Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, January 19, 2022 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE: * Early Bird registration ends this Saturday for Visit NC 365; agenda now available * Visit NC launches NorthCarolinaBound for lodging impact information * Visit NC hosting ‘Demographic Drought’ webinar on Feb. 2 * TRAC returns - next session Feb. 10 in Morehead City |
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The Visit NC 365 Conference agenda is now available. It features a strong lineup up of keynote speakers, plus concurrent sessions covering community development, new marketing tools, research topics, media marketplace, and more. New this year are 30-minute 365 xpress sessions, where you will get quick and to-the-point presentations about relevant topics. This year's Visit NC 365 Conference is in Durham, March 22-24. After reviewing the agenda, don’t forget to register for the conference. The Early Bird registration rate has been extended through this Saturday, Jan. 22. For more information or questions about the conference, contact Kelly Dawson. |
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Visit NC launches first-of-its-kind collaborative NorthCarolinaBound for lodging impact information Destinations, lodging properties and travelers converge with Visit North Carolina’s launch of NorthCarolinaBound, a collaboration on the destination marketing platform Flip.to. For the first time, destination marketers and the lodging industry are joining together to market and win travelers on a single platform – growing audiences and directly driving revenue for the travel industry. The goal is to help state tourism accelerate quickly, profitably and sustainably. “It's our mission to drive meaningful growth to the tourism industry with innovation that provides measurable impact,” said Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell. “NorthCarolinaBound delivers directly to our destination and lodging partners in all 100 counties while engaging with travelers in positive ways. Our regions and lodging industry will be pleased, as we are, that there’s no cost for them to participate.” By joining, industry partners get access to the Flip.to marketing platform. Travel brands start by winning over travelers in the dreaming phase, reaching and inspiring a right-fit audience with the help of past guests and locals. In the planning phase, brands spark conversations with travelers deciding where to go next, and increase conversion with the revenue impact tracked in real-time. Visit Winston-Salem’s Richard Geiger emphasized the immediate value of taking part: “We’re bringing measurable support to our lodging partners. This strategically and effectively connects our destination and partners with travelers. We are confident Flip.to will fortify and complement our efforts to grow leisure travel to Winston-Salem.” Beyond its power to reach and win new visitors to the state, the platform provides first-of-its-kind insights to every member that joins, Tuttell said. Regional and statewide demographic data, along with behavioral insights, will inform decisions about the best investments of marketing dollars. By working together on a single platform, destinations and lodging properties will earn the most profitable business by using these insights to improve their marketing funnel and bottom-line growth, staying the course of dynamic progress for North Carolina. “Our collaboration with Flip.to is a watershed moment for the state,” added Visit NC’s Strategic Marketing Consultant Allison Schult. “NorthCarolinaBound not only brings incredible innovation; the platform brings the state closer to all of our regional destinations, it creates powerful interactions and connections between industry partners and their lodging communities, and tracks measurable impact in real time to revenue – it’s a competitive edge.” |
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Visit NC hosting ‘Demographic Drought’ webinar on Feb. 2 Visit NC is hosting a webinar on Feb. 2 to spotlight the “Demographic Drought.” Presenter Ron Hetrick will look at how the U.S. is suffering the beginning stages of a "sansdemic”: a lack of people to do all the work that needs to be done. Employers and higher education are already feeling the pain but the people shortage is only projected to get worse. So how do we get here? What are the economic ramifications? And is there anything we can do about it? As lead author of "The Demographic Drought," Hetrick will answer these questions by analyzing past, present and future workforces. He'll also outline how employers can survive the sansdemic when it hits in force. Registration information will be in next week’s NewsLink. |
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Visit NC’s TRAC sessions resume, starting with Feb. 10 in Morehead City On Feb. 10, tourism-related businesses in Carteret County – plus 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 for reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending. Visit North Carolina's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses. TRAC will be held 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there is no PowerPoint presentation. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you-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 Business Services, 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 Visit NC's André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
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Visit NC PR efforts lead to ‘7 Amazing Places To Experience The Black Food Renaissance In Charlotte’ Efforts by Visit NC’s PR team have led to TravelAwaits.com's “7 Amazing Places To Experience The Black Food Renaissance In Charlotte.” In partnership with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, the PR team recruited the writer and two others to cover the inaugural BayHaven Food & Wine Festival and visit other Piedmont destinations. Describing Charlotte’s rising profile as a culinary destination, the article notes that “increasingly, African Americans are getting their slice of the city’s vibrant food scene, whether it’s restaurants, food trucks, pop-up dinners, or eateries like ice cream shops.” The list of highlights starts with Leah & Louise, owned by BayHaven organizers Greg and Subrina Collier. “There’s so much Black talent and too few of us at food festivals,” Subrina Collier told the writer. “Instead of continuing to ask for diversity, we decided to do our own thing.” TravelAwaits.com garners more than 4.2 unique monthly visitors. |
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Research shows COVID concerns continue to rise, but travel optimism even higher Concerns regarding the Omicron variant continue this week, reports Destination Analysts. Americans concerned about personally contracting the virus rose this week to the highest it has been in nearly a year (65 percent). Nearly 30 percent of Americans say that in the past month, they have either always or frequently felt exhausted by the pandemic and 45 percent have been (always or frequently) worried that people are giving up COVID safety measures. |
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More than 40 percent of American travelers report either a cancellation or postponement specifically due to the variant, up 8 points from just the beginning of January. The level of anxiety due to COVID is also high and is impacting the ability to have a meaningful travel experience. |
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Despite all of the concerns, optimism wins and Americans are still excited about the idea of travel. Nearly 70 percent would be excited about a weekend getaway, and travel state of mind remains high with more than 76 percent of American travelers reporting being in a ready-to-travel state of mind. In fact, the average number of anticipated leisure trips Americans plan to take during the next 12 months has hit a pandemic high of 3.1. Family trips and romantic getaways top the list of anticipated travel in the next year. |
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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N.C. Sports Hall of Fame announces 2022 inductees The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame has announced its 2022 induction class. The new members, listed alphabetically, include Luke Appling, Missouri Arledge, Ronnie Barnes, Henry Bibby, Dan Brooks, Torry Holt, Sam Mills, Timmy Newsome, Dave Robbins, and Tom Suiter. The members will be enshrined during the 58th annual induction banquet on April 22 in Raleigh. |
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Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB launches new podcast Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB launched a new bi-monthly podcast on Jan. 4. The Paradise in the Pines podcast will be hosted by CVB President and CEO Phil Werz and will feature tourism-related guests and topics. “This is just another way for us to market our destination to a whole new audience,” said Phil Werz, president and CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). “We want to highlight the people, places and stories that make the Home of American Golf a great place to visit.” The podcast is being produced for audio and video; it’s available via Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or other popular podcast platforms. The video of the podcast will be posted via the CVB’s You Tube channel. The CVB will also share links to the podcast on its social media channels. |
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Highlands' Skyline Lodge among ‘14 Awesome Retro Motor Lodges in the U.S.’ Travel + Leisure included Skyline Lodge in Highlands in its “14 Awesome Retro Motor Lodges in the U.S.” Of Skyline Lodge, the article explained, “When a Frank Lloyd Wright student drafted Skyline Lodge in the late 1920s, it was the classic motor court design that typified the era. Rounds of renovations later in the 20th century picked and prodded at the original structure, but a 2020 restoration helmed by Indigo Road Hospitality Group carefully safeguarded the building's architectural pedigree while transforming it into a trendy haven in one of North Carolina's most loved mountain towns. Though the surrounding Blue Ridge scenery is the star of the show, the boutique inn adds perks like heated bathroom tiles, custom bedding by a heritage Charleston brand, fly fishing and rock climbing outings, and free s'mores at the nightly campfire on the stone terrace.” |
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StyleBlueprint.com highlights 'NC's New Oyster Trail: 10 Delicious Reasons to Visit' StyleBlueprint.com recently highlighted “NC's New Oyster Trail: 10 Delicious Reasons to Visit.” The online article explained, "Ideal for hobby culinary travelers and oyster lovers alike, North Carolina’s Oyster Trail is a unique network of oyster farms, oyster bars, gourmet markets, seafood and oyster festivals, conservation and education organizations like the North Carolina Aquarium, and – delectably – many restaurants featuring farmed North Carolina oysters on the menu. North Carolina’s farmed oysters, celebrated on the oyster trail, are infused with freshness and salinity, and offer myriad environmental and economic benefits.” Visit NC hosted the writer in November 2019; while the article wasn’t a direct result of her visit then, the PR team has continued its relationship with the writer. StyleBlueprint garners more than 212,000 unique monthly visitors. |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Jan. 20, "North Carolina Weekend" repeats the episode that originally aired July 1. Segments feature IBX Balloon Flights in Bath; Boone's Fly Shop in Boone; the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield; The Colonial Inn in Hillsborough; and a profile of Matthews. (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. |
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Resources for travel industry regarding COVID-19
As the travel industry is facing challenging times in the ever-changing situation of COVID-19 and its effects, there are several useful resources available to help with information, communications, planning and guidance. |
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NewsLink is a publication of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina 150 Fayetteville St., Suite 1200, Raleigh, NC 27601 |
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