Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - December 21, 2022
IN THIS ISSUE:
* 2023 N.C. Travel Guide
now available in print, online
* Visit NC Tourism Conference Early Bird registration has prize drawing
* Visit NC ‘s January webinar
features ‘All Things Travel Guide’
Thank you for your insight and partnership this year. We look forward to working with you in the New Year to inspire travel to and within North Carolina. Warm wishes for a happy and safe holiday season!
NewsLink returns January 4.
2023 N.C. Travel Guide now available in print, online
The Official 2023 North Carolina Travel Guide is now available. The publication is designed to inspire real-life trips across the state. Drawing on authentic experiences found in all 100 counties, the new guide creates fresh ways to explore cities, towns and the outdoor wonderlands at the heart of 2023’s Year of the Trail celebration. “The Year of the Trail points the way to thousands of miles of pathways where nature lovers of all abilities can walk, paddle, pedal or otherwise immerse themselves in scenic beauty and outdoor adventure,” said Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell. “Yet as the Travel Guide shows, visitors can follow byways built on music, sports, culinary pursuits or other interests. Maybe best of all are the details – the shops and retro motor lodges, the special places to stop for views, the must-have souvenirs – that inspire travelers to make the most of the journey as well as the stay.”
To underscore the diversity of travel options, the guide features a different cover for each of the state’s three major regions. In the mountains, a shot of the dog-friendly Bearwallow Mountain Trail near Hendersonville sets hillside greenery against blue skies and mountain peaks. ARTivity on the Green, Winston-Salem’s photo-ready downtown art park, represents the creative spirit that infuses the state’s Piedmont cities. The coastal cover, depicting White Lake Holiday Resort in White Lake, invites discovery of the inland beaches surrounding North Carolina’s phenomenal bay lakes. The Official 2023 North Carolina Travel Guide is free. The print edition is available at the state’s nine Welcome Centers or by calling (800) 847-4862 (800-VISIT NC). Readers can also link to VisitNC.com/travel-guides to request a copy, access the digital edition or download a PDF version. Bulk orders of the Travel Guide are available by emailing your request and physical delivery information to Pam Jarett at the Call Center. The Travel Guide is available at no cost for distribution by visitor centers, attractions, accommodations and other tourism-related businesses.
Visit NC Tourism Conference Early Bird registration has prize drawing
With the holidays fast approaching, now’s the perfect time to register for the 2023 Visit NC Tourism Conference before the New Year. The Early Bird registration deadline is Jan. 8. Anyone who registers by then will be entered into a drawing for an Asheville area restaurant gift card provided by the 2023 host, Explore Asheville. The Visit NC Tourism Conference will be at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, March 6-8. Click here to register.
Visit NC’s January webinar features ‘All Things Travel Guide’
For January's monthly webinar, Visit NC and its partners from Dotdash Meredith will present the 2023 North Carolina Travel Guide. The webinar will also give tips and insights into plans for the 2024 Travel Guide, including the upcoming Travel Guide roadshow, where DMO partners can pitch content ideas for their areas. The webinar will be 10 a.m. on Jan. 12. Click here to register.
Visit NC issues RFP for 2023-2028 marketing and communications services
Visit NC is inviting proposals for the state's marketing, communications and creative services needs for the fiscal years of 2023 to 2028.
Business functions open for bid include:
Creative/ Media/ Brand Identity
Social Media
Website Development
Marketing Co-Op Program
Public Relations
Trade Industry Relations/ Marketing (Film NC)
Consumer Marketing and Industry Engagement (Outdoor NC Initiative)
Direct all inquiries concerning this RFP by email to Visit NC’s review consultant, Chris Cavanaugh
of Magellan Strategy Group. Questions concerning the specifications in this Request for Proposals will be received until close of business Friday, December 23, 2022. Read the full RFP here.
Visit NC PR team’s hotel roundup leads to Mirror Hotel, Zelda Dearest among ‘Most Buzz-Worthy Hotels Opening in 2023’
The Mirror Hotel and Zelda Dearest, both in Asheville, are included in a Zoe Report rundown of “The Most Buzz-Worthy Hotel Openings for 2023,” the result of a more comprehensive list pitched by Visit NC’s PR team. The writer notes that the Mirror Hotel features architectural exterior mirrors to reflect the picturesque surroundings and heralds Zelda Dearest as a not-to-miss stay in the South Slope neighborhood. “You’ll have to wait until summer to experience,” the post says of Zelda Dearest, which will offer contributions by local chef Jacob Sessoms. The Zoe Report attracts more than 2.4 million unique monthly visitors.
Research shows travelers more careful with money, concerns for travel prices
With an expected economic recession on the horizon, many travelers note that they are being more careful with their money, reports Destination Analysts. With this more careful attitude regarding finances, deals and discounts for travel are more important compared to earlier in the year.
In the past 12 months, nearly a third of Americans have used credit card points and/or rewards for travel-related purposes, with the most popular items being airline tickets and hotel room nights.
Travel prices in general remain an impediment to travel to nearly half of travelers. Forty-four percent of American travelers say that high travel prices have kept them from traveling in the past month.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies.
McDowell County TDA seeking a new executive director
The McDowell County TDA is seeking a new executive director, as Carol Price is retiring at the end of this year. Information on the position is available here. The position is open until filled.
National Plan for Vacation Day Jan. 31
National Plan for Vacation Dayis set for Jan. 31, a day to encourage Americans to plan their time off – ideally to travel. National Plan for Vacation Day hopes people will declare their vacation days for the rest of the year, at the start of the year. The U.S. Travel Association offers a Recap Book for the 2022 event, which provides key insights and metrics.
Durham’s Moore featured in New York Times article
Ricky Moore of Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham is featured in The New York Times’ “The Unassuming Ingredient at the Heart of a Chef’s Kwanzaa Feast.” Moore, honored this year by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chef-Southeast, traces his traditional peanut fish stew to a weekly treat from his maternal grandmother: salted peanuts and Pepsi. Moore, who grew up in New Bern, shares the recipes for the stew and other dishes that are part of his Kwanzaa observance. Involving his whole family in preparing the fare “signifies the unity, collective work and responsibility principles of Kwanzaa,” Moore said. “Which, I like to think, is what Kwanzaa is all about: togetherness, community and connection."
‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Dec.22, "North Carolina Weekend” offers “Holiday Weekends.” Featured segments include Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro; Cúrate in Asheville; Mike's Farm in Beulaville; Alfredo's in Clinton; and GreenLife Inn at The Mimosa in Tryon. (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.
Visit North Carolina is part of Economic Development Partners of North Carolina
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