Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC Partners - February 1, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE: * Pre-Visit NC Tourism Conference activities encourage attendees to experience Greenville
* Visit NC’s February webinar next week offers ‘Visitor Center Tips’
* Visit NC PR team's romance pitches score coverage for Beaufort, Sunset Beach
Pre-Visit NC Tourism Conference activities encourage attendees to experience Greenville
Leading into this year's Visit NC Tourism Conference, host DMO Visit Greenville NC has put together several pre-conference activities for attendees on Saturday, March 16.
Pitt County Brew n 'Cue Trail: Grab an official Pitt County Brew & ‘Cue Trail Passpork and hit the road to sample some of Pitt County’s legendary Eastern NC whole hog BBQ and award-winning craft brews.
NCAA March Madness Watch Party at Tie Breakers: Come hang out at The Breakers, one of Greenville’s favorite sports bars, and enjoy burgers, wings, beer and more while watching all the basketball madness unfold.
Paddle the Tar River: Join us for a 2-mile guided paddle down the Tar River from Greenville Town Common to the new Wildwood Park, with a stop on a shady sandbar about halfway between for refreshments.
Transportation will be provided to and from the Greenville Convention Center for all pre-conference activities. All costs associated with the activities (food, drink, and paddling) will be the responsibility of the attendee. To learn more about these pre-conference activities and to register for them, click here.
Registration is openfor the Visit NC Tourism Conference, at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, March 17-19. The annual conference brings together tourism industry leaders for educational sessions and insightful programming. It provides opportunities to catch up on the latest trends and issues facing the travel industry and gain insights from industry experts.
Hotel room blocks were secured at three properties connected to/adjacent from the convention center. The Hilton and Hampton Inn are now sold out, but hotel rooms remain available at the Holiday Inn. Click here for hotel block information.
Visit NC’s February webinar next week offers ‘Visitor Center Tips’
Visit NC’s February webinar next week offers “A Discussion on Visitor Center Tips.” Visit NC has invited several partners for a discussion on best practices related to the operations of Visitor Centers. This will include sharing things that have worked and things that haven't been as successful. The webinar will be 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8. Click here to register.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, two publications showed love for Beaufort and Sunset Beach, thanks to Visit NC’s PR team’s pitches touting the destinations as settings for Nicholas Sparks novels. In “30 Most Romantic Valentine's Day Getaways in the United States,” Good Housekeeping highlighted Beaufort, where “A Walk to Remember” and “The Choice” take place. The Sunset Inn at Sunset Beach, the setting for “Every Breath,” is featured in the Readers Digest post “50 Most Romantic Hotels in Every State.” Goodhousekeeping.com attracts nearly 52.8 million unique visitors per month; the Readersdigest.com tally is 10.6 million.
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, Franklin & Nantahala TDC, N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, Pender County TDA and Chamber, Boone TDA. The booth had solid traffic throughout the consumer travel show, which saw an attendance of more than 24,000 travelers, travel agents, travel writers and influencers.
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.
Visit NC at Marketing Outlook Forum
Visit NC's Wit Tuttell, Scott Peacock and Marlise Taylor were in Houston, Texas this week for Travel & Tourism Research Association's (TTRA) Marketing Outlook Forum. Taylor moderated a roundtable forum for destination marketing professionals. MOF brings together nearly 400 travel professionals from around the world for a global perspective of the state of the travel industry. The Forum is the leading travel forecast conference combining industry networking and quality educational programs into a premier event attracting delegates from nearly all state and provincial tourism offices in the U.S. and Canada, international tourism offices, airlines and hotels, as well as many travel industry suppliers.
During the MOF awards program, T.J. Ridley, a tourism student at N.C. State University and recent intern for Visit NC, was recognized with the John and Joan Markham Tourism Marketing Award.
Vote for N.C. sites among ‘Best of beer’
North Carolina has two sites that are nominated among different categories as part of USA Today’s 10Best’s “Best of beer.” Daily online voting is open until noon on Feb. 26.
Breeze bringing seasonal flights to RDU from Syracuse, Burlington and Portland
This week, Breeze Airways announced three, seasonal flights to RDU from Syracuse, N.Y., Burlington, Vt. and Portland, Maine. The nonstop seasonal flights to RDU from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) and Portland International Jetport (PWM) will each be twice weekly and slated to start in May.
Crystal Coast offered as travel alternative
For its “Double Take” segment this past Monday, "Today" enlisted Travel + Leisure for travel alternative suggestions. For the "always popular" Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast was suggested as another option. The warmer waters of the Gulf Stream, fishing and diving, oyster farm tours and lots of culinary activities were mentioned, noting the Crystal Coast is “just a little bit farther south and just a little more under the radar.”
‘This Affrilachian Chef Just Opened Asheville's “Hottest' New Restaurant”’
Travel + Leisure recently shown the spotlight on Asheville’s Ashleigh Shanti and her restaurant Good Hot Fish with "This Affrilachian Chef Just Opened Asheville's 'Hottest' New Restaurant.” The article said, in part, “Amidst the buzzing food scene of Asheville, one restaurant has managed to garner constant anticipation and excitement: Good Hot Fish. Created by James Beard Award finalist and Top Chef contestant Ashleigh Shanti, this fast-casual eatery... is not only one of the hippest places to dine in Asheville but also a gathering spot that celebrates Black Appalachian culture, community, and cuisine.”
Asheville among ‘Where to travel in 2024, without crowds’
The Washington Post included Asheville in its “Where to travel in 2024, without crowds.” The article explained, in part, "Asheville has achieved the tricky balance of staying down to earth while catering to refined tastes.” The Asheville Black Cultural Heritage Trail was noted as “Don’t Miss.”
February issue brings ‘The Jazz Issue’
For its February issue, Our State magazine brings “The Jazz Issue,” plus the winners of its “Made in NC Awards.” “Getaway” visits Robert Roark Inn in Southport; “Restaurant” highlights Kimber’s Steakhouse in Gibsonville. The February issue is available now.
For the week of Feb. 1, "North Carolina Weekend” repeats the episode “Eats and Treats
,” that originally aired Nov. 2. Featured segments include Mission Pizza Napoletana in Winston-Salem; Supperland in Charlotte; Boulted Bread in Raleigh; Bones Jones Burgers & Butchery in Morganton; and Native Fine Diner in Greenville. (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 the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
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