Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners | August 26, 2020 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC webinar explains Visit NC Marketing Credit Program to help DMOs * Visit NC PR assistance lead to B-B-Q Center's banana split in the Boston spotlight
* 3 in N.C. among 'Best Places to Retire in 2020'
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Visit NC webinar explains Visit NC Marketing Credit Program to help DMOs For this week's webinar, Visit NC's Wit Tuttell presented the Visit NC Marketing Credit Program. As the funding is the result of the CARES Act, Visit NC worked with the N.C. Pandemic Recovery Office (NCPRO) to determine the program adheres to specifications regarding the CARES Act. The Marketing Credit Program is designed to help DMOs in the state who must apply for the credit and who participate in the Count On Me NC initiative. While the program is only open to DMOs, attractions, restaurants and other tourism businesses may touch base with their local DMO about the program. The expanded co-op program - different from Visit NC's current co-op program - will be rolled out in phases starting next week. The deadline for DMOs to submit applications for the Visit NC Marketing Credit Program is Oct. 9. Next week's webinar will highlight the expanded co-op program, plus provide more details on how the marketing credit can be spent. The webinar will be next Wednesday at 10 a.m.; click here to register. |
Visit NC PR assistance lead to B-B-Q Center's banana split in the Boston spotlight
Due to efforts by Visit NC's PR team, working with Lexington TA, the banana split offered at the B-B-Q Center in Lexington is showcased in WhereTra veler.com's "Enjoy National Banana Split Day All Across the US August 25." In addition to being the lead photo, the article noted, "Another fan of excess is Barbecue Center, one of the top barbecue restaurants in Lexington, North Carolina. The hulking banana split is a regular menu item, a behemoth weighing between three and four pounds and generally shared by a table of four. BBQ and ice cream? Why the heck not. The restaurant sells a dozen or more each day and guests can watch as the dessert is made in full view at the front counter." |
Research shows travel priorities have changed for those who want to travel, first trip likely to be repeat visit
Optimism about the pandemic improving grew this week, says Destination Analysts, but high levels of concerns for personal and financial health remain stable, but elevated. While three-quarters of American travelers report that they have at least tentative plans to take a leisure trip in the next 16 months, only one-third have plans for the rest of 2020. For every 1 traveler who is ready to travel now, 2.4 are not ready to travel yet.
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For those Americans who do plan travel in 2020, half of them report that the pandemic has changed their travel priorities in that the travel experiences they are seeking have changed.
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The single most desired travel experience of these travelers is to spend time with loved ones, followed by relaxation and peace of mind. Top trip activities desired for 2020 travel match the experiences travelers are seeking: hanging out with friends/family, dining out, sightseeing, beach activities, and hiking.
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Repeat visitation is also particularly attractive to those who plan to travel sometime in the rest of the year. This week, more than 70 percent of respondents to the Destination Analysts survey reported that their next leisure trip is likely to be somewhere they have visited prior. This is up from just June when 60 percent of respondents reported the same.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
3 in N.C. among 'Best Places to Retire in 2020'
Forbes compared more than 750 locales in America, measuring everything from housing costs and taxes to healthcare and air quality. These are "Best Places to Retire in 2020," the top 25 cities for retirees - which included three in North Carolina: Asheville, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. |
Let's Go There campaign set to launch Sept. 8
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The Let's Go There Coalition is a broad collection of businesses and organizations that span practically every segment of the American travel industry. These organizations have come together to address the extreme declines in travel related to the coronavirus pandemic, first by championing safety-first messaging through the #TravelConfidently campaign, and subsequently, by forging a plan to reignite American's sense of wanderlust and inspire them to plan their next getaway, whenever the time is right to travel. The coalition is supported in executing its activities by the U.S. Travel Association. The Let's Go There Coalition will release a set of resources to support the campaign creative on DMO channels. DMOs are encouraged to post, share and distribute far and wide to ensure reach is as big as possible. Activating with these resources is at no cost and everyone's participation is welcome. These resources will be available beginning this week in the Let's Go There toolkit. Funding the campaign will require a separate and significant effort. Specific branding and digital benefits are available at varying levels of financial contribution. Set to launch Sept. 8, the Let's Go There campaign will inspire Americans to do what is exciting, safe and productive: make plans to travel. Through a phased and layered approach, this integrated, multi-channel consumer campaign will fill the media ecosystem and create an echo chamber across the industry. |
For the week of Aug. 27 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired June 25, which highlighted "things to do with kids." Features include Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck; Simply Natural Creamery in Ayden, All-a-Flutter Butterfly Park in High Point, Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe, The Eden Drive-Inn in Eden, and the Duke Lemur Center in Durham. Please note that the typical Thursday 9 p.m. broadcast will be pre-empted by the Republican 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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