Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, August 25, 2021 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Film production in North Carolina reaches new investment high * Visit NC PR efforts lead to partners in the spotlight * Metzger officially joins Visit North Carolina as PR director |
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Film production in North Carolina reaches new investment high Filmmakers producing projects in North Carolina are on track to invest a record amount of money in the state in 2021, Governor Roy Cooper announced last week during a press conference at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington. The spending amount of $409 million is the largest tally seen in the state since the creation of the North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant in 2014. Combined, these productions will create more than 25,000 job opportunities for North Carolina’s highly skilled film professionals and background talent. “We’ve all worked hard toward this banner year for North Carolina’s film industry,” said Governor Cooper. “With our resilient communities and local businesses, and our growing reputation for inclusion and diversity, North Carolina will continue to provide a beautiful stage for film projects of all sizes in every corner of the state.” “These multimillion-dollar revenues for 2021 are great economic development wins for North Carolina,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Our film industry, with its experienced production talent and compelling film locations, creates good paying jobs and positive economic impacts for our economy.” Productions continue to be drawn to the state’s highly skilled film workforce, its well-established infrastructure, quality, and variety of locations, and the 25% rebate offered through the bi-partisan approved North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant. With a strong emphasis on series productions, recruiting efforts focus on project budget and the story’s setting that are the best fit for the state. “Our consistent message of a strong workforce coupled with a stable and reliable rebate program has been heard loud and clear by production executives and has resulted in these economic developments wins for North Carolina,” added N.C. Film Office Director Guy Gaster. “There is a high demand for content and our state is proving that we are among the best in helping to bring these stories to life on screens of all sizes.” |
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Visit NC PR team elevates N.C.’s pirate presence The work by Visit NC’s PR team has led to North Carolina playing a starring role in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s "Visiting pirates - and their treasures.” The writer contacted the PR team for basic information about pirate-related tourism, and after learning about Blackbeard’s dramatic demise at Ocracoke, he devoted the bulk of the coverage to the pirate’s presence on the North Carolina coast. The N.C. Maritime Museums in Hatteras, Beaufort and Southport; the Queen Anne’s Revenge Conservation Lab at East Carolina University in Greenville; and the Bath State Historic Site are featured along with Springer’s Point and the Ocracoke Preservation Museum at Ocracoke. Visit NC Executive Director Wit Tuttell is quoted as is Chip Stevens, a descendant of William Howard, Blackbeard’s quartermaster and Ocracoke’s last Colonial owner. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a circulation of 128,600, and digital edition (STLToday.com) garners more than 2 million unique monthly visitors. |
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PR efforts lead to Asheville in the pet-friendly spotlight Due to efforts by Visit NC’s PR team, Asheville was spotlighted in Passport magazine’s “Traveling with Pets.” Visit NC worked with Explore Asheville CVB to host the writer and his dog for a December 2019 visit. The writer noted, in part, "Asheville may be famous for its craft beer, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an emerging art scene, but I'll always know it as one of the most pet-friendly destinations in America. Asheville simply checks all the boxes when I travel with [my dog]: pet-friendly hotels, pet-friendly restaurants, plenty of parks (and of course, the surrounding national forests), and numerous pet boutiques." The Aloft Asheville, Kimpton Hotel Arras, the Dog Door, Heart Alchemy and several restaurants were among the businesses mentioned in the article.Passport Magazine has a circulation of more than 164,000 readers |
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Metzger officially joins Visit North Carolina as PR director Margo Metzger has officially joined the EDPNC team as Visit North Carolina's public relations director. Her duties will include directing the office’s public relations efforts, managing the PR agency relationships domestically and internationally, and working with partners to develop editorial coverage of the state. Metzger has been doing contract work with Visit NC for nine months. Many partners may remember her when she worked as public relations manager at the N.C. Division of Tourism, prior to Visit NC’s privatization. Metzger has also served as Executive Director for both the NC Craft Brewers Guild and NC Wine & Grape Council, as well as Marketing Director for Our State magazine and Communications Director for the NC Restaurant & Lodging Association. A North Carolina native, she has a degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in Journalism and Mass Communication and 20 years of experience in tourism and hospitality in North Carolina. Metzger may be contacted at margo.metzger@visitnc.com. |
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Research shows excitement to travel remains steady but Americans not so welcoming to visitors in their own community Despite high vaccination rates among American travelers, nearly two-thirds have a high degree of concern about personally contracting the coronavirus right now according to Destination Analysts. The proportion of those unconcerned about contracting the virus has decreased by half since May of this year (40 percent to 21 percent). Despite these concerns, excitement to travel inched up this week from two weeks ago with 67 percent of travelers reporting they would be excited to travel. Openness to travel information also increased slightly this week to 59 percent from 54 percent two weeks ago. |
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While excitement to travel is holding steady, Americans don’t feel the same way about visitors to their communities. Nearly half of respondents to the most recent survey by Destination Analysts responded that they do not want travelers in their community right now. |
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Given the situation with the Delta variant, the majority of American travelers say that they support both indoor masking requirements as well as vaccine mandates for certain indoor activities. Nearly three-quarters of American travelers support the reinstatement of indoor masking policies, an increase of 9 percentage points since early August. |
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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Applications still open for N.C. Civil Rights Trail Marker Program The N.C. Civil Rights Trail Marker Program is still accepting applications for participation. An initiative of the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, with support from Visit North Carolina and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, the N.C. Civil Rights Trail will be developed with community involvement across the state. With funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, 40-50 sites will be designated for the trail, with at least 10 in Tier I and 2 rural North Carolina counties in alignment with Gov. Roy Cooper’s Hometown Strong initiative. Information can be view at "NC Civil Rights Trail - How to Apply" and "NC Civil Rights Trail Placement.” Completion of the N.C. Civil Rights Trail Marker Program is targeted for January 2023 at a cost of $173,500 to cover a full-time program coordinator; development of a digital GIS map; development of an interactive web portal, featuring at least 150 sites; and up to 50 physical community-based markers. For more information, contact Visit NC’s Andre Naborsor N.C. Civil Right Trail Coordinator Ashley Adams. |
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Highlands was among U.S. News & World Report’s “20 Top Places to See Fall Foliage in the U.S.” Of the inclusion, the online slideshow noted, in part, “The picturesque mountain town of Highlands sits at 4,118 feet elevation on the Highlands Plateau in the Nantahala National Forest. Highlands is a temperate rainforest, so the vegetation is lush, and there are many waterfalls, rivers and lakes to explore in and around the area. Leaf-peeping season runs from the last week of October to the first week of November, and that's when you'll see leaves turning bright yellows and oranges, as well as deeper hues of reds and rusts. There are many outdoor activities to enjoy in this region, such as hiking, fly-fishing and golfing, but the community also has a vibrant cultural arts scene.” The writer worked with Visit NC’s PR team to support Highland’s inclusion. |
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Asheville, Brevard among ‘4 Last-Minute Labor Day Road Trips’ Outside magazine selected Asheville and Brevard as the Southeast selection for its ”4 Last-Minute Labor Day Road Trips.” The article explained, in part, "Hit the road bound for Asheville, North Carolina, an accessible fall getaway that’s three hours from Atlanta. The best leaf peeping in this area happens closer to late September or early October, but you may start to spot red and yellow leaves at higher elevations by early September. Take a walk or bike ride on the newly built trail system at Richmond Hill Park, which has a new bike-skills park and about five miles of trails. Or go for a scenic drive on a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile roadway that connects the Blue Ridge Mountains to Shenandoah National Park, in Virginia, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park – both of which see far fewer crowds come September. To extend the journey, head less than an hour southwest to the town of Brevard, home to craft breweries and biking through Pisgah National Forest. Start with a guided mountain-bike ride with Red Wolf Mountain Bike Tours and end with a beer in the taproom at Ecusta Brewing Company. |
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Asheville among '10 Best Fall Vacations for Foliage Views, Fewer Crowds, and Stunning Scenery' Travel + Leisure included Asheville in its “10 Best Fall Vacations for Foliage Views, Fewer Crowds, and Stunning Scenery.” Of the inclusion, the article noted, in part, “Nestled in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has everything you could want in a fall getaway. The quaint downtown area is filled with unique shops, galleries, breweries, and restaurants, and you're almost guaranteed to see some local street performers as you wander around. Go for a hike in nearby Pisgah National Forest to spot beautiful waterfalls among the changing leaves, or take a scenic drive through part of the park to take in the beauty without working up a sweat. The Biltmore Estate is another popular Asheville attraction worth visiting; this Gilded Age mansion is the largest privately owned house in the U.S., complete with gardens and a winery.” |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Aug. 26, "North Carolina Weekend" showcases “Timeless Traditions.” Segments feature Scotland County Highland Games in Laurinburg; Historic Corolla Park in Corolla; Körners Folly in Kernersville; Zweli's Kitchen & Restaurant in Durham; and Mitchell Hardware in New Bern. (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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