| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | January 29, 2020 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC 365 PR Track introduces a new format for learning and pitching
* TRAC coming to Polk County region Feb. 27
* New York travel show sees strong interest in N.C.
* Visit North Carolina hosts Canadian tour operator fam in the Piedmont |
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Visit NC 365 PR Track introduces a new format for learning and pitching
This year's Visit NC 365 Conference will feature a PR Track in place of the media roundtables. The conference is March 22-24 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Join the PR team at the Media Forum to get perspective from top in-state and national journalists regarding the media landscape, trends and other issues impacting travel PR. Then, at the Public Relations Pitch, share a honed pitch with media reps and your peers about what makes your destination newsworthy. The session wraps up with a mixer where PR Track participants and media can continue the conversation. Media Forum Get perspective from top media locally and nationally with a round-up of timely topics impacting the travel industry and media landscape. Expect an intense and engaging discussion about travel trends, politics, the economy and the industry. Walk away with media and industry insights to shape and engage planning for 2020 and beyond. Public Relations Pitch Bring on the story ideas and be prepared to take the mic. Share a concise, thoughtful pitch with the local and national media panel and the audience about what makes your destination coverage worthy. Get on-the-spot media advice and try to inspire a visit or a story. A great opportunity to hear your peers pitch, too! Public Relations Reception Share inspiration, tips and ideas with public relations peers. Chat with local and national media in a relaxed reception for PR Track attendees only. The PR Track, which runs 1:30 - 5 p.m. on Monday (March 23), is designed for public relations practitioners. Space is limited. Those who want to participate should indicate the PR Track in the interest section of the conference registration form. Those who have already registered can access their registration using their confirmation number.
The registration rate for the Visit NC 365 Conference is $499/person. Click here to register. When you register, don't forget to share in the action with the hashtag #VisitNC365 on Twitter @NCTourism and Facebook @NCarolinaTourism.
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TRAC coming to Polk County region Feb. 27
On Feb. 27, tourism-related businesses in Columbus and Polk 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 Polk Center at Isothermal Community College at 1255 W. Mills St. in Columbus. 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 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 Visit NC's André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
| | | Many of the partners who worked the show |
New York travel show sees strong interest in N.C.
This past weekend, Visit NC attended The New York Times Travel Show in New York, partnering with Outer Banks VB, Greenville-Pitt County CVB, Reidsville, New Bern CVB, Johnston County VB, Crystal Coast TDA, Pender County TDA, and Jacksonville TDA. The booth had a steady amount of traffic throughout the travel show, which saw an attendance of nearly 32,000 consumers, travel agents, bloggers and travel writers. Consumer travel shows offer additional opportunities for Visit NC and 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 future shows with Visit NC should contact Andre Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
| | | The group visited the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh |
Visit North Carolina hosts Canadian tour operator fam in the Piedmont
Following the launch of a new Air Canada flight between Raleigh and Montreal, plus enhanced service on other routes into North Carolina, Visit North Carolina partnered with Air Canada, Visit Raleigh and Visit Charlotte to host a Quebec tour operator familiarization trip this past week. The fam included amazing culinary experiences, cultural institutions, and adventure offerings in Charlotte and Raleigh, while promoting the ease of access and short haul appeal of both cities.
For more information about Visit NC's international marketing programs, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
| | Taylor (lf) and Knollenberg (rt) | |
Taylor presents "Festinomics" at ShowFest
Visit NC's Marlise Taylor co-presented with Dr. Whitney Knollenberg (NCSU Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management) at the N.C. Assn. of Festivals & Events' ShowFest this past weekend in Charlotte. The two presented "Festinomics", an overview of the importance of measuring the impact of festivals and events and how to do it. Attendees learned about the value of measuring an event's impact, data collection methods, the basics of survey design, and strategies for getting reliable data. |
| | A scene from "Uncle Frank" | |
Amazon Studios acquires N.C.-filmed 'Uncle Frank'
Amazon Studios has acquired the N.C.-filmed "Uncle Frank." The 1970s-set independent film filmed in the Wilmington region this past spring. Amazon made the announcement during the Sundance Film Festival, where "Uncle Frank" had its world premiere this past Saturday. Amazon hasn't announced a release date for the film.
"Uncle Frank" was heavily recruited to the state by the N.C. Film Office and assisted by the Wilmington Regional Film Commission. The production employed about 70 local crew members while in the region and qualified for the state film rebate program. The project is estimated to have had a direct in-state spend in excess of $4.4 million.
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N.C. Zoo will be featured in Nat Geo Wild series this fall
A new zoo series on Nat Geo Wild will feature the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. Set to air this fall and called "World's Biggest Zoo," the docuseries will consist of eight one-hour episodes. Nat Geo explains, "Welcome to North Carolina, home to the largest zoo in the world. Spread out over an enormous 2,600 acres, this AZA accredited zoo has thousands of individual animals, more than 212 species and a diverse range of landscapes, including swamps, prairies, rivers, forests and even a desert. It's more of a wildlife reserve than a traditional zoo, and many species share habitats as they would in the wild. At a time when the traditional concept of a zoo seems out of sync with animal welfare, the North Carolina Zoo leads the way and has achieved global recognition for setting zoo standards. The eight-part series features stories of every kind - from emergency and routine animal procedures and animal husbandry to rescue, rehabilitation and release." |
Last call to participate in Visit NC's Garden & Gun print co-op
It's not too late to secure a space in an upcoming edition of Garden & Gun, one of Visit NC's 2020 print co-ops. Garden & Gun reaches a total audience of 1,600,000 with more than 60 percent of that readership residing on the East Coast. Its readers also have a high propensity to travel and take an average of 11 trips per year.
Garden & Gun (June/July 2020): Investment: - 1/6 Directory: $2,750 - Full-Page: $15,000 Deadline for space reservation: Feb. 3 Deadline for materials: Feb. 21 |
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AAA Diamond Program being updated
AAA is unveiling a transformed, contemporized version of its AAA Diamond Program. The program will remain backed by professionally trained inspectors using member-driven criteria to recommend only clean, comfortable, hospitable hotels and restaurants. What is new? Replacing ratings with designations. Under the new system, previously One and Two Diamond hotels and restaurants will transition to the Approved designation while Three, Four and Five Diamond establishments will retain their designations. However, the 2020 inspection cycle will be the determining factor for all properties' future designation. The modernized AAA Diamond Program guidelines for hotels and restaurants reflect the latest in traveler expectations and industry trends. AAA has removed outdated criteria in favor of factors that more directly relate to guest comfort, design and layout. For example, AAA inspectors will now look for sufficient storage space and shelving for clothes and personal belongings in guest rooms, and not for ironing boards or printed guest information, to reflect modern guest expectations. |
'Restoration Restaurants' in the spotlight
The February issue of Our State magazine spotlights "Restoration Restaurants: From Food Halls to Fill 'er Ups." "Downtown" tours Clayton; "Restaurant" features Hayes Barton Café & Dessertery in Raleigh; and "Hotel" checks out Stemmerman's Inn in Wilmington. The February issue is available now. |
One way for a site to add to its sustainability repertoire is to practice environmentally friendly initiatives when hosting meetings and events. This is an attractive sell to businesses and organizations looking to hold such functions. If the venue has already implemented a sustainability policy, then applying those policies to meetings should be a seamless transition. Some of the components may already exist, such as purchasing locally sourced and/or organic food. The use of reusable dishware and napkins would provide a more high-end experience to clients as well as reduce waste and maximize cost savings over time. Food waste can be minimized by donating leftovers to local shelters or food banks. Another strategy to reduce waste would be to compost paper and food waste, either onsite or through a commercial service provider. If printed information is typically distributed at meetings, put all the information on USB drives instead. Meeting rooms should have access to technology that allows for teleconferencing. Signs should be displayed referencing all of the sustainable features and their relative impact. For additional information about hosting sustainable meetings, or how your business can become featured by the NC GreenTravel Initiative, or contact NC GreenTravel program manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707) 8140. |
| | For the week of Jan. 30 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired May 30, 2019. Segments feature West Jefferson; Machapunga EcoTours in Belhaven; and Gibsonville Antiques & Collectibles in Gibsonville. (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. | The top source of information for daytrip planning in North Carolina is personal experience, followed by friends/relatives, search engines, social networking and official destination websites. 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
Feb. 3 - NCRLA Annual Meeting, Raleigh Feb. 13 - NC Coast Host Meeting, Morehead City March 8-11 - Travel South Showcase, Baton Rouge, La. April 1-2 - U.S. Travel Assn. Destination Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C |
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