| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | December 18, 2019 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* 2020 N.C. Travel Guide now available in print, online
* Have you registered for Visit NC 365 yet?
Early registration deadline is Jan. 3
* Visit NC at the Presidents Cup
* Charlotte lands soccer expansion team
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Due to the holiday schedule, the next issue of NewsLink will be Jan. 8. |
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2020 N.C. Travel Guide now available in print, online
The Official 2020 North Carolina Travel Guide is now available, where travelers can chart a course from high adventure to deep relaxation. Along the way they'll rendezvous with artisan makers, dine at chefs' favorite tables, discover new reasons to celebrate, and meet up with Mo, the state's first Dog Travel Agent. The Travel Guide inspires travelers to seek first-time experiences that create enduring memories in destinations from the mountains to the sea. The guide is available in print and digital editions. The new guide offers three covers, one for each region of the state: fly fishing near Cullowhee, Raleigh's Ashley Christensen, the James Beard Foundation's Outstanding Chef for 2019, and camping at a platform along the Tar-Pamlico River Water Trail near Washington. All three covers can be viewed with the guide's digital magazine version, which is enhanced by information pop-ups, a social media share feature, search functions and clickable URLs. The "Official 2020 North Carolina Travel Guide" is free. The 172-page print edition is available at the state's nine Welcome Centers and can be ordered at VisitNC.com and via (800) VISIT NC (847-4862). Readers can download a digital magazine version via VisitNC.com/travel-guides. Bulk orders of the Travel Guide are available by emailing your request and physical delivery information to Teresa Smith at the Call Center. The Travel Guide is available at no cost for distribution by visitor centers, attractions, accommodations and other tourism-related businesses. "The North Carolina Travel Guide reflects the richness of experience that inspires nearly 85 percent of our out-of-state visitors to return," said Visit NC's Wit Tuttell. "Not only do we have ancient mountains and rivers, we also have hatha hikes and power paddles that expand our perceptions. Old textile mills, tobacco factories and other pillars of our past have been transformed into lively hubs for dining, craft beverage and shopping. The Travel Guide connects us to places we want to see or see again, and to the artisans, chefs, outfitters and other people who make the journey so rewarding."
The 2020 Travel Guide, the official guide for North Carolina's state tourism office, was produced by Meredith Travel Marketing. It was financed by private industry support from 68 advertisers. Listings for the 860 attractions and 2,675 accommodations and campgrounds were provided for free. The self-mailer format for the 500,000 printed copies reinforces Visit NC's green initiatives. |
Have you registered for Visit NC 365 yet? Early registration deadline is Jan. 3
Early Registration for the 2020 Visit NC 365 Conference ends Jan. 3. The annual tourism conference is March 22-24 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Visit NC 365 features stimulating keynote speakers and sessions as it brings together more than 500 of the state's tourism industry leaders during this three-day premier travel industry event. Registration for Visit NC 365 is open, featuring the early registration rate of $475/person, which ends Jan. 3. Click here to register. When you register, don't forget to share in the action with the hashtag #VisitNC365 on Twitter @NCTourism and Facebook @NCarolinaTourism. For more information on the conference, contact Amanda Baker at (919) 447-7765. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, offering a range of options |
| | Signage at the tournament | |
Visit NC at the Presidents Cup
The Presidents Cup did not disappoint. The biennial international golfing event that concluded this past weekend was closely contested between teams of professional golfers from the United States competing against the Internationals representing nine countries this year. This year's tournament in Melbourne, Australia, provided an exciting preview for what to expect at the 2021 Presidents Cup at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. Visit North Carolina's participation was enthusiastically welcomed by spectators at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club and sparked awareness and interest for North Carolina and the 2021 event.
Visit NC's tent showcased imagery from across the state and the 2021 Presidents Cup trophy as a photo opportunity for spectators. Visitors to the booth could also enter a sweepstakes for a golf vacation to North Carolina sponsored by partners from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority; Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB; and Outer Banks VB. United Airlines partnered by providing the winner with round trip air travel and global tour operator iTravel also participated. More than 1,200 entries were collected during the eight-day promotion.
For more information about Visit NC's international marketing programs contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
Charlotte lands soccer expansion team Major League Soccer yesterday (Tuesday) awarded the 30th MLS team to Charlotte and Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper. Slated to start competing in 2021, the soccer team will play at the Panthers' stadium. Charlotte met the league's three key criteria for an expansion team, MLS Commission Don Garber said: a committed owner, public partnerships and support from the corporate community. The league also wanted a downtown stadium, which he called "a real formula to drive our success. All of those things exist here in Charlotte." |
More Americans than ever on record will travel this holiday season
AAA reports more Americans than ever on record will travel this holiday season, from Saturday, Dec. 21, through Wednesday, Jan. 1. The record number of 115.6 million travelers is the most in nearly 20 years since AAA began tracking in 2000, and represents an increase of 3.9 percent compared to last year, or 4.3 million more people. More than 104 million of those holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, yet another record number. |
National Plan for Vacation Day Jan. 28
National Plan for Vacation Day is set for Jan. 28, a day to encourage Americans to plan their time off - ideally to travel. National Plan for Vacation Day means to encourage Americans to declare their vacation days for the rest of the year, at the start of the year. The U.S. Travel Association offers a toolkit available to make a DMO's #PlanForVacation efforts a success, which includes press release and social media templates, talking points and other useful data. |
Southport-Fort Fisher ferry to close for several months
Beginning Jan. 6, the N.C. Department of Transportation is updating ramp equipment at the Southport and Fort Fisher ferry terminals, which will close the Southport-Fort Fisher route until the spring. Contractors estimate they should be completed by April 6. Visitors and residents will need to take a 45-plus-minute detour in order to get to the other side of the Cape Fear River, depending on the destination, reports the Wilmington Star-News. |
Vote for PTI, CLT among Best Airports
North Carolina has two airports among the nominations for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories with aviation themes. Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends Jan. 13 at noon. |
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Asheville among '50 Best Places to Travel in 2020'
Travel + Leisure included Asheville in its "50 Best Places to Travel in 2020." Of Asheville, the article noted, "With a small-town feel and big-city cultural cred, Asheville, North Carolina is home to artists, musicians, and food and drink entrepreneurs who were making microbrews and serving farm-to-table meals long before such things were de rigueur. Now the mountain town is becoming more traveler-friendly than ever, with new offerings that showcase the sophisticated side of Appalachia. The Asheville Art Museum reopened in November with 70 percent more gallery space, including a new wing and rooftop sculpture garden. Last September, the city hosted the inaugural Chow Chow, an Appalachian food festival featuring chefs like Katie Button and John Fleer. There's a slew of new watering holes, like cocktail bar and live-music venue Asheville Beauty Academy and neighborhood cocktail joint the Golden Pineapple. And Beer City still lives up to its nickname, with new openings like Burial Beer Co's Forestry Camp Restaurant and Bar, set on a former Civilian Conservation Corps compound; Cultura, a restaurant from the Wicked Weed Brewing team; and Dssolvr, a taproom that goes beyond beer with experiments in cider, mead, wine, and more. Downtown, the Foundry Hotel and Hotel Arras both arrived in 2019, adding lively, urbane alternatives to the scene." |
Mount Olive Pickle Drop's 'glowing pickle' is one of the 'Craziest things dropping this New Year's Eve'
USA Today included the "glowing pickle" at Mount Olive's Pickle Drop among "These are the craziest things dropping this New Year's Eve." Of the inclusion, the article said, "Nothing says 'Happy New Year' like watching a 3-foot glowing pickle descend down a flag pole, usually outside the Mt. Olive Pickle Company in Mount Olive, North Carolina. However, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the pickle drop, so the event will be held at the University of Mount Olive. This drop happens at 7 pm ET (midnight GMT)." |
'The Best Places to Spend Christmas in the U.S.' includes Asheville Asheville is among Condé Nast Traveler's "Best Places to Spend Christmas in the U.S." Of "Why we go," the online article explained, "Asheville is easily one of the country's best places to spend Christmas, offering all the light displays and holiday shopping - not to mention the perfect tucked-away location in the Blue Ridge Mountains - any vacationer could wish for. Some of the city's seasonal offerings include a lit-up wonderland at the North Carolina Arboretum, a national gingerbread house competition at The Omni Grove Park Inn, and the Holly Jolly Christmas Trolley weaving through the downtown area." It also suggested Christmas at Biltmore as the "One thing to get you in the spirit" and The Foundry to "Stay here." |
No-idling zones at hotels, restaurants and attractions
Some drivers still believe there are advantages to idling their vehicles while parked, however, the opposite is true. Of course, when traffic is backed up, drivers are forced to idle their vehicles, but what about when a delivery truck is delivering goods to a restaurant or a tour bus is parked, waiting to pick up guests at a hotel? First, let's look at the health aspects of idling. It needlessly increases the amount of pollutants in the air and creates problems for people with allergies, heart disease, lung disease and a variety of health problems. In respect to the environmental impact, tailpipe emissions contain carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Economically, idling wastes fuel and money. An idling car can use as much as 7/10of a gallon of fuel an hour and an idling diesel truck can burn about a gallon of fuel an hour. Contrary to popular belief, restarting a vehicle does not burn more fuel than idling. Ten seconds of idling wastes more fuel than starting the engine. Idling for just two minutes uses about the same amount of fuel as driving a mile. It's harder on engines than restarting because idling leaves fuel residues that can damage engine components and increase maintenance costs in the long run. Drivers can reduce their idling impact by warming up their engine while driving, because engines warm twice as quickly while being driven. In the long run, engine life can be extended by not idling. Businesses can help protect the environment by posting "No Idling" signs at their delivery and drop-off areas. For more information about no-idling policies, download and view the Environmental Defense Fund booklet "Idling Gets You Nowhere," or contact NC GreenTravel Program Manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of Dec. 19 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired Oct 17. Segments include the elk near and the town of Maggie Valley; the Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas Light Show in Concord; and Raffaldini Vineyards in Ronda; with the "House Special" at The Peddler Steak House in Raleigh. (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 travel party size for daytrip visitor parties to North Carolina is 2.0 people. Also in 2018, 29 percent of travel parties to the state include children in the party. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Visitor Profile Studies, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Jan. 6-7 - BRPA Winter Meeting, Sparta Jan. 25-27 - NC Assn. of Festivals & Events Showfest, Charlotte Jan. 28 - NC Sports Assn. Meeting, Durham Feb. 3 - NCRLA Annual Meeting, Raleigh Feb. 13 - NC Coast Host Meeting, Morehead City |
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