Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - August 31, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* New schedule for NewsLink
* Fall sponsored content features 10 counties in North Carolina
* Visit NC’s next monthly webinar features ‘What's New and Upcoming with Partner & Industry Relations’
* 2024 N.C. Travel Guide ad sales close Sept. 20
Welcome to the new schedule for NewsLink!
We now plan to deliver NewsLink to your Inbox each Thursday morning. We hope you'll continue to enjoy Visit NC's weekly enewsletter for its tourism partners!
Fall sponsored content features 10 counties in North Carolina
As part of its custom content buy with Dotdash Meredith, Visit NC commissioned an online article with Travel + Leisure titled “9 Ways to Celebrate Fall Beyond Foliage in North Carolina.” The article featured 10 counties: Brunswick, Catawba, Craven, Davidson, Henderson, Moore, Pitt, Polk, Rutherford, and Watauga. The article has already seen more than 13,000 page views with a 12.3 percent engagement rate, almost 2 times higher than the benchmark for similar articles. The content was also promoted via a social media and enews campaign with Travel + Leisure.
Visit NC’s next monthly webinar features ‘What's New and Upcoming with Partner & Industry Relations’
For its monthly webinar in September, Visit NC's Partner & Industry Relations team will discuss some new efforts, including an upcoming Fall Tour to visit partners around the state, as well as the new Tourism Exchange Program; Outdoor NC 2.0, which will include stewardship workshops; updates on the VisitNC.com database training; and the evolution of the TRAC (Tourism Resource Assistance Center) program. The webinar will be at 10 a.m. on Sept. 14; click here to register.
2024 N.C. Travel Guide ad sales close Sept. 20
Ad sales for the 2024 Official North Carolina Travel Guide close on Sept. 20. As Visit North Carolina's fulfillment piece for visitors to and within the state, the N.C. Travel Guide is available at the state's nine Welcome Centers, Visitor Centers, via the 1-800-VISIT NC Call Center and VisitNC.com.
The guide will feature road trips, outdoor adventures (both urban and rural), multigenerational travel, and other key findings from Dotdash Meredith Travel Marketing's predictive travel insights for 2024. Outdoor NC, a primary Visit NC marketing strategy, will be addressed throughout the book. The guide will also focus on consumer behaviors, as tactics travelers can employ through the duration of planning and adventure, rather than subsects of travel audiences. In addition, the guide will include content tied to accessibility, highlighting ADA-accessible trails and destinations that offer experiences for those with sensory and physical limitations.
Readers are inspired by the guide, with 87 percent saying it led them to take or plan a trip to North Carolina and 64 percent saying they saved the guide to reference later.
View the 2024 N.C. Travel Guide Media Kit here. For more information, contact Integrated Sales Manager-Travel Stacey Rosseter at (678) 571-7445.
A previous TRAC in Statesville
Visit NC’s TRAC coming to Concord Sept. 28
Tourism-related businesses in Cabarrus County – plus the surrounding counties – will have an opportunity to work with Visit NC staff to learn about its research, development and marketing services, and discuss best practices for reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending. Visit NC's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses. TRAC will be 2 - 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/Concord at 7831 Gateway Ln. NW in Concord.
There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there is no PowerPoint presentation. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you-like event opportunity for all tourism-related businesses to meet one-on-one with program managers to discuss better ways to promote their property or event. TRAC brings Visit North Carolina's program managers to local communities to discuss the nuts and bolts of working with the organization. This invaluable program is designed to help tourism-related businesses engage more fully with programs offered by Visit North Carolina and its partners.
Representatives from the EDPNC's Business Services, N.C. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. State Parks, Agritourism, and NC GreenTravel are often on hand to discuss services they can provide businesses, including strategic planning, assisting with identifying funding sources and serving as liaisons with other local, state and federal agencies. For additional information on this session or to learn more about scheduling a TRAC visit to your community, contact Visit NC's André Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
Research notes impact, attributes of road trip travelers
Recent research from Miles Partnership and Longwoods International on U.S. road trips reports that more than $51.3 billion in direct spending is generated by road trip travelers. The South Atlantic region has seen a significant increase in the share of road trips during the last 20 years. Nearly a quarter of all road trips in the U.S. are taken in this region.
Road trip travelers are more likely than overall leisure travelers to use hotels directly to plan their trips, as well as online travel agencies, destination websites and social media. These travelers are also more likely to participate in entertainment and outdoor activities than leisure travelers in general. Activities such as sightseeing, shopping, historic sites, museums and parks are among the most popular for road trip travelers. They are also more likely to seek out unique or local food experiences. More than a quarter of road trips are 5 nights or longer.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through NewsLink with links to available studies.
Vote for TST for Best New Sports Event
Vote for The Soccer Tournament (TST) in Cary for Best New Sports Event. The SportsTravel Awards honor the best events, venues and hosts in the sports-event industry. Click here to start voting, which is open through Sept. 8.
‘25 Best Places to Visit in North Carolina,’ plus Highlands in the spotlight
Travel + Leisure featured several sites in its “25 Best Places to Visit in North Carolina – Including a Scenic Parkway, Buzzy Cities, and the Most-visited National Park
." The online article’s lead-in noted, “From energetic cities and beautiful beaches to mist-covered hills and museums that mark important moments in history, the Tar Heel State has something to lure every type of traveler. Here are some of the best places to visit in North Carolina so you can start planning your next trip to this East Coast destination packed with must-see spots.” Visit NC assisted with some of the photography.
In a separate article, Travel + Leisure recognized Highlands as "America’s Best Small Mountain Town." T+L launched America’s Best Small Towns to shine a spotlight on the lesser-visited destinations it wanted its readers to know about. Of the recognition, the segment noted, “modern-day Highlands is a summer retreat for those looking to escape the humidity and a year-round haven for hiking, waterfall spotting, art, music, and top-tier dining and hospitality experiences.”
September issue offers the ‘Tour Issue’
For its September edition, Our State magazine offers the “Tour Issue.” “Local’s Guide” visits Rocky Mount; “Restaurants” highlights Franklinville Dinner in Franklinville; and “Happy Trails” paddles the Yadkin River State Trail. The September issue is available now.
For the week of Aug. 31, "North Carolina Weekend” highlights “Foothills Fun,” which originally aired on June 15. Featured segments include a profile of Hickory; Surry County Scenic Byways, basing the segment in Mount Airy; Charolais Steakhouse in Hickory; and Raffaldini Vineyards in Ronda. (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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