelers say they are willing to compromise certain aspects of their travel in order to save money. Those willing to compromise tend to be lower income, younger and have had some impediments to travel in the past six months. Dining and retail are the top two aspects of travel that Americans are willing to compromise on, with trip length and lodging quality being the next two most frequently mentioned aspects.
When making a compromise on dining during travel, nearly half of respondents say they are likely to pack snacks or meals for outings and seek out budget-friendly restaurants. A third of respondents say they will cook meals at their accommodations. For those willing to compromise on lodging, most say they would look to budget-friendly hotel chains, staying with friends/family, use rewards points and travel discount sites.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through NewsLink with links to available studies.
For the week of Aug. 17, "North Carolina Weekend” “Celebrates Spring,” which originally aired April 20. Featured segments include Green River Adventures in Saluda; Cherry Treesort in China Grove; Greensboro Science Center in Greensboro; Willabee Market in Vass; and Weymouth Woods Nature Preserve in Southern Pines. 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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