Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, December 2, 2020 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
+ Count On Me NC toolkit offers new images, samples for social media use * Visit NC PR team’s efforts lead to Santa at Chimney Rock among ‘22 Unique Ways to See Santa Safely This Year’ * No Visit NC webinars for the next few weeks; DMO Forums next week |
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Count On Me NC toolkit offers new images, samples for social media use
Visit North Carolina is happy to offer a new seasonal update to its COVID-19 Partner Toolkit today. The update includes new images of the Count On Me NC “spokesperson" Sunny dressed up for the holiday, and also enjoying some winter weather on a holiday hike. Partners can also find sample posts and copy suggestions for incorporating a COMNC message into their own Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram feeds. These materials are designed to address safety concerns and further the strong safety messaging featured in the campaign, while also evoking a sense of holiday cheer and seasonal tidings. The toolkit and materials are available now on the partner websiteand are free for any DMO to download and use. For any questions on the suggested posts or usage of Sunny on social media, please contact Visit NC’s Nick Parkerat (919) 447-7787. And remember what Sunny says: “Spread holiday cheer, not the virus!” |
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Efforts by Visit NC’s PR team have led to Santa rappelling Chimney Rock among Travel + Leisure’s “22 Unique Ways to See Santa Safely This Year – From Surfing to Diving With Sharks.” The PR team responded to the writer’s inquiry with the suggestion. Of the inclusion, the online article explained, “Santa will show off his chimney-climbing skills on one of the world’s largest natural chimneys at Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina. Visitors can watch Santa scale the 315-foot monolith while enjoying festivities like holiday music, hot cocoa, and more. Santa will not be available for photos, but kids can have local poet Eddie Cabbage write out their wishlist on a vintage typewriter to mail to Santa.” TravelAndLeisure.com reaches 1.9 million unique viewers per month. |
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Visit NC webinars on hold for a few weeks; DMO Forums next week
Visit NC’s webinars won’t be held for the next few weeks. In the meantime, recordings of the Visit NC webinars are available here. Visit NC's webinar topics and registration information will be posted as available onPartners.VisitNC - COVID-19 and Visit NC 365.
In a continuing effort to foster collaboration through the COVID-19 crisis, Visit NC and NCTIA have been hosting bi-weekly, regional online meetings for DMOs across the state. The next DMO Forums will be Tuesday, Dec. 8. Next week’s DMO Forums include a representative from the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management, who will join the group to hear from DMOs on how their area businesses are doing and what their areas might be experiencing. |
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Research shows government travel restrictions deterring travel short-term but Americans looking farther out
American traveler sentiment remains largely unchanged this week, with more than 60 percent of Americans continuing to believe that the pandemic will get worse in the next month, according to Destination Analysts. These concerns are negatively impacting openness to travel with approximately half of travelers saying they have lost their interest in travel for the time being. Additionally, new consumer restrictions across the country due to recent surges in cases of the virus appear to be achieving their goals of deterring travel. Nearly 30 percent of Americans who have cancelled or postponed trips say it was due to government travel restrictions, and while Americans support safety restrictions in large part (58 percent), more than 30 percent say that new travel restrictions make them less likely to travel even within their own states during the next two months. While travel is being restricted during the next several months, Americans indicate that travel in the next six months is likely. At least 80 percent of Americans have tentative trip plans for the future, and a majority of them feel the latest news on vaccine development makes them more optimistic that they can travel safely in the coming months. One thing that will affect the desire to visit certain destinations is negative COVID-19 media coverage. Nearly 80 percent of Americans say that coverage regarding behavior not in line with safety guidelines makes them less interested in visiting in the next six months. |
Despite the negative sentiment, travel restrictions and trip cancellations, about 14 percent of Americans reported to Destination Analyststhat they did travel during Thanksgiving weekend, and nearly 20 percent say they plan to travel during the Christmas holiday. According to Arrivalist daily tracking data, trips to and within North Carolina during the week of Thanksgiving were down 34 percent compared to 2019. |
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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22 counties will change tier rankings in 2021
The N.C. Department of Commerce has released the county tier designations for 2021. The designations, which are mandated by state law, determine a variety of state funding opportunities to assist in economic development. Tier 1 counties are generally the most economically distressed and Tier 3 counties are generally the least economically distressed.
For 2021, 22 counties will change tier designations. Counties moving to a less distressed tier ranking include Beaufort, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Jones, Macon, Onslow, Perquimans, Pitt, Polk, and Transylvania. Counties moving to a more distressed tier ranking include Alexander, Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Davie, Haywood, Hoke, New Hanover, Randolph, and Rowan. |
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‘Appalachian FC brings Lower Division Soccer to the High Country’
Men’s soccer is back in Boone with the announcement that Appalachian Football Club is joining the National Premier Soccer League to begin play in May 2021. The NPSL is one of the largest established soccer leagues in the United States with more than 90 teams competing across the country. The NPSL is a member of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association and is thereby affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. The NPSL is considered 4th Division in the U.S. Soccer pyramid with Major League Soccer as 1st Division. The NPSL has helped grow the sport in markets throughout the U.S. and cultivate some of the top soccer clubs in the country, such as Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC. |
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‘Allegiant launches Las Vegas flight to AVL
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N.C. Christmas trees at the White House, President's Park
Avery County Christmas trees are heading to Washington, D.C., once again, but this year instead of sending one large tree to stand in the Blue Room in the White House, Christmas tree growers Larry Smith, Lynn Smith and Dale Benfield sent 56 Fraser firs to the nation’s capital as part of the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 3. The Avery Christmas trees will be in President’s Park, which is the area between the White House and the Washington Monument. Avery County is the nation’s largest producer of the Fraser firs; 94 percent of Christmas trees produced in North Carolina are Fraser firs. |
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Isley named new president, CEO for Explore Asheville CVB Victoria "Vic" Isley is the new president and CEO for the Explore Asheville CVB. She may be contacted at (828) 258-6104 or via visley@ExploreAsheville.com. |
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Asheville, Saxapahaw home to ‘Best Butcher Shops and Meat Markets in America’ Food & Wine included Chop Shop Butchery in Asheville and Left Bank Butchery in Saxapahaw in its “The Best Butcher Shops and Meat Markets in America,” offering nearly 100 independent shops. Of Chop Shop Butchery’s inclusion, the article noted, “Everything you’d expect from a serious modern butcher in a city as passionate about its food you will find here. This relatively new spot works with some great area farms, including the terrific, student-run operation at nearby Warren Wilson College. There’s a shop in Charlotte as well.” Of Left Bank Butchery, the article explained, “Why shouldn’t one of the most likable small towns in North Carolina have the state’s most charming butcher shop? Started by meticulous pig farmers looking for an equally good place to buy all the meats they couldn’t raise themselves, the operation has grown – propelled by no small amount of community support – to include a sister operation, Alimentari, at a Raleigh food hall.” |
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December brings the Annual Christmas Issue
The December issue of Our State magazine features the Annual Christmas Issue, which includes "Handmade Holiday," spotlighting several local galleries. A photo essay highlights Christmas Town USA, McAdenville. The December issue is available now. |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Dec. 3 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired Oct. 1. Featured segments include Good Hops Brewing in Carolina Beach; Mason's Sweet Shoppe in Union Grove; Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro; Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro; and Glas in Raleigh. (Check local listings for schedule; 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. |
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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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