Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - February 1, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Popular Legislative Update returns to Visit NC Tourism Conference
* Visit NC February webinar next week looks at ‘What's New, besides the name, for the upcoming Visit NC Tourism Conference’
* Visit NC’s TRAC coming to Lumberton, bringing new hours
The Legislative Update returns to the Visit NC Tourism Conference this year. The popular and always informative session provides up-to-date information on North Carolina’s political and economic landscape and how it affects the state’s tourism industry. In the wake of the 2022 elections, learn and ask questions during this interactive session about new laws and proposed legislation that affect your businesses and community.
Registration is open for the Visit NC Tourism Conference, at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, March 6-8. Click here to register to attend the conference. The agenda, as well as other information such as sponsorship opportunities, can be found here.
The hotel room block for the Visit NC Tourism Conference at the Omni Grove Park Inn closes next Wednesday (Feb. 8). Conference attendees are encouraged to make their reservations before that deadline. Any hotel reservation at the Omni Grove Park for the conference made after that date will be subject to availability and existing rates. To make a hotel reservation for the conference room block, click here.
Visit NC February webinar next week looks at ‘What's new, besides the name, for the upcoming Visit NC Tourism Conference’
For its monthly webinar next week, Visit NC will be discussing the upcoming Visit NC Tourism Conference (March 6-8 in Asheville), including what's new, what isn’t to be missed, and some additional insights into some of the exciting professional development and learning opportunities. The webinar will be at 10 a.m. on Feb. 9. Click here to register.
A previous TRAC in Old Fort
Visit NC’s TRAC coming to Lumberton, bringing new hours Tourism-related businesses in Robeson County – plus the surrounding counties – will have an opportunity to work with Visit NC staff to learn about its research, development and marketing services, and discuss best practices for reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending. Visit NC's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses. TRAC will be held on Thursday, Feb. 23, New to this unique event are different hours: 3 - 7 p.m., offering a chance for more tourism-related businesses to be able to attend due to their own normal business hours. Stay tuned to NewsLink for location information. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there is no PowerPoint presentation. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you-like event opportunity for all tourism-related businesses to meet one-on-one with program managers to discuss better ways to promote their property or event. TRAC brings Visit North Carolina's program managers to local communities to discuss the nuts and bolts of working with the organization. This invaluable program is designed to help tourism-related businesses engage more fully with programs offered by Visit North Carolina and its partners. Representatives from the EDPNC's Business Services, N.C. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. State Parks, Agritourism, and NC GreenTravel are often on hand to discuss services they can provide businesses, including strategic planning, assisting with identifying funding sources and serving as liaisons with other local, state and federal agencies. For additional information on this session or to learn more about scheduling a TRAC visit to your community, contact Visit NC's André Naborsat (919) 447-7771.
N.C. delegation at IMM
Visit NC's Veda Gilbert was part of the North Carolina delegation at TravMedia's International Media Marketplace in New York City this past weekend. Other partners in the delegation were Biltmore Estate's Marissa Jamison, Charlotte Regional Visitor Authority's Kelly Greenfield, Crystal Coast TDA's Karen Gould, Explore Asheville's Luisa Yen, Greater Raleigh CVB's Jessica Holt, Johnston County VB's Ashby Brame, Ocracoke TDA's Helena Stevens, and Outer Banks VB's Aaron Tuell. This year’s event had expected more than 400 PR reps and nearly 500 media representatives. TravMedia's International Media Marketplace (IMM) is a global networking event connecting the travel industry with top journalists, editors, influencers and broadcasters. To learn more about Visit
NC's Public Relations program, contact media@visitnc.com.
Walters was interviewed by an
Iceland TV station
Visit NC promotes international travel to N.C. in Spain, Iceland
Visit NC’s Heidi Walters participated in FITUR 2023 in Madrid, Spain, with Travel South USA earlier this month. FITUR is the largest travel and tourism trade show in Spain, with more than 8,300 exhibiting companies, 82,000 trade participants and 30,000 general public visitors. This was Visit NC’s first year marketing in Spain with Travel South. In 2019 ,Spanish visitors spent $11.5 million in the state. In Barcelona, Walters completed sales trainings with Hotelbeds and did a media activation. In the past two years, Visit NC has completed two very successful campaigns with Hotelbeds, resulting in the 46 percent increase in hotel rooms booked statewide.
Walters completed the trip by attending Icelandair’s Mid-Atlantic tradeshow in Reykjavik, Iceland. This was an appointment-based show with travel professionals from Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Visit NC had its own booth to promote the new flight to RDU from Iceland. For more information on Visit NC’s international marketing efforts, contact Heidi Walters.
Travel & Adventure Show in N.Y. sees strong interest in N.C.
This past weekend, Visit NC attended the Travel & Adventure Show in New York, N.Y., partnering with the Crystal Coast TDA, Greenville-Pitt County CVB, Johnston County VB, Franklin & Nanahala TDC, Greenville-Pitt County CVB, Franklin & Nantahala TDC, N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, Reidsville TDA, and Winston Salem CVB. The booth had solid traffic throughout the consumer travel show, which saw an attendance of more than 8,000. Visit NC is finalizing participation for this year's Travel & Adventure shows. These shows offer additional opportunities for Visit NC – and its interested partners – to promote travel to North Carolina to potential visitors who are actively looking for travel suggestions and information. Partners interested in participating in any of the 2023 shows should contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
‘In the Rearview’ wins Best Documentary Short at Rome International Film Festival
“In the Rearview,” one of the entries in Visit NC’s Firsts That Last Film Series Competition, was awarded Best Documentary Short at the Rome (Ga.) International Film Festival, held last November.
The full roster of “Firsts That Last” films continue to roll on VisitNC.com, where the series launched last April to showcase shorts based on travels across the state. Visit NC commissioned the films based on proposed storylines that celebrate the enduring value of North Carolina travel experiences. Along with inspiration from the films themselves, the website offers ideas and information for trip planners plotting journeys of their own. The campaign, dubbed Firsts That Last 2.0, extends the vision of Visit NC’s earlier Firsts That Last, a Mercury Award-winning collection of short films documenting first-time trips to the state by travelers pursuing personal firsts: glimpsing the ocean, tasting moonshine and seeing a waterfall. The film series takes the concept beyond the original campaign’s live-in-the-moment quality to underscore deeper meaning for everyone from resident North Carolinians to out-of-state visitors, from first-timers to vacation regulars.
N.C.-filmed ‘Heaven Sent’ available on Pure Flix this Friday
The N.C.-filmed made-for-TV/streaming movie “Heaven Sent” will be available on the Pure Flix streaming platform starting this Friday, Feb. 3. The production centers on Elise, a grandmother hurt by her past, and Patrick, a widowed pastor, who have both closed the door on love; but with faith and a little help from technology, maybe those doors will open again. “Heaven Sent” qualified for the state’s film rebate program and was expected to have a direct in-state spend in excess of $500,000. Filming and production-related activities on the project took place in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Union counties.
Research reports 2023 travel sentiment a mixed bag
Travel sentiment with regards to 2023 remains a mixed bag, says Destination Analysts in a recent report. Concerns about prices, labor shortages and overall travel frustrations are among the negatives that Americans feel are likely to occur this year.
Despite these negatives, Americans are still optimistic. Nearly a quarter say they will take a dream trip somewhere exciting this year, and more authentic, less commercial travel experiences will continue to grow in popularity. Also, travelers say they will be more proactive in reducing the impact of travel on the environment.
Travel to cities and metro areas appears to be on the comeback with nearly 40 percent of travelers excited about this type of travel in 2023, behind beach destinations. Family trips, romantic getaways and girlfriend trips remain the top trip types generating excitement.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies.
Ruffieux new executive director for Haywood County TDA
Corrina Ruffieux has been named the new executive director for the Haywood County TDA, as Lynn Collins is retiring. Effective April 3, Ruffieux may be contacted at (828) 452-0152 or via corrina@visitncsmokies.com.
February issue offers ‘Carolina Candy Land’
For its February issue, Our State magazine spotlights “Carolina Candy Land,” plus the winners of its “Made in NC Awards.” “Locals’ Guide” visits Littleton; “Restaurant” highlights JD’s Smokehouse in Rutherford College; and “Happy Trails” treks Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Charlotte. The February issue is available now.
‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Feb. 2, "North Carolina Weekend” spotlights the “Year of the Trail.” Featured segments include Elkin Valley Trail Association and its volunteers, basing the story in Elkin; Fonta Flora State Trail, basing the story in Morganton; the Year of the Trail initiative, basing the story in Climax; Roanoke River Trail, basing the story in Weldon; and Sandhills Pour Tour, basing the story in Southern Pines. (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 Partnership of North Carolina
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