Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners | August 19, 2020 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC webinar next week features Marketing Co-op Credit Program
* Brand USA highlights North Carolina to Canadians
* Two N.C.-filmed productions see
national release this Friday
* Research shows traveler sentiment for disposable income spending ranks leisure travel high
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Visit NC webinar next week features Marketing Co-op Credit Program For next week's webinar, Visit NC will go over the details of its new COVID-19 Marketing Co-op Credit Program and marketing plan. North Carolina's legislature recently appropriated $10 million in incremental CARES Act funding to Visit North Carolina to help further the recovery of North Carolina's travel and hospitality economy. This funding is in addition to the initial $5 million currently being invested by Visit NC in the Count On Me NC safety-focused campaign and recovery related research initiatives.The webinar will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Click here to register. Given the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel and hospitality businesses, Visit NC has created a stimulus recovery Marketing Co-op Credit Program for tourism marketing. Eligible groups will be awarded credit to be able to invest in Visit NC's co-operative marketing outlets that is currently being expanded to accommodate partner interests and needs while fully leveraging Visit NC's buying power. The webinar will showcase the new Partner Programs outlining the options available for eligible organizations participating in the Marketing Co-op Credit Program. Partners will be able to contact the Visit NC team to sign up for opportunities. All aspects of the program must meet the CARES Act guidelines and must be for specific concepts, strategies, and materials tailored to educate people on ways to travel in a safe and socially distant way and prevent community reintroduction of the pandemic. |
Brand USA highlights North Carolina to Canadians
Visit NC's Heidi Walters and Canadian rep Stephanie Freed-Burns were guests last week on a webinar presented by Brand USA to Toronto-based travel agents. Fifty agents participated and another 200 viewed with Facebook Live. The duo provided a refresher on the state, highlighting the must-sees and dos in North Carolina's three distinct regions. They also shared resources and updates on CODIV-19 safety protocols and guidelines, plus presented recovery and responsible tourism initiatives taking place in the state. To add additional interest for attendees, a trivia game was played with three prize packages awarded. Prizes were supplied from Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and Biltmore. To find out more about Visit NC's international marketing programs, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
Two N.C.-filmed productions see national release this Friday
The N.C.-filmed features - "Words on Bathroom Walls" and "The 24th" - are both scheduled to be released nationally this Friday. The two projects, both of whom received rebates via the state's Film and Entertainment Grant Program, combined to have a direct spend in excess of $8.4 million, while providing more than 1,200 job opportunities. "Words on Bathroom Walls," which filmed in New Hanover and Brunswick counties, will be released nationwide in theaters (those that are open). No dates have been set for when the feature will be available On Demand. "The 24th," which filmed in Mecklenburg and Rowan counties, will be released via multiple Video On Demand platforms. Its release date coincides with the anniversary of the Houston Riots of 1917, of which the story is based. Watch the trailer for "Words on Bathroom Walls" here; watch "The 24th" trailer here. |
Research shows traveler sentiment for disposable income spending ranks leisure travel high
Traveler sentiment improved somewhat this week as expectations for the virus situation improved. This week, Destination Analysts reported that the proportion of American travelers who believe the situation will get worse in the next month decreased to 49 percent from 56 percent last week. While there are still high levels of concern, the percentage of Americans who do not want travelers in their community decreased to the lowest levels since mid-June. As well, the proportion of American travelers who find comfort in their home community is more than those who do not feel comfortable for the first time since mid-June. When it comes to getting out and traveling again, the number of travelers who are ready exceeds those who are not, says Destination Analysts. Only a quarter of travelers say they need a lot more time to be ready.
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Looking ahead to the fall, when asked about disposable income, a quarter of American travelers rank leisure travel to visit family and friends as a top priority, while nearly 21 percent list leisure travel in the form of a road trip as a high priority. In terms of travel itself, the top priorities are spending time with loved ones, avoiding crowds and enjoying nature.
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
MPI's Meetings Outlook reports massive growth expected for virtual events but holds hope for return to face-to-face meetings
The Meeting Professional's August issue offered the latest "Meetings Outlook," marking MPI's first quarterly survey that was conducted entirely amidst the widespread coronavirus pandemic. The article explained, "As the pandemic continues and most in-person meetings and events have been, at the very least, paused for months, the data reveals the most significantly negative results the survey has ever seen for face-to-face events and the industry as a whole. One positive data point is the massive growth in expected attendance for virtual events." However, as one respondent noted, "You can't just take an agenda from an in-person event and slap it into a virtual one." |
Complete the U.S. Census - it's important to N.C.!
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Have you personally completed the U.S. Census for your household? It's quick and easy - you can do it online, by phone or by mail. The 2020 U.S. Census is important to the representation, funding and future planning of North Carolina and its communities. The Census goal is to count everyone, and participation is required by law via this confidential survey. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for completing the Census is Sept. 30. To share with your N.C. partners, Census NC offers a N.C. 2020 Census Press Kit, which includes talking points for presentations, sample social media posts and even a drop-in article. The U.S. Census even offers Help & FAQs, even Language Support (English, plus 59 more languages). The U.S. Census is a once-a-decade count of everyone residing in the United States, and the 2020 Census will have a big impact on North Carolina's communities through representation, funding and reliable information. The U.S. Constitution requires a Census every 10 years to determine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. North Carolina has 13 Congressional seats, but recent estimates show that the state may gain a seat after the 2020 Census. A complete count will ensure that North Carolina's voice will be appropriately represented in Congress. The Census also provides the most detailed picture of our communities, and governmental funding programs rely on Census data to distribute billions of dollars each year. In Fiscal Year 2015, the U.S. Government distributed more than $16 billion in North Carolina providing resources for schools, health care, highways, and more. Census results even help establish boundaries for voting and school districts. North Carolina is currently at a self-response rate of 59.8 percent for the U.S. Census. To view responses by city, county or state, click here. |
Vote for N.C. options for America's Best Craft Distilleries
North Carolina has three options among the nominations for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories for America's Best Craft Distilleries. Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends Sept. 14 at noon. |
Mount Pisgah Campground the N.C. choice for "Best Place to Camp in Every State'Condé Nast Traveler selected Mount Pisgah Campground in Canton as the North Carolina choice for its "Best Place to Camp in Every State." Of the designation, the online article explained, "Spanning 469 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to Shenandoah, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic roads in the country. Situated on its southern end near Asheville is Mount Pisgah, a breezy high-altitude respite from the summer heat. Don't miss the three-mile trek to its summit, followed up by a burger and local brew at the Pisgah Inn." |
'The Best Hike in Every State' selects Black Rock Trail for N.C.
In its "The Best Hike in Every State," Travel + Leisure chose Black Rock Trail at Grandfather Mountain in Linville for the N.C. selection. The online article noted, "In Linville, North Carolina, Grandfather Mountain is a scenic preserve crowded with strong spruce and fir trees and 11 hiking trails. While the Grandfather Trail is a fun challenge for intermediate and advanced hikers, we prefer the Black Rock Trail, which has views of MacRae and Attic Window Peaks and Grandfather Mountain." |
For the week of Aug. 20, "North Carolina Weekend" highlights small-town treasures. Features include the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, Burgaw Train Depot in Burgaw, Historic Halifax, hiking trails near Elkin, Carl J. McEwen Historic Village in Mint Hill, and Richard's Coffee Shop in Mooresville. Please note that the typical Thursday 9 p.m. broadcast will be pre-empted by the Democratic National Convention.(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. |
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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