Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | January 15, 2020 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Snow opening keynote speaker for Visit NC 365 * Dog Travel Agent, N.C. travel in the Canadian spotlight for travel deals * Visit NC promotes group travel to N.C. at ABA Marketplace
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Snow opening keynote speaker for Visit NC 365
Shane Snow is the opening keynote speaker for the Visit NC 365 Conference, in Asheville March 22-24. Snow speaks on innovation, teamwork and human behavior. His brilliant and entertaining keynote performance will change the way you think about people, progress and collaboration. Snow will take the audience on a rollicking adventure, revealing the secrets of the world's most successful teams and coalitions in history. He is an acclaimed journalist and entrepreneur. His writings have appeared in Wired, The New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company, Advertising Age, The Washington Post, Time and many others. He's the bestselling author of "Smartcut," "The Storytelling Edge" and, more recently, his most important book yet: "Dream Teams," a journey through science and history that reveals the counterintuitive science that explains what separates groups that simply manage to get by from those that get better together. Registration is open for the Visit NC 365 Conference, where stimulating keynote speakers and sessions will offer new ideas and inspirations. The Visit NC 365 Conference, named for the year-round tourism industry across the state, brings together more than 500 of the state's tourism industry leaders during this three-day premier travel industry event. |
Dog Travel Agent, N.C. travel in the Canadian spotlight for travel deals
The Visit NC Canada team's targeted pitch efforts have led to Visit NC's Dog Travel Agent program in the spotlight on CHCH-TV's "Morning Live." It was part of the program's "Top Travel Deals," a segment themed around winter deals/new destinations to visit this year. In the segment, Travel & Style magazine's editor highlighted the Dog Travel Agent program as well as some of the dog friendly experiences in the state. Travel & Style magazine also included Visit NC's Dog Travel Agent in "It's Time for a Winter Escape: Top Travel Deals Right Now." CHCH is a leading broadcaster producing more than 24 hours of original local news programming each week. It is available to more than 92 percent of Ontario households and viewed by millions nationally each week. Travel & Style is a premier travel and style resource for smart, stylish women who love to travel. |
| | | Cabarrus County CVB's Kimberly Towery at an appointment |
Visit NC promotes group travel to N.C. at ABA Marketplace
Visit NC's Amanda Baker attended the American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace, one of the premier industry events for group travel, this week in Omaha, Neb. More than 3,500 delegates attended this year's conference, engaging in pre-scheduled meetings, networking events and educational sessions. Visit NC took more than 25 appointments with tour operators during the week, promoting group travel throughout the state. These qualified leads will be available in the coming weeks. For more information on Visit NC's group travel program, such as ways to attract this market to your destination, contact Amanda Baker at (919) 447-7765. |
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RetireNC sees strong attendance in Long Island
Visit NC's André Nabors, along with Edenton/Chowan County TDA and New Bern CVB, promoted North Carolina as a retirement destination at the Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo in Long Island, N.Y., this past weekend. The Expo drew more than 1,100 potential retirees from the region who were interested in exploring opportunities and conversing with exhibitors from across the Southeast. Attendees talked with experts from towns and community developers to gain insights and get answers to help plan, design and enjoy their retirement. North Carolina has consistently been one of the most requested states by the attendees. Visit North Carolina attended the Expo to continue its efforts to promote the N.C. Certified Retirement Community Program, which consists ofEden, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Jamestown/High Point, Johnston County, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, New Bern, Reidsville, Roanoke Rapids, Salisbury, Sanford, Tarboro, Washington, and Winterville. For more information about the Certified Retirement Community Program or Visit North Carolina's marketing initiatives for retirement relocation, contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
Allegiant adding new flights to AVL, GSO
Allegiant Airlines announced yesterday (Tuesday) new, non-stop flights from five cities to Asheville and Greensboro. New flights to Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) from Boston start May 8; Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) begins May 21; and Texas flights from Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) start May 22. Allegiant's new flight from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) begins June 5. |
Heart of North Carolina VB has new offices
The Heart of North Carolina VB-Randolph County TDA has new offices at 500 Albemarle Road in Asheboro (27203). Phone numbers and emails remain the same. |
Chow Chow among '10 of the best food and wine festivals the Southeast has to offer'
Chow Chow is among USA Today-10Best's "10 of the best food and wine festivals the Southeast has to offer." The article noted of the Asheville festival's inclusion, "One of the newest festivals on the circuit and curated by local chefs, makers and culinary giants, Chow Chow celebrates all things Appalachia, highlighting the region's culinary identity, contribution and collaboration. Weekend events may include Appalachian soul food walking tours, foraged feasts, immersive pottery and glass art dinner, and vegan and herbivore fests. There's also an expansive grand tasting featuring a makers market, a food truck rodeo, chef demos and hands-on workshops and seminars that explore the local culture, history, arts and foodways roots of 'Foodtopia.'" |
Research Triangle region having a 'bread and pasty bonanza'
The January issue of Delta Sky magazine's "Fork and the Road" column offered "Bakery Boom," which noted "North Carolina's Research Triangle region is experiencing a bread and pastry bonanza." The Delta Airlines inflight magazine's article highlighted bakeries and patisseries in Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh. The story explained, "While La Farm [in Cary] might be one of the most established bakeries in the region, the mix of adventurous diners and the availability of local foodstuffs (including grains) is helping the culinary scene explode." |
'Out & About in Raleigh-Durham'
Alaska Beyond, the inflight magazine for Alaska Airlines, featured "The Flavors of North Carolina" (page 33) in its January issue. Spotlighting "Out & About in Raleigh-Durham," the article explained, "Exploring the lively culinary center in each city's downtown gives visitors a sense of the unique characteristics of these towns located a little more than 20 miles apart." |
Going green from the vineyard to the table
The NC GreenTravel Initiative has been promoting sustainable practices in the grape growing and wine production industry for several years now. Sustainable wines are not only flavorful, but the producers of these wines are helping to protect North Carolina's environment by putting forth the effort to grow greener. In addition to recognizing these sustainable vineyards and wineries, the NC GreenTravel Initiative, a partnership of Visit NC, NC DEACS, East Carolina University, and Waste Reduction Partners, provides technical assistance and information to help these businesses establish and maintain a strong environmental program. There is no cost to wineries for this assistance and they may apply for recognition through the program by filling in an online application. Recognized businesses receive a certificate, door decals and a free listing on the NC GreenTravel Initiative website. For further information about how to become a sustainable tourism business, contact NC GreenTravel Initiative Program Manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of Jan. 16 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired Nov. 21. Segments feature Taste Carolina Charlotte food tour; Amuzu Theatre in Southport; and Part One on the Yadkin Valley Winter Wine Passport in Surry County; plus the "House Special" at Café Rule in Hickory. (Check local listings; segments are subject to change.) "North Carolina Weekend" is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, UNC-TV has recent editions of "North Carolina Weekend" available online. | More than two-thirds (69.5 percent) of North Carolina overnight visitor parties have a household head with a college degree or higher. The average overnight visitor is 46 years old. The N.C. resident overnight visitor is slightly younger (45 years old) than the out-of-state overnight visitor (47 years old). For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Visitor Profile Studies, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Jan. 25-27 - NC Assn. of Festivals & Events Showfest, Charlotte Jan. 28 - NC Sports Assn. Meeting, Durham Feb. 3 - NCRLA Annual Meeting, Raleigh Feb. 13 - NC Coast Host Meeting, Morehead City March 10-12 - NC Main Street Conference, New Bern March 13-17 - SXSW Festival Conference, Austin, Texas March 22-24 - Visit NC 365 Conference, Asheville |
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