| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | December 4, 2019 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* North Carolina delegation attends Travel South International Showcase
* Visit NC booth at Toronto show proves popular with attendees * N.C.-filmed series "Reprisal" debuts Friday on Hulu
* N.C.-filmed 'A Christmas Love Story' Hallmark movie premieres Saturday
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North Carolina delegation attends Travel South International Showcase
Visit NC's Wit Tuttell, Heidi Walters, Eleanor Talley and Amanda Baker attended the 8th annual Travel South International Showcase, in St. Louis, Mo., this week. Visit NC, along with partners from the Coast, Piedmont and Mountain regions, met with international tour operators and media to increase interest in international visitation to North Carolina. Partners included Biltmore, Explore Asheville, Greater Raleigh CVB, Outer Banks VB, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Charlotte NC Tours, and Long Cove Resort-Tiny House Lake-Shore Retreat. The North Carolina delegation was among 200 suppliers at this year's tradeshow, which featured more than 118 international tour operators interested in selling the southern U.S. to international visitors. These international tour operators came from 17 countries considered to be key and emerging markets for the southern U.S.
More than 888,000 overseas visitors came to North Carolina in 2018. International visitors spend more and stay longer than domestic visitors. For more information on the Visit North Carolina's international marketing program, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
| | | The Visit NC booth with its green-screen | |
Visit NC booth at Toronto show proves popular with attendees
Last month, Visit North Carolina's Canada team participated in the National Women's Show in Toronto. This was a great opportunity to reach a targeted audience of female consumers looking to see, sample and buy products, services and trips. It was also perfect timing to excite travellers about Visit NC's Dog Travel Agent program and North Carolina's 2020 Year of the Women celebration. At the North Carolina booth, attendees were invited to participate in a fun and interactive green-screen photo booth experience with iconic North Carolina backgrounds. They were also encouraged to participate in daily prize draws, with prizes courtesy of Greater Raleigh CVB, Johnston County VB and Visit Winston Salem. The show saw more than 35,000 attendees during the three-day event. To learn more about Visit NC's international marketing opportunities, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
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Visit NC PR efforts lead to Great Smoky Mountains National Park among 'These National Parks are hosting classic Thanksgiving celebrations'
Efforts by Visit NC's PR team resulted in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park being included in Lonely Planet's "These National Parks are hosting classic Thanksgiving celebrations." The inclusion was due to the PR team working directly with the freelance writer. The article explained, "The country's most visited national park is the perfect place to celebrate one of the most beloved holidays - Thanksgiving. In the heart of Southern Appalachia is the Fontana Village Resort, and their Mountainview Restaurant (which offers a vantage of the ancient Great Smoky Mountains) is serving up a veritable feast. For only $25.99 (or $11.99 for 5-12-year-olds), Thanksgiving guests will feast on both smoked and roasted turkey, sweet potato casserole and Benton's Bacon Southern Green Beans. Other notable menu items include three types of pie. Reservations should be made as soon as possible directly with the resort." Lonely Planet garners a unique monthly readership of more than 11 million. |
Visit Winston-Salem group learns about Visit NC
Visit NC's Kathy Prickett spoke to Visit Winston-Salem's Association of Visitor Attractions in Kernersville yesterday (Tuesday). She gave an overview of Visit NC and specifically addressed the guidelines for inclusion on VisitNC.com with an emphasis on strengthening a listing for an attraction or an attraction's signature event. |
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N.C.-filmed series "Reprisal" debuts Friday on Hulu
Hulu's latest original series, "Reprisal," debuts its entire first season this Friday (Dec 6). The series, shot entirely in southeastern North Carolina, hails from the producers of "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Fargo" and is the story of a relentless femme fatale who, after being left for dead, sets out to take revenge against her brother and his bombastic gang of gear-heads. It stars Abigail Spencer, Rodrigo Santoro and Mena Massoud.
The production, which also shot its pilot in the area in late 2018, was highly recruited the both the N.C. Film Office and the Wilmington Regional Film Commission. As announced earlier this year by the N.C. Department of Commerce, the series qualified for a rebate from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant in the amount of $10.7 million, which will be paid following an audit of the production, and would represent a direct in-state spend of more than $42 million. Filming for "Reprisal" took place in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Sampson counties with the production based at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington. |
N.C.-filmed 'A Christmas Love Story' Hallmark movie premieres Saturday
The N.C.-filmed "A Christmas Love Story" is set to premiere this Saturday on the Hallmark Channel as part of the network's popular "Countdown to Christmas" line-up. The movie filmed in Gaston, Mecklenburg and Union counties. The production was selected to receive up to $974,000 from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant program, which rebates productions up to 25 percent of their direct, audited in-state spending. "A Christmas Love Story" is one of the newest movies the network has branded as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, which means less commercial breaks (and so more of the movie). The made-for-TV movie stars Tony Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth as a youth choir director who needs to write a big song for a Christmas Eve show. She is distracted from her task when a boy with a golden voice joins her choir, which comes as a surprise to his widowed father, played by Scott Wolf. |
Cycle NC selects Forest City for 2020 CNC Mountain Ride
Cycle NC has selected Forest City as the host for its 2020 Mountain Ride, Aug. 7-9. The 7th annual, three-day cycling festival will feature a variety of route options each day that focus on showcasing the beautiful landscapes that Western North Carolina has to offer. Visit North Carolina is a founding sponsor of Cycle NC's Mountain Ride each August, the Coastal Ride in the spring, and the Mountains to Coast ride in the fall. |
8 counties will change tier rankings in 2020
The N.C. Dept. of Commerce has released the county tier designations for 2020. 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 2020, 8 counties will change tier designations. Counties moving to a less distressed tier ranking include Cleveland, Gates, Hoke and Surry (all from Tier 1 to Tier 2). Counties moving to a more distressed tier ranking include Caldwell, Onslow, Pitt and Wilkes (all from Tier 2 to Tier 1). |
American Airlines offering new CLT-Martha's Vineyard seasonal flight next summer
American Airlines is increasing its seasonal flight offerings to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in summer 2020 with a new route from an affluent island off the Massachusetts coast. The once-weekly flight between CLT and Martha's Vineyard (MVY) will begin June 20 and end Sept. 5. |
Vote for N.C. sites among Best of 2019 Awards
North Carolina has several sites among the nominations for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories for the Best of 2019 Awards. Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends Dec. 30 at noon. |
Benne on Eagle among 'Best New Restaurants in America'
Benne on Eagle is among Esquire's "Best New Restaurants in America, 2019." Of the Asheville restaurant, the article noted, "You're likely to come across words like ogbono and egusi on the menu at Benne on Eagle, and that's because it celebrates the debt that Appalachian food owes to African cuisine. But with rising star Ashleigh Shanti working side by side in the kitchen with Asheville luminary John Fleer, the history lesson happens to be delicious. Deviled eggs are converted into a dip for crudités; chicken wings turn absurdly tender after a braise in pot likker, the liquid you get after you cook collard greens. Come back in the a.m. - there is no better breakfast than trout and grits." |
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'America's best long-weekend escapes' includes Wilmington to Yadkin Valley
Wilmington to the Yadkin Valley is among "America's best long-weekend escapes," as reported by MSN.com. Of this trip, the article explains, "College town Wilmington blends old-fashioned Southern charm with dramatic coastal beauty - it's laced with beaches, marshes and barrier islands. Try to catch sunrise over Wrightsville Beach where lilac, orange and pink swirls cast dramatic light on the pale sand, before heading inland on a trip that takes you through some of the state's most beguiling destinations. Potential stops include Raleigh (known for its restaurants and craft breweries), garden-filled Chapel Hill and historic Winston-Salem. But the main event is the wine. Taste it at JOLO, whose award-winning reds include vintages made with native grapes, or Divine Llama Vineyards, which really is home to llamas - around 60 of them in fact. There are three dozen or so wineries in the Yadkin Valley, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains." |
December issue brings 'Season's Greetings'
The December issue of Our State magazine offers "Season's Greetings," ranging from holiday cards to a variety of Christmas Magic. "Downtown" tours Statesville; "Restaurant" features Five Points Restaurant in Asheville; and "Farm Tour" visits Sanderson Wreaths in Four Oaks. The December issue is available now. |
Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends
Check in, check out anytime you'd like at some hotels - The latest perk hotels are offering guests: flexible check-in and checkout. Some charge a fee. But some are granting it for free. It's an interesting play to attract more loyal customers who will book directly with the hotels and not with OTAs, notes Skift. For instance, The Hoxton hotels' Flexy Time let guests check in from 12 a.m. on the day of their booking to 12 a.m. on checkout day. Guests will have to book direct on the hotel website and give 72 hours' notice of their arrival and departure times. Some hotels and hotel chains will allow those times to be adjusted for their top-tier loyalty club members. Other hotel companies will offer flexible check-in and checkout times for a fee. Offering such flexibility, either free or for a fee, makes business sense. It could be an extra revenue stream for hotels. It could also build customer loyalty to a brand. Sober tourism is a real business - From rooftop bars to pub crawls, pool-side happy hours to club nights, alcohol tends to play an outsized role in travel, especially for young people. Skift reports in its "Travel's Moment of Clarity: Sober Tourism Is a Real Business," for the increasing number of travelers who either abstain from alcohol entirely or who are "sober curious" - meaning those taking a conscious break from drinking - booking standard travel experiences that don't center around alcohol can be challenging. This is especially true at a moment when solo travelers are open to joining group trips, but may not be so keen on meeting or traveling with people who are interested in pub crawls, happy hours, and partying. It is all part of a cultural moment that is challenging the prevalent yet unexamined idea that all adults drink by default, unless they have some past that means they stopped. So it's especially curious that when it comes to travel, the industry is just starting to show signs of recognition that this is a market worth catering to. Instead of eschewing alcohol for reasons of religion, health, or past substance abuse issues - though those reasons certainly still exist - a sober curious person might simply lack an interest in alcohol, or be actively exploring what their life and mental health might look like in the absence of it. Hotels experiment with reducing food waste - In an effort to cut down on the amount of food it was wasting, [one hotel in Portland, Ore.] stopped offering free bread with meals at its restaurant. Four months into the experiment, the hotel noticed it used 22.5 fewer pounds of dough a week and 65 fewer pounds of butter a month. Bread was still offered for a small charge, but if guests balked, they would get it for free. "They didn't see any missed difference in terms of the quality or satisfaction of the guest," said a manager of food waste at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which encouraged the hotel to experiment with its bread production and consumption. "It freed up the bakers' time to go do other tasks that were adding more value than producing bread." Cutting out a few pounds of bread and butter won't solve the world's environmental problem, but the hotel industry is one of the main producers of food, and many leftovers end up in landfills, producing greenhouse gas emissions. The labor, water and energy used to produce the food is also a loss. There's the humanitarian aspect of it too, with hotels realizing that they are throwing away food from their restaurants and banquet and conference rooms while there are those outside their doors who are in need. Many big hotels make most of their revenue off conventions, which means that they have to provide food for hundreds or even thousands of people in one sitting. Many properties also offer buffets, especially at breakfast, as a selling point, which means a lot of food is displayed in a pretty fashion but not necessarily eaten. The WWF teamed up with the American Hotel and Lodging Association to create HotelKitchen.org in 2017 to teach the industry ways to reduce food waste. The WWF got 10 hotels to do pilot projects on learning how to use food products wisely and dispose of any leftovers in a sustainable way. Hilton, Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, and AccorHotels have all participated in the program. |
Energy efficient holiday lighting
As the holidays approach, many tourism businesses have begun putting up seasonal decorations. Although decorative lights are a wonderful way of sharing the holiday spirit with guests and customers, the decorations can result in inefficient energy usage if improperly managed. One easy way to reduce the energy consumption of decorative lights is to make sure they are set on timers so they are only on when needed. Another option is to use lights with LED bulbs rather than incandescent. Although they may cost slightly more, LEDs are more energy efficient, durable and have a longer life. If buying new LED lights, check that the product has a warranty to protect your investment. Seasonal LED lights are now available at most local and online retailers. For more information on seasonal LED lights, visit the Energy Star webpage about decorative light strings. For more information on sustainability in the tourism industry, contact NC GreenTravel Program Manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140 . |
| | For the week of Dec. 5 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired Oct 2. Segments feature downtown Marion, Haunted Goldsborough in Goldsboro, and the House of Pickleball in Leland, with the "House Special" at S&T's Soda Shoppe in Pittsboro. (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. | The fall (September - November) was the most popular season for day travel to North Carolina, with 27 percent of all 2018 daytrippers, followed by spring (March-May) with 26 percent, summer (June - August) with 24 percent and winter (December-February) with 23 percent. October was the single largest month for day travel to the state with nearly 11 percent, followed by April with 9 percent. 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
Dec. 12 - AENC Annual Showcase, Raleigh Jan. 6-7 - BRPA Winter Meeting, Sparta Jan. 25-27 - NC Assn. of Festivals & Events Showfest, Charlotte Jan. 28 - NC Sports Assn. Meeting, Durham |
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