| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | February 7, 2018 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC 365 - avoid late fees and register today
* ABA brings tour operators to NC; pre- and post-fam tours proved popular * Visit NC at consumer shows in Manchester, Dublin and London
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 | | | Luncheons provide great networking opportunities in a casual setting |
Visit NC 365 less than one month away - avoid late fees and register today Visit NC 365 Conference is quickly approaching; this year it's March 4-6 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem. Register online with a rate of $499 through Feb. 14 to avoid late registration charges. In addition to the much anticipated preview of Visit North Carolina's 2018-'19 strategic marketing plan and co-op opportunities, Visit NC on March 6 will reveal the newest marketing campaign and website relaunch plan. Visit NC is owning what Google can't and asking partners to help market North Carolina with fresh, cohesive marketing messages. It's the next generation of Visit NC and it's hoped everyone will attend for this first look at Visit North Carolina's new strategies and target market campaign. Now is a great time to register for the Visit NC 365 conference, March 4-6 at the Benton 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. For the Marriott Winston-Salem, book online or call them directly at (336) 725-3500; mention the Visit NC 365 Conference group block for the group rate of $159/night + tax. For the Embassy Suites Winston-Salem, book online or call them directly at (336)-724-2300; mention the Visit NC 365 Conference group block for the group rate of $169/night + tax. |
| | Baker (lf) meets with a tour operator | |
ABA brings tour operators to NC; pre- and post-fam tours proved popular
For the third time, Charlotte hosted the American Bus Association's Annual Meeting & Marketplace, one of the premier industry events for group travel. More than 3,500 tourism industry professionals attended the trade show, all receiving a healthy dose of memorable group travel experiences in Charlotte, the region and the state of North Carolina. These attendees have enjoyed networking opportunities through scheduled, face-to-face business appointments, evening events, dine-arounds, sightseeing tours, tradeshow exhibits and more. Visit North Carolina and Visit Charlotte were extremely excited to host a convention that plays such a vital role in the group travel industry. According to ABA, motorcoach travel in North Carolina had a direct economic impact of more than $1.3 billion and provided more than 18,000 jobs in 2016.
Visit NC's Amanda Baker took more than 40 appointments with tour operators during the week, promoting group travel throughout the state. These qualified leads and those from the six fam tours will be available in the coming weeks. For more information on Visit NC's domestic group travel program, contact Amanda Baker at (919) 447-7765. |
| | | A pre-fam stop at the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby |
Visit North Carolina organized six familiarization - four pre- and two post-fam - tours around ABA Marketplace to show tour operators other areas of the state. The "Blast from the Past" tour showcased High Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Mount Airy, Yadkin Valley and Shelby. The "Mountain Views and Brews" visited Chimney Rock, Asheville, Waynesville, Maggie Valley and Hendersonville. "Safe Harbors" explored Wilmington, Jacksonville, New Bern and Fayetteville. The "Shiny, Tasty and New" fam visited Currituck County and the Outer Banks plus Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The "Southern Sampler" included Cabarrus County, Lexington and Asheboro. The "Vibrant Triangle-Triple the Fun" featured Mebane, Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. Visit North Carolina would like to thank all of its partners for their assistance and participation throughout the week, plus those who attended ABA Marketplace and/or participated in the fam tours. North Carolina's presence at ABA was truly a group effort. Visit North Carolina would especially like to thank Visit Charlotte for hosting and making ABA Marketplace 2018 such a phenomenal success.
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| | | McCubbin (lf) offers mapping directions to a show attendee |
Visit NC at consumer shows in Manchester, Dublin and London Visit NC's U.K. representative Duncan McCubbin was at the three key consumer travel shows held annually across the U.K. and Ireland, which take place on successive weekends from mid-January through early February. North Carolina has participated in these three shows during the last four years and the interest in the state has grown significantly, with direct and specific engagement with more than 2,100 consumers. The shows give a platform to engage with the consumer, entice their interest, educate them on all that North Carolina has to offer in line with traditional holiday values and current market trends. The shows have proven to be a great success with a number of consumers returning to thank North Carolina for their advice as it had given them "The best time I have ever had." One client returned to let McCubbin know that they were now on their 3rd holiday to North Carolina and that their daughter had chosen to attend college in Charlotte to study as a result of their family vacations and experiences in North Carolina. The shows give Visit NC the latest consumer interests, trends and budgets talking across generations, which in turn allows Visit NC to be informed and pass product information on to its tour operator partners for the forthcoming season. To find out more about Visit NC's international marketing program, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
| | A previous TRAC in Swan Quarter | |
TRAC coming to Roxboro/Person County region Feb. 22
On Feb. 22,tourism-related businesses in the Person 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 Kirby Cultural Arts Complex at 213 N. Main St. in Roxboro. Thesession is being held in partnership with the Person County TDA. 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. 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 André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
 Cherokee among '10 Places for Native American vacation experiences with your family'
Cherokee was included in Frommers.com's "10 Places for Native American Vacation Experiences with Your Family." Visit NC's PR team worked with the writer regarding the information and photography for the online slideshow, and also helped connect the writer with Cherokee's PR representative. Of Cherokee, it was noted, "A complex of attractions in Cherokee, an hour's drive west of Asheville, details the history and culture of the town's namesake -- the nation that lived in the territory that once included north Georgia and the Great Smoky Mountains. At the Oconaluftee Indian Village, present-day Cherokee in tradition 18th-century attire demonstrate how to carve masks, chip flint to create arrowheads, and fashion a dugout canoe using fire and an ax. Through special effects, artifacts, stone carving demonstrations and dance by the Warriors of AniKutuhwa, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian presents important traditions, while at the outdoor Mountainside Theatre, scored of performers in traditional regalia enact Unto These Hills. Through battle reenactments, music, and dancing, this long-running drama stages big moments in Cherokee history, including the forced relocation of 16,000 members to Oklahoma. The performance has been staged each summer since 1950. During the evening, listen to more tales and songs under the stars at the bonfires at Oconaluftee Islands Park." |
Lodging indicators statewide in 2017 North Carolina's lodging industry posted positive growth in five of the six major indicators in 2017, hitting record levels for demand, supply, revenues, average daily room rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR). For the sixth year in a row, North Carolina room demand for accommodations was at a record high. Recent data released by STR shows that in 2017 the number of rooms sold in the state (room demand) grew slightly (0.1 percent) with more than 35.3 million room nights sold. In the last ten years, room demand has grown twenty percent. Nationally, room demand was up 2.7 percent in 2016 and in the South Atlantic region, demand increased 2.9 percent. Room demand is defined a s the number of rooms sold excluding complimentary rooms.
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North Carolina hotel/motel room revenues were up 3 percent in 2017 from 2016, reaching more than $3.6 billion and topping the previous high set just last year. Statewide, room revenues have increased 51 percent in the last decade and 40 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 4.9 percent and up 5.9 percent in the South Atlantic states.
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North Carolina hotel/motel room revenues were up 3 percent in 2017 from 2016, reaching more than $3.6 billion and topping the previous high set just last year. Statewide, room revenues have increased 51 percent in the last decade and 40 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 4.9 percent and up 5.9 percent in the South Atlantic states.
In 2017, the U.S. lodging industry had the most ever rooms available (1.9 billion), rooms sold (1.2 billion) and room revenues ($156 billion). Going into 2018, there is expected to be slow, but positive growth for the hotel industry. STR forecasts that U.S. demand will grow 1.9 percent and ADR will grow 2.5 percent nationally. |
| | | Cyclists stopped for a photo during a previous Fall Ride |
Cycle North Carolina announces Mountains to Coast ride route Cycle North Carolina has announced the route for the 20th Annual Mountains to Coast ride, Sept. 29-Oct. 6. This year's route starts in Black Mountain with stops in Morganton, Mooresville, Archdale, Southern Pines, Dunn, Elizabethtown, and then finishes in Oak Island. Nearly 1,100 bicyclists from across the U.S. and even outside the U.S. are expected the participate. View the video announcement here. For the third year, 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 Fall Ride and Spring Ride. 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 19 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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 Vote for N.C. faves & sites among 10Best categories Several N.C. sites and favorites are among the sports-related nominations for four 10Best categories, as online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com's website. Click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends March 5 at noon. |
 'A different kind of Beech' in the spotlight
In its February/March issue, Allegiant Airlines' inflight magazine, Sunseeker, spotlights Beech Mountain in "A Different Kind of Beech." The article notes, "Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the resort offers a variety of winter activities including skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding, hiking and snow tubing. Every member of the family is certain to enjoy some frosty fun with activities geared just for them... Visitors to Beech Mountain get the best of both worlds: a ski resort and town in one place. Lodging for the resort is within walking distance or a short drive to the slopes. The town of Beech Mountain offers plenty of shops, restaurants and nightlife to explore. There are several hiking trails nearby, and kids will love the town's free youth sledding hill." View the article (pg. 57) via the online edition here. |
Follow the leaders in sustainable lodging
Last year, TheHuffington Post updated its listings of the "5 Best Green Hotels in America." While it is always interesting to learn about new innovative sustainable practices being implemented, unfortunately, many of the sustainable practices mentioned in such articles are difficult to replicate. While not every hotel can have a garden on its roof or generate its own electricity, there are many sustainable practices that every hotel, restaurant or attraction can implement that lead to everyday savings. For example, replacing older exit signs with LED exit signs is an easy way to be more energy efficient that also helps reduce utility costs. Developing policies that take into account Energy Star options when any new equipment is purchased ensures that efforts to save energy are maintained at all levels of an organization. And while setting office equipment to sleep mode when not in use probably will not get a property mentioned in a national magazine, it will help save energy every day. For more examples of everyday, implementable sustainable practices, download any of the Sustainable Travel Resources from the NC GreenTravel Initiative. For more information about sustainable practices in the tourism industry or for assistance with being greener,contact NC GreenTravel Initiative manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of Feb. 8 on North Carolina Weekend, learn the inspiration for the photography of Watson Brown, who lives in Tarboro. Discover the Schiele Museum of Natural History and its planetarium in Gastonia. See what you can find at Stanfield's General Store in Four Oaks. Explore the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail in Roanoke Rapids. And experience the Snowbird Mountain Lodge in Robbinsville. (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. | Overnight visitors to the Mountain Region spent an average of 3.2 nights in the region, while overnight visitors to the Coastal Region spent an average of 4.9 nights in the region in 2016. Piedmont Region visitors stayed an average of 3.6 nights in 2016. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Visitor Profile Studies or contact Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Feb 21, 22 - HSMAI-NC "Building the Sales Pipeline," Charlotte (21), Durham (22) Feb. 22 - Visit NC's TRAC, Roxboro March 6 - NC Sports Association Quarterly Meeting, Winston-Salem March 15-16 - MPI-CC Meeting, Raleigh March 27 - NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, Cary (rescheduled from Feb. 7) |
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