Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners
December 11, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC 365's Monday reception to feature
'The Great Gatsby' theme
* International operators tour the state
* Visit NC's PR efforts lead to the Pickle Drop among 'New Year's celebrations around the country'
* N.C.-filmed 'Uncle Frank' set to premiere at Sundance Film Festival
Visit NC 365's Monday reception to feature 'The Great Gatsby' theme

The 2020 Visit NC 365 Conference finds the return of a popular gathering: a reception for all attendees on Monday night. The Monday, March 23, "The Great Gatsby"-themed event will be in the new Arts & Crafts-inspired Seely Pavilion, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Start now thinking about your attire to bring alive the Roaring '20s and the Jazz Age. Stay tuned to NewsLink for more information about the event as the conference gets closer. This reception is in addition to the traditional opening Sunday night reception but offers a better chance for attendees to network and "catch-up" since everyone will have arrived for the conference. Registration for Visit NC 365 is open, featuring early registration rates.
The group at Outer Banks Distilling in Manteo
International operators tour the state

Following the Travel South International Showcase in St. Louis, Mo., last week, Visit NC and partners Greater Raleigh CVB and Outer Banks VB hosted two receptive tour operators from the U.S. and seven tour operators from Germany, Italy, Netherlands, U.K., and Belgium on a familiarization tour of Raleigh and the Outer Banks. For most of these operators, it was their first visit to the state. They will return home and include these areas into itineraries for their clients.

Visit North Carolina's international efforts are a joint collaboration with destination marketing partners across the state. As part of its international marketing, Visit NC partners with CVBs, attractions and hotels to showcase all that North Carolina has to offer international visitors. Hosting familiarization tours is a successful way that allows tour operators to experience various aspects of the state so they can better promote travel to North Carolina. To learn more about Visit NC's international marketing programs, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762.
Visit NC's PR efforts lead to the Pickle Drop among the 'Family-friendly New Year's celebrations around the country'

Efforts by Visit NC's PR team have led to the Pickle Drop in Mount Olive among Reader's Digest's "14 Family-Friendly New Year's Celebrations Around the Country." The inclusion was the result of the team's work with the freelance writer. Of the Pickle Drop, the article noted, "In Mt. Olive, North Carolina, the 20th annual New Year's Eve Pickle descends the flagpole at the stroke of very kid-friendly 7 p.m., that's because 7 p.m. EST also happens to be midnight Greenwich Mean Time (aka New Year's in the United Kingdom). That way you can officially shout 'Happy New Year!' and not have to stay up until midnight! It's great family fun with live music and complimentary refreshments, including Mt. Olive pickles."
Visit NC partner programs opportunities still available  

Visit NC wants to ensure all partners are aware of the opportunities offered to them through its partner programs. These are opportunities that tourism partners, such as travel destinations and organizations, can take advantage of now or as they are planning for next year's travel marketing.
 
Visit NC offers programs at a variety of price points starting as low as $150, so there is something for everyone at every part of the year. Details on the partner programs can be found here. Popular programs still available include print opportunities in Southern Living, Local Market Combo: Carolinas and Local Market Combo: Florida' and the Garden & Gun June/July travel issue. There are also still opportunities on VisitNC.com and in select digital programs such as AJC.com Sponsored Content, Madden Media Paid Search and 6AM City Multimarket Sponsored Content.
  
If you have any questions or would like to set up time with the Partner Program team to discuss options and recommendations, please contact LGA's Hailey Weddington or Michelle Murdoch at (704) 552-6565.
N.C.-filmed 'Uncle Frank' set to premiere at Sundance Film Festival

The N.C.-filmed movie "Uncle Frank" is slated to have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. "Uncle Frank" was one of more than 100 films announced last week as part of the famed film festival's 2020 lineup. The 1970s-set independent film filmed in the Wilmington region this past spring. The production employed about 70 local crew members while in the region and qualified for the state film rebate programWritten and directed by Academy Award winner Alan Ball, the film stars Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn, Stephen Root and Margo Martindale.
STS Top 20 Events nominations for July-August-September deadline Jan. 17

The deadline for nominating events for Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 events for July-August-September is Jan. 17. Nominated events must have an attendance of at least 1,000 and be at least in its third year of existence. Nominations for STS Top 20 Events can now be submitted electronically via an online form. Top 20 Events encourages entrants to strengthen their nomination by providing supporting material such as photos, posters, brochures, press releases, news clippings and/or volunteer programs. There is a $30 entry fee per event nomination; events do not have to be a member of STS to participate.
Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends

Conference planners seek food truck experience (actual truck optional) - Food trucks, once a novelty, are now seemingly on every city street corner. Lately, they've even been showing up at hotels and business meetings as conference organizers aim to give a group an "authentic" experience and a taste of the local culinary scene, reports The New York Times. "It's intriguing to corporate planners who are thinking outside the box," said a consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area who helps event organizers coordinate the logistics of using trucks, from vendor licenses to seating. "Hotels and tech companies like the trend because it gives them a variety for their attendees and the food is cool, it's hip." A local chef coordinates the logistics from the truck side, such as tailoring menus for corporate clients, via a consortium of food trucks that is used by event planners for large groups. A food truck can also help a hotel circumvent space constraints, as in the case of one Key West hotel, which bought and now operates its own truck. Some larger hotels, such as one in Dallas, have taken a different path to offering "food-truck food." They have fake trucks, as the hotel would rather keep a group's food and beverage spending than see it go to an outside vendor.
 
5 key lessons from the world's largest green events venue- Large events are notorious for the amount of waste they produce, not to mention the carbon emissions involved in transportation to and from the meeting space, notes Skift. With so many materials involved, it can seem impossible to make an event environmentally-friendly, unless it is very small and local. Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center, which also includes Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park, is the largest venue in the world to have a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Keeping this certification year after year has not been easy, from investing dollars to experimenting with different methods to reduce its carbon footprint. A representative with the GWCC explains, "One of the biggest challenges is really just constantly educating and training our staff, and making sure everyone's on the same page." The goal for GWCC is to repurpose as much of the materials used in an event as possible, whether it be the food, the furniture, or any of the props or gadgets. Energy efficiency is notable but GWCC's social footprint is just as important, as the venue has partnerships with a variety of nonprofits around Atlanta to donate food and materials.
Printed materials present challenges

Every tourism organization has its own marketing strategy, but whatever marketing strategy is used, printed materials are an important tool, whether they are convention center layouts given at trade shows or brochures distributed at visitor centers. While printed materials are a relatively cost-effective way to get a message across, there is increasing concern regarding the environmental impacts. One option to reduce paper usage is to rely more on digital distribution of materials, but according to one report, digital media is not without its environmental impacts as well. It can be difficult to compare the impact of different media formats, but the bottom line is that every format has an impact. With thoughtful planning, though, impacts can be minimized to meet both the distributor's and the consumer's standards and needs. Just as important as the information that is printed is what that information is printed upon. Including information about how travelers can reduce their environmental impact while visiting a destination is yet another way to improve environmental performance even further. To learn more about green solutions for the printing industry, check out "4 Best Green Solutions for Sustainability in the Printing Industry." Also, learn more about paper and recycling. For more information on green travel tips for consumers that can be included in print materials, contact NC GreenTravel Program Manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140.
For the week of Dec. 12 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired Oct 10. Segments feature the traveling exhibit "She Changed the World: North Carolina Women Breaking Barriers"; Drexel Barbershop Bluegrass in Drexel; Dock 1053 in Raleigh; and the Winter Light Show at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. (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.
In 2018, the average household trip expenditure for overnight visitors was $721. Resident overnight visitors spent an average of $474 and out-of-state overnight visitors spent an average of $853. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Visitor Profile Studies, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748.
Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events

through Dec. 12 - NTA Travel Exchange, Fort Worth, Texas
Dec. 12 - AENC Annual Showcase, Raleigh
Jan. 6-7 - BRPA Winter Meeting, Sparta
Jan. 10-14 - ABA Marketplace, Omaha, NE
Jan. 23-Feb. 2 - Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah
Jan. 25-27 - NC Assn. of Festivals & Events Showfest, Charlotte
Jan. 28 - NC Sports Assn. Meeting, Durham
Jan. 28 - US Travel Assn. National Plan for Vacation Day, nationwide
Feb. 2-4 - CARVC Conference & Expo, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Feb. 4-6 - Beer Marketing & Tourism Conference, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Feb. 10-11 - NC Agritourism Farm Tour & Conference, Asheville
Feb. 10-12 - STS Connections, Little Rock, Ark.
Feb. 13 - NC Coast Host Meeting, Morehead City
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