Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - January 11, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Marketing AI Institute’s Kaput keynote speaker at 2024 Visit NC Tourism Conference; hotel room blocks filling up
* Visit NC’s January webinar features ‘Public Relations Trends in 2024’
Marketing AI Institute’s Kaput keynote speaker at 2024 Visit NC Tourism Conference; hotel room blocks filling up The keynote speaker at the 2024 Visit NC Tourism Conference will be Mike Kaput with Marketing AI Institute, who will discuss AI and the disruptive impact it's having on marketing. Too few in the destination marketing and tourism industry truly understand what’s coming, much less what to do about it. In his keynote, Kaput will outline exactly how to start building a competitive advantage with AI in your marketing. He will cover what AI is and why it matters; give a practical, actionable understanding of AI and how it will impact destination marketing and tourism; and share some of the top use cases for AI destination marketing and tourism.
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. While the Hilton is sold out, hotel rooms remain available at the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn. Click here for hotel block information.
Visit NC’s January webinar this morning features ‘Public Relations Trends in 2024’ Visit NC’s January webinar next this morning will discuss trends they are seeing for the new year, including a look at the impact A.I. may have on the field, how to get ahead of the game related to key social media trends, and a look at the emerging importance of inclusive content creation. The webinar will be 10 a.m. today. Click here to register.
DuTeau new executive director for Mooresville CVB
Randy DuTeau is the new executive director for the Mooresville CVB. He may be contacted at (704)799-2400 or via randy@visitmooresville.com.
Cycle North Carolina announces Mountains to Coast ride route
Cycle North Carolina has announced the route for the 25th Annual Mountains to Coast ride, Oct. 6-12. This year's route, co-sponsored by RetireNC, starts in Spruce Pine with overnight stops in Lenoir, Statesville, Thomasville, Pittsboro, Benson, and Elizabethtown, and then finishes in Ocean Isle Beach. More than 900 bicyclists from across the country and even outside the U.S. are expected to participate. Watch Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell announce the route
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 more than 800 North Carolina communities.
RDU getting new flights from San Diego, Westchester
Breeze Airways has announced it will begin nonstop flights to Raleigh-Durham International Airport from San Diego, Calif. and Westchester, N.Y. The thrice-weekly nonstop flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) are scheduled to begin April 30; the twice-weekly nonstop flights from Westchester County Airport (HPN) are scheduled to begin May 3.
For the week of Jan. 11, "North Carolina Weekend” repeats the episode “Mountain Journeys,” that originally aired Oct. 12. Featured segments include Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro; Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk; the Shook-Smathers House in Clyde; Asheville’s Glass Scene; and The Bluffs Restaurant in Laurel Springs.(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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