Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC Partners - December 12, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
* North Carolina delegation at Travel South International Showcase
* Visit NC webinar this morning: ‘Travel Trends & Innovation: Insights for 2025 and Beyond with Expedia’
* January monthly webinar: Tourism Exchange USA News & Updates
The fam group at the
NASCAR Hall of Fame
in Charlotte
North Carolina delegation at Travel South International Showcase
Visit NC's Wit Tuttell and Heidi Walters attended the 11th annual Travel South International Showcase in Atlanta, Ga. last week. Visit NC, along with partners from Explore Asheville, Fayetteville Area CVB, Outer Banks VB and Visit Raleigh, met with international tour operators and media to increase interest in international visitation to North Carolina. The North Carolina delegation was among 134 travel trade specialists interested in creating trips to the southern US for international visitors. These international tour operators came from 16 countries considered to be key and emerging markets for the southern US. Visit NC also hosted a post-fam with delegates from Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Italy and South Korea, who visited Charlotte, Lexington,
Greensboro and Raleigh. International visitation to the state is expected to exceed 2019 numbers in the coming year. 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.
Visit NC webinar this morning: ‘Travel Trends & Innovation: Insights for 2025 and Beyond with Expedia’
Visit NC’s December webinar this morning will especially be of interest to DMOs and lodging – both hotel and short-term rental – partners. Join Kristi Pruitt of Expedia as she unveils key insights from their Unpack ’25
report, exploring demand trends for hotels and vacation rentals in 2025. Discover how Expedia’s versatile offerings, powered by its innovative loyalty program OneKey, bring greater value across their three core brands. She'll also share how technology and partnerships have driven responsible travel recovery, including initiatives that have and will continue to support Western North Carolina post-Hurricane Helene. Don’t miss this chance to gain actionable insights for DMOs and lodging partners alike. The webinar is at 10 a.m. today. Click here
to register.
Visit NC kicks off the new year by having Tourism Exchange USA present a refreshed introduction to their platform and explain how DMOs can help local tourism businesses benefit by getting started with the Exchange. They will also cover the latest update about the first-of-its-kind National Travel Trade Portal, which launched in October 2024. The NTTP, developed by Tourism Exchange USA, provides a one-stop shop for tour operators, travel agents, distributors and buyers to explore and book travel product from across the country. Tourism Exchange USA is brought to you by Visit North Carolina in partnership with Travel South and Brand USA. The webinar is open to all DMO team members and their partners. The webinar will be 10 a.m. on Jan. 9. Click here to register.
(photo courtesy Business
NC)
Business North Carolina’s Travel & Tourism roundtable in December issue
In its December issue, Business North Carolina magazine offered “Good Times Expected
," a roundtable discussion focusing on Travel & Tourism. The magazine brought together five experts and executives to discuss the impact and recovery due to Tropical Storm Helene; how the tourism industry is performing; tourism and hospitality worker challenges; tourism destinations working together; and what’s ahead for the industry. The tourism panel was comprised of Visit NC's Wit Tuttell, Greenville-Pitt County CVB’s Andrew Schmidt, Pinehurst Resort’s Eric Kuester, NC Central University Hospitality & Tourism's Berkita Bradford, and Robeson Community College Culinary Arts' James Ingram.
Record number of holiday travelers expected to close out 2024
AAA projects 119.3 million travelers will travel 50 miles or more from home during the 13-day year-end holiday travel period. This year’s domestic travel projection narrowly surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers. AAA expects an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to last year. Nearly 90 percent of holiday travelers – 107 million – will be driving to their destinations, making it the most popular way to travel. This year’s holiday travel period is defined as the 12-day period from Saturday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Jan. 1.
Cycle NC selects Sylva for 2025 CNC Mountain Ride
Cycle NC has selected Sylva as host for its 2025 Mountain Ride, Aug. 1-3. The 11th annual cycling festival will feature a variety of route options each day that focuses on showcasing the beautiful landscapes that western North Carolina has to offer. The Mountain Ride generally attracts more than 350 participants from more than 20 states. Visit North Carolina is a founding sponsor of Cycle NC's Mountain Ride each August and the Coastal Ride in the spring, and one of the founding sponsors of the Mountains to Coast ride in the fall.
NC nominees among favorite partners, events, leaders
Voting is now open for SportsEvents' Readers' Choice Awards for favorite events, sports planners and destination partners - and NC has several among the nominees. The top three winners in each category will be recognized in both the print and digital issues of the February issue of SportsEvents Magazine. Voting is open to sports events planners and destinations; there is no limit to the number of times someone can vote. Voting ends Dec. 31.
All-Star Destination Partner – Greensboro Area CVB
Most Anticipated Sporting Event to Watch – 58th AAU Junior Olympic Games, Greensboro
Emerging Sports Events Industry Leader – Caleb Wilson, Greensboro Area CVB
Beaufort, New Bern in the spotlight
Travel + Leisure highlighted New Bern in its “This Charming North Carolina City Is the Perfect Place to Visit for the Holidays – and It's Home to Famous Scenes From Nicholas Sparks' 'The Notebook
.'" The article opened with, “It’s easy to see why author Nicholas Sparks is inspired by New Bern, North Carolina. The waterfront town that he calls home dates back to 1710, offering visitors both historic attractions like Tryon Palace, a reconstruction of the state’s first permanent capital, and a thriving downtown with an eclectic culinary scene.” It included suggestions on Where to Stay, What to Do, Where to Shop and What to Eat.
In a separate article, Travel + Leisure included Beaufort among its “25 Best Christmas Towns in the US.” The article explained of Beaufort, “Typically, the weather is still warm enough to kayak or join a boat tour along Taylor's Creek. The Christmas lights take to the water, too: one of the biggest holiday events is the Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla, a twinkling lights-strewn boat parade held on the first weekend in December.”
McAdenville included in ‘15 of the best Christmas towns in the USA’
McAdenville was included in Business Insider’s “15 of the best Christmas towns in the USA.” Of the inclusion, the article noted, “McAdenville also goes by ‘Christmas Town, USA’ during the holiday season. The name is fitting since it's one of the best places to view holiday lights and decorations in the country. Beginning December 1 – and sometimes, even earlier – homes and buildings all over town are aglow in lights and decorations until the day after Christmas.”
For the week of Dec.12, "North Carolina Weekend” offers “Book Crawl.” Featured segments include Main Street Books in Davidson; Pages Books & Coffee in Mount Airy; Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh; Bookmarks in Winston-Salem; and Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville. (Check local listings, as 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 the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
150 Fayetteville St., Ste 1200, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, United States
