| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | February 1, 2017 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* NY travel show sees strong interest in N.C; spots still available for shows in Columbus, Boston * Positive lodging indicators hit record levels statewide in 2016
* Travel profile quiz sees great response
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 | | | N.C. partners eagerly awaited the start of the New York show |
New York travel show sees strong interest in N.C; spots still available to partner with Visit NC at shows in Columbus, Boston
This past weekend, Visit NC attended The New York Times Travel Show in New York, partnering with the Fearrington House Inn, Reynolda House Museum of Art and Crystal Coast Lady Cruises. The booth saw a solid amount of traffic throughout the consumer travel show, which saw an attendance of nearly 30,000 consumers, travel agents, bloggers and travel writers. There are still a few spots available for industry partners to join Visit NC at consumer travel shows in Columbus and Boston this year. These shows offer additional opportunities for Visit NC and interested partners to promote travel to North Carolina to potential visitors who are actively looking for travel suggestions and information. Visit NC with have a 10' x 10' booth at each show. Partners interested in participating in either or both shows should contact Andre Nabors at (919) 447-7771 or Hayes Norris at (919) 447-7767. |
Positive lodging indicators hit record levels statewide in 2016
For the sixth consecutive year, North Carolina's lodging industry posted positive growth in all six major indicators in 2016. Each indicator in 2016 also hit a record level. For the fifth year in a row, North Carolina room demand for accommodations was at an all-time high. Recent data released by STR shows that in 2016 the number of rooms sold in the state (room demand) grew more than five percent (5.1 percent) from 2015 with more than 35 million room nights sold. In the last ten years, room demand has grown twenty-two percent. Nationally, room demand was up 1.7 percent in 2016 and in the South Atlantic region, demand increased 2.3 percent. Room demand is defined as the number of rooms sold excluding complimentary rooms.
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North Carolina hotel/motel room revenues were up nearly 9 percent in 2016 from 2015, reaching more than $3.5 billion and topping the previous high set just last year. Statewide, room revenues have increased 60 percent in the last decade and 44 percent in the last five years. This is due to both an increased number of room nights sold and higher room rates throughout the state. Nationally, room revenues were up 4.8 percent and up 5.1 percent in the South Atlantic states.
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Regionally within the state, the lodging sector continues to perform well. Each region of the state saw increased demand and revenues from 2014 to 2015. The Northwest Region, in particular, had an 8.9 percent increase in room nights sold and a 14.6 percent increase in revenues. Demand in the Sandhills Region was up 7.3 percent in 2016, and room revenues were up 10 percent.
In 2016, the U.S. lodging industry had the most-ever rooms available (1.84 billion), rooms sold (1.2 billion) and room revenues ($149 billion). Going into 2017, demand growth is forecasted to be flat nationwide, but with continued increases in ADR, revenues in 2017 should still come out ahead of 2016. STR forecasts that U.S. demand will grow 1.5 percent and ADR will grow 2.8 percent nationally in 2017. |
 Travel profile quiz sees great response
For its seasonal campaign, the Visit NC social media team has been running a series of promoted ads across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (along with organic posts on Snapchat and Instagram stories) encouraging fans to take Visit NC's traveler profile quiz. To date, paid social ads have driven more than 9,000 link clicks after only two weeks of promotion, reaching more than 415,000 target-qualified audiences. Facebook has been the strongest platform for link clicks, accounting for 93 percent of total social clicks and an 86 percent quiz completion rate. |
| | | The opening night reception in Cherokee at last year's conference |
Visit NC 365 fast approaching
Visit NC 365 Conference is quickly approaching; this year it's March 19-21 at the Greenville Convention Center. Register online with a rate of $499 through March 1 to avoid late fee charges. Register and share in the action in Greenville with the hashtag #VisitNC365 on Twitter and Facebook. Also, be sure to keep up with news and announcements leading up to the conference by following @NCTourism. This year's schedule is packed with exciting speakers, including professor of innovation and executive director of the Berkley Entrepreneurship Center at New York University's Stern School of Business, Luke Williams. Williams will kick-off the conference Monday morning, offering fascinating insights on disruptive marketing to transform your business and stay ahead of the game. Following the annual Winners Circle Luncheon, we'll have back to back concurrent sessions exploring industry topics including how to start a new social media account; research findings and motivational preferences of craft beer consumers; civil war trails; how to prepare, when to respond and how to move on when disaster strikes; what's new in group travel; Tourism Improvement Districts as a stable funding source for local and state DMOs; and the ever popular PR Roundtable. Now is a great time to register for the Visit NC 365 conference, March 19-21 at the Greenville Convention Center. There's no better opportunity to network with more than 500 of the state's tourism industry leaders and gain insights into North Carolina's growing travel industry. Online conference registration is available. Directly book hotel reservations online or call the Holiday Inn Greenville at (877) 271-2616 and mention the Visit NC 365 Conference group block for the group rate of $129/night + tax. Prospective conference sponsors should contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762 to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. |
| | | A previous TRAC in Warrenton |
TRAC coming to Dunn/Harnett County region Feb. 16
On Feb. 16, tourism-related businesses in the Dunn/Harnett County region - including 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 in reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending. Visit North Carolina's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC), a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses, will be held 10 am - 2 pm at the Dunn Center (Historic Harnett Rosenwald School) at 660 East Johnson St. in Dunn. The Dunn session is being held in partnership with the Central Carolina Community College Hospitality Program. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there are no PowerPoint presentations. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you'd-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 BLNC, N.C. Dept. of Commerce, N.C. Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources and NC GreenTravel will also be 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 André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
 Filming in N.C. promoted at Sundance
N.C. Film Office Director Guy Gaster attended the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, last week, where he promoted North Carolina and the benefits of filming here. During the 10-day festival, Gaster interacted with film industry professionals at a variety of events including panel discussions, screenings and one-on-one meetings. In addition, the N.C. Film Office hosted an evening with filmmakers from across the country along with those who have had their works previously selected for the N.C. film festivals Cucalorus and River Run International; the event drew more than 150 individuals. Also attending the festival in Utah were the Charlotte Regional Film Commission, other North Carolina film festival representatives, and several N.C. universities with film programs, including UNC School of the Arts and Elon University. As part of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, the N.C.-filmed television event series Shots Fired also had a special screening of two of the show's episodes for festival attendees. The screening, to a sold-out theater audience, was well-received and filmmakers applauded the hard-working, North Carolina-based crew as part of a Q & A session after the screening. Shots Fired debuts March 22 on Fox. |
 N.C. tourism partners sparkle with AAA Diamonds
AAA has announced its 2017 Five and Four Diamond Award winners for Hotels and Restaurants. In North Carolina, Five Diamond Hotels are The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, The Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte and the Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro. This exclusive group represents just 0.3 percent of the nearly 59,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated restaurants and hotels. Four Diamond Hotels include Asheville's 1889 WhiteGate Inn & Cottage, 1900 Inn on Montford, Abbington Green Bed & Breakfast Inn, Albemarle Inn, Biltmore Village Inn, Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, Inn on Biltmore Estate, and The Omni Grove Park Inn; Cashier's Innisfree Inn By-The-Lake; Chapel Hill's The Carolina Inn and The Siena Hotel; Charlotte's Charlotte Marriott SouthPark, Hilton Charlotte Center City, Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel, The Ballantyne, The Duke Mansion and The Westin Charlotte; Duck's Sanderling Resort; Durham's Arrowhead Inn Bed & Breakfast, The King's Daughters Inn, 21c Museum Hotel and The Washington Duke Inn; Greensboro's Grandover Resort, O. Henry Hotel and Proximity Hotel; Pinehurst's The Carolina Hotel and The Holly Inn; Raleigh's Renaissance Raleigh North Hills Hotel; Wilmington's Graystone Inn and The Verandas; and Winston-Salem's The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel. In North Carolina, Five Diamond Restaurants are Heron's in Cary and the Fearrington House Restaurant in Pittsboro. AAA Diamond ratings for restaurants represent a combination of the overall food, service, décor and ambiance offered by the establishment. Four Diamond Restaurantsinclude Asheville's Vue 1913; Boone's Gamekeeper Restaurant & Bar; Chapel Hill's Carolina Crossroads Restaurant and Bar and Il Palio Ristorante; Charlotte's McNinch House; Duck's Kimball's Kitchen; Durham's Fairview Dining Room; Gibsonville's Saint Jacques at the Burke Manor; Kinston's Chef and The Farmer; Pinehurst's 1895 Grille; Raleigh's Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern; and Wilmington's Manna. |
| | | A mountain biker at William B. Umstead State Park |
N.C. state parks had record visitation of 18.8 million in Centennial year
In its 2016 Centennial year, N.C. State Parks enjoyed record visitation of 18.8 million, a nine percent increase compared to the 17.3 million visitors the previous year. Among 39 state parks and state recreation areas, 31 reported increases in visitation in 2016. William B. Umstead State Park in Wake County reported the highest visitation at 1.84 million, a 38 percent increase compared to 2015, and was among six state park units logging more than a million visitors. The others were Fort Macon and Jockey's Ridge state parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas. State parks reporting significant increases in visitation included Pilot Mountain State Park in Surry County (51 percent), Pettigrew State Park in Washington/Tyrell counties (38 percent), Lake Norman State Park in Iredell County (24 percent) and Mount Mitchell State Park in Yancey County (26 percent). During the system's Centennial year, N.C. State Parks initiated its passport program, where prizes can be earned for visiting at least 10 state parks, and 100-Mile Challenge, which promotes a healthy, active lifestyle. |
 Frontier Airlines adding CLT flight from Cleveland
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 The Durham Hotel: "A sense of place and midcentury style"
In this past Sunday's Travel section's "Check In," The New York Times featured The Durham in its " A Durham Hotel With a Sense of Place and Midcentury Style." The article covered a variety of aspects including Basics, Location, The Room, the Bathroom, Amenities, Dining and the Bottom Line. Of Basics, the article noted, "You'll sense the retro vibe even before entering this 53-room boutique property that opened in the summer of 2015 in the former Home Savings Bank building, adding a restaurant later that year.... Beyond the cool aesthetics, this local-focused property stands out for its dedication to all things made in North Carolina, from breakfast offerings to bedding textiles." |
 Good Behavior highlighted in in-flight magazine's on board entertainment
In the January issue of Delta Airlines' Sky magazine, the N.C.-filmed TV show Good Behavior is highlighted. The "On Location" segment in the "30,000 Feet" section said, "The new TNT hit Good Behavior - starring Michelle Dockery as a con artist just out of prison - is filmed in North Carolina, and viewers will notice a few locally popular locations such as Salt Works Restaurant, the New Hanover County Arboretum and Cape Fear Country Club." |
Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends
Penn. hotel encourages love letters in time for Valentine's Day - Just in time for Valentine's Day, Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh will set up a 24-hour love letter writing station to revive the lost art of handwritten notes. Through Feb. 17, the downtown hotel will dedicate a writing desk in its living room lobby to all things love letter - including quality envelopes and stationery, as well as books of love poems and historical love letters, for inspiration. The writing station will be open 24 hours, seven days a week. Hotel guests, as well as local visitors, are invited to stop in and pen a note. There is no charge to participate. An on-site mailbox will be available or participants may take the letters home with them. Protecting your event with contracts and insurance - Don't let a series of unfortunate events derail your conference, reports MeetingsNet. Just because it is unexpected doesn't mean it can't be planned for. At one session during PCMA's Convening Leaders Conference earlier this month, an attorney and risk management expert walked attendees through contracts and insurance for emerging threats. The attorney asked, "When was the last time you looked at the insurance contract for your association or organization?" You might be surprised at what is covered and what isn't. Sit down with your legal team and insurance procurer to make sure your insurance is appropriate for your organization's current activities and not just a boilerplate policy carried over from year to year. If you are expecting other entities to have enough insurance to cover your losses, you should reconsider this. When you are signing contracts for your event, the session offered some words that you and your legal department need to pay attention to. Also, accidents and lost packages are not the only things you need to insure against, there are new threats to consider. What if you contract with a tech company for registration and hackers get all your attendees' credit card numbers? Hackers use new tactic at Austrian hotel: Locking the doors - The ransom demand arrived one recent morning by email, after about a dozen guests were locked out of their rooms at a lakeside Alpine hotel in Austria. The electronic key system had been infiltrated at the picturesque four-star hotel, and the hotel was locked out of its own computer system, leaving guests stranded in the lobby. With the 111-year-old hotel brimming with eager skiers, hikers and vacationers, the hotel paid the bitcoin ransom in the requested - and hard-to-trace - bitcoin. Security experts said the attack on the hotel appeared to be a novel example of an increasingly malicious and prevalent type of modern-day piracy. The weapon? A type of software known as ransomware. Study finds 88 percent of event marketers putting increased focus on event data - According to the 2017 Event Technology Engagement Study, event professionals are prioritizing the need to collect data throughout the event lifecycle (pre, during, and post event), as well as gather data that can analyzed to enhance the attendee experience. The study was fielded by The Event Marketing Institute in partnership with Cvent, The head of research with EMI explained, "Marketers know that the data provided by event technology can help the planner better analyze data and enhance the attendee experience." Findings included a majority of event marketers and meeting planners surveyed want increased innovation in two areas: ease of use and technology to enhance their reporting and analytics process. Also, many of the trends impacting event technology are being driven by the increased usage of mobile devices by attendees. Download the full report here. |
NC GreenTravel: Greening business travel
One aspect of sustainability that companies often overlook is increasing sustainability for business travel. The Global Business Travel Association reported that 40 percent of American companies feel green travel initiatives foster a "stronger public image, improved employee morale, and more efficient business practices." Some important components of ensuring green travel are planning and tracking eco-friendly decisions. Keeping records will build a blueprint for future travel and allows for evaluation to increase sustainable options. Planning is essential to ensure options such as the availability to rent hybrid cars, booking direct flights, or staying at hotels close to mass transit stops. Meeting agendas should be prepared in advance to determine if teleconferencing is an option, or if multiple trips can be combined into one longer trip. If a company has a travel department or coordinator, they should be encouraged to assist in finding hotels with green certifications. There also exist green travel calculators capable of assessing carbon footprints, such as whether air travel or non-air alternatives are the most eco-friendly option based on the number of travelers, vehicle type, etc. Of course, the business traveler can be more green savvy by packing less to reduce emissions, using a reusable water bottle to avoid waste and cut costs, and using ride-share options to cut costs and reduce carbon emissions. Combining trips so that multiple coworkers can travel together can also reduce costs and emissions. When travelling with coworkers sharing meals can reduce costs as well as food waste. The potential cost savings and environmental impact of greening business travel will be well worth the extra planning. For more information about green travel planning,contact ECU Center for Sustainability Partnership Coordinator Kamara Jones at (252) 737-4312, or NC GreenTravel InitiativeManagerTom Rhodesat (919) 707-8140. |
| | On North Carolina Weekend for the week of Feb. 2, explore the Allan and Laura Wilson Humanities and Fine Arts Center in Wilmington. Stop by the Zuma Coffee in Marshall. Learn the history behind Calabash. Discover the Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Center in Hiddenite. And tour the Imperial Center for the Arts and Sciences in Rocky Mount. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, UNC-TV has made recent editions of North Carolina Weekendavailable online. Please note that the Friday (re-)broadcast of North Carolina Weekend has moved to 7:30 pm. The Thursday night regular broadcast time of 9 pm. remains the same. | The spring (March-May) was the most popular season for day travel to North Carolina in 2015, with 28 percent of all daytrippers, followed by summer (June-August) with 26 percent, fall (September-November) with 25 percent and winter (December-February) with 21 percent. March was the single largest month for day travel to the state with more than 12 percent, followed by July with 11 percent. For more North Carolina regional visitor profile information, visit Visitor Profile Studies or contact Tourism Research Director Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748.
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Feb. 6 - NCRLA Annual Meeting, Chapel Hill Feb. 7 - NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, Raleigh Feb. 16 - Visit NC TRAC, Dunn March 10-19 - South by Southwest Conference and Festivals, Austin, Texas March 12-15 - Travel South Showcase, Branson, Mo. March 14 - NC Sports Assn. Meeting, Charlotte March 16-17 - MPI-CC Meeting, Myrtle Beach, S.C. March 24-26 - Mountain-to-Sea Trail Annual Meeting, Elkin March 27-30 - NASC Sports Event Symposium, Sacramento, Calif. |
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