Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, February 2, 2022 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC collaborations draw focus for Black History Month * Visit NC 365 Xpress session: ‘How to Engage Your Destination/Business on TikTok (Even If You're Not on TikTok)’ * Visit NC’s TRAC next week in Morehead City |
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Visit NC collaborations draw focus for Black History Month
For the BTT initiative, Visit NC worked with the Washington-based collaborative and destination partners to host the U.S. Black Cultural Heritage Road Trip in May. A sampling of sites included on the immersive itineraries will be featured in daily social media posts throughout February, among them the carousel at John Chavis Memorial Park in Raleigh, Morehead Manor in Durham, Taste of the Triad in Greensboro, and Mert’s Heart & Soul plus murals in Charlotte. The Cultural Heritage Alliance for Tourism, a Miami-based receptive tour operator, partnered with BTT on the May tour. The social media campaign is supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration with a goal of reaching U.S. Embassy social media subscribers as well as travel trade interests.
The N.C. African American Heritage Commission is developing the N.C. Civil Rights Trail, which currently includes 14 sites toward a goal of up to 50. Expanding on the well-known North Carolina history marked on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, the state trail commemorates protests sparked by the F.W. Woolworth sit-in in Greensboro, landmark court cases, the integration of two municipal golf courses, and other moments from the classic civil rights movement. The commission, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, draws financial support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation with assistance from Visit NC to promote visitation. As part of the effort, a news release for Black History Month highlights Shelby, High Point and Raleigh. |
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Visit NC 365 Xpress session: ‘How to Engage Your Destination/Business on TikTok (Even If You're Not on TikTok)’ Curious about TikTok as a travel platform? Join Solmaz (aka @thecuriouscreature) for insights on how these short-form social media videos can deliver a major boost to your business. Solmaz is a full-time content creator, social media consultant and mom with a passion for food and travel. Based in Toronto, she’s explored more than 60 countries and has collaborated with hundreds of international brands, tourism boards and small businesses. She founded The Curious Creature in 2013 to share personal and honest stories that inspire readers to explore, eat and live vibrantly. Since then, she has grown her online community, been featured in dozens of publications and has appeared on national broadcast segments. This is one of the 365 Xpress sessions, new to the Visit NC 365 Conference this year. These 30-minute sessions will provide quick and to-the-point presentations about relevant topics. This year’s Visit NC 365 Conference is in Durham, March 20-22. Don’t forget to register for the conference.
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Visit NC’s TRAC next week in Morehead City Next week, tourism-related businesses in Carteret County – plus the surrounding counties – will have an opportunity to work with Visit North Carolina 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 North Carolina'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. 10, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. 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 Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
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Visit NC PR team efforts earn three media mentions Due to the efforts of Visit NC’s PR team, Biltmore is included in Parents magazine’s “Vacations with Fairy-Tale Vibes.” The PR team worked with connecting the writer with Biltmore, which provided the lead photo for the article. Additional sites in Asheville and Hendersonville were also mentioned. Parents has a circulation of 2.2 million. The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone is spotlighted in Sunday Edit’s “I Tried Treating My Anxiety the Ayurvedic Way – Here’s What Happened.” The PR team assisted with coordinating the media visit by the writer. The Sunday Edit, a beauty and lifestyle magazine from the Sunday Riley Skincare brand, garners more than 113,000 unique monthly visitors. |
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Gaster addresses Carolina Film Community N.C. Film Office Director Guy Gaster was the featured speaker yesterday (Tuesday) at the February meeting of the Carolina Film Community in Charlotte. Gaster updated the organization on the current state of the film industry in North Carolina. He also shared ways members of the organization can get involved, including sharing how they can register to be part of the free, statewide resource directory maintained by the state film office. The Carolina Film Community is a group composed of actors, directors, producers, talent agents, coaches, and crew from North and South Carolina that meets monthly to exchange ideas and opportunities with the goal of creating more film work in North and South Carolina. |
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Research shows travel sentiment recovered regarding Omicron, optimism increasing
The most recent data from Destination Analystsshows that American travel sentiment has recovered in terms of the Omicron variant. Data reveals that this particular variant did not affect travel the way that the other variants did, and in some areas of the country sentiment has recovered to levels not seen since last summer. Optimism regarding pandemic’s course during the next month increased more than 11 points as compared to two weeks ago, exceeding the recovery seen after the Delta variant. |
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As Americans begin to feel an increase in normalcy (up 3 points during the last two weeks), this week sees travelers with the highest levels of ready-to-travel state of mind as seen during the entire pandemic. More than 81 percent are in a ready-to-travel state, up more than 5 points from the last survey period. |
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As Americans begin to feel an increase in normalcy (up 3 points during the last two weeks), this week sees travelers with the highest levels of ready-to-travel state of mind as seen during the entire pandemic. More than 81 percent are in a ready-to-travel state, up more than 5 points from the last survey period. |
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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Cycle North Carolina announces Mountains to Coast ride route Cycle North Carolina has announced the route for the 23rd Annual Mountains to Coast ride, Oct. 1-8. This year's route, co-sponsored by RetireNC, starts in Lake Junaluska with stops in Hendersonville, Tryon, Belmont, Albemarle, Laurinburg and Whiteville, and then finishes at Holden Beach. Nearly 1,100 bicyclists from across the country and even outside the U.S. are expected to participate. View the video announcement here. Once again, Visit NC will be offering Cycle NC/Visit NC excursions. These daily excursions give participants and those traveling with them the opportunity to take a break from the ride and experience North Carolina. A dedicated motorcoach is being provided that departs from the overnight host city in the morning and stops at a few attractions and a destination for lunch each day before arriving at the next overnight host city in the late afternoon. Participants pay a fee to help offset costs to the attractions that host them. They will also have the opportunity to shop and learn more about the state for future visits. This is an opportunity to spread the economic impact of the Cycle NC ride to many more communities on or near the route of the ride. Visit North Carolina, under the previous mantle of the N.C. Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development, is a founding sponsor of Cycle North Carolina's Mountains to Coast, Fall and Spring rides. Cycle North Carolina offers one of the largest cross-state bicycle tours in the United States. The Fall and Spring rides, in addition to the Mountain Ride in August, are designed to promote North Carolina's scenic beauty while providing substantial economic impact to small towns across the state. During the past 20 years, Cycle North Carolina has stopped overnight in more than 100 North Carolina towns and visited nearly 700 North Carolina communities. |
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N.C. Museum of Art sees record attendance in 2021 The N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh announced last week that it sawrecord attendance in 2021. A record 1,114,124 people visited the Museum galleries and the 164-acre Museum Park during 2021, enjoying the free People’s Collection and several ticketed exhibitions. |
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Biltmore included in ‘14 Gorgeous U.S. Castles That Are Fit for a Fairy Tale’ Travel + Leisure included Biltmore in its “14 Gorgeous U.S. Castles That Are Fit for a Fairy Tale.” Of Biltmore, the article noted, “What was once a French Châteauesque-style home built for George Washington Vanderbilt is now a destination for tourists from around the globe who come to gape at the stunning exterior, explore inside the castle-like interior, and hike and bike on the estate's 8,000 acres.” |
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February issue highlights Made in NC Awards The February issue of Our State highlights the magazine’s annual Made in NC Awards. “Local’s Guide” visits Laurinburg; “Restaurants” samples Taste of Paradise in Rocky Mount; and “Drink” visits Ebony Wine & Spirits in Charlotte. The February issue is now available. |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Feb. 3, "North Carolina Weekend” spotlights “Reimagined Spaces.” Segments include Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh; Southern Grace Distilleries in Mount Pleasant; The Hackney Restaurant n Washington; blue grass music at The Drexel Barbershop in Drexel; and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount. (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. |
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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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