Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - January 4, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Mottola, Coleman announced as Xpress session speakers; Early Bird registration ends this Sunday
* Visit NC PR team's work results in multiple N.C. mentions
Motolla
Mottola, Coleman announced as Xpress session speakers; Early Bird registration ends this Sunday
Speakers from REI and Tourism Economics will be featured as VNC Xpress session presenters during the upcoming Visit North Carolina Tourism Conference, March 6-8 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
Paolo Mottola is the director of content and media at outdoor retailer REI. For his Xpress session, Motolla will discuss sustainable travel marketing tips and insights, including what travelers want and how to deliver on that while being authentic to your destination. During his career, he created and now leads REI Co-op Studios, which develops and produces films, podcasts and editorial programs to inspire audiences with transformative outdoor storytelling. He previously led media planning, SEO and social media at REI and has contributed to its most renowned, Cannes Lions-winning campaigns, #OptOutside and “Force of Nature.” His previous brand and communications work includes Microsoft, Samsung, U.S. Army and Eddie Bauer. He serves on the
faculty at the University of Washington Communications Leadership graduate program.
Coleman
Zeek Coleman is vice president, Americas at Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company dedicated to understanding the relationship between travel and the economy. During his Xpress session, Coleman will discuss economic trends for the tourism industry at global, national and then statewide levels, including forecasting of any recession and the impacts of one if so. At Tourism Economics, he spearheads the delivery of economic solutions to DMO, association and corporate clients. Coleman has built a reputation for his ability to translate complex data into meaningful insights.
The Early Bird registration deadline for the Visit NC Tourism Conference is this Sunday (Jan. 8). Anyone who registers by then will be entered into a drawing for an Asheville area restaurant gift card provided by the 2023 host, Explore Asheville. The Visit NC Tourism Conference will be at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, March 6-8. Click here to register. The conference program as well as lodging and sponsorship opportunities can be found
here.
Visit NC’s January webinar features ‘All Things Travel Guide’
For its monthly webinar next week, Visit NC and its partners from Dotdash Meredith will present the 2023 North Carolina Travel Guide. The webinar will also give tips and insights into plans for the 2024 Travel Guide, including the upcoming Travel Guide roadshow, where DMO partners can pitch content ideas for their areas. The webinar will be 10 a.m. on Jan. 12. Click here to register.
PR team’s hotel pitch leads to ‘Put North Carolina on your 2023 Travel List’
Forbes.com turned a pitch from the Visit NC PR team into “Put North Carolina on Your 2023 Travel List With These Seven Stylish Mountain Hotels
," highlighting properties aiming to open or reopen in the new year. “From its craggy mountains, charming towns, to a dynamic craft beer scene, North Carolina boasts a long list of reasons to explore the state,” the intro reads. “Next year, that list gets longer with the addition of seven new or newly renovated hotels lending splash to the state’s growing clutch of contemporary hotels.” The feature highlights the Mirror Hotel in Marshall; the Flat Iron Hotel, Zelda Dearest and The Radical in Asheville; Rhodes Motor Lodge in Boone; Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley; and the NuWray Hotel in Burnsville. Forbes.com attracts more than 65.9 unique monthly visitors.
Visit NC PR team’s N.Y.C. mini-media mission results in two N.C. mentions
The North Carolina Oyster Trail and the Surry Sonker Trail were both included in Food & Wine’s “13 Incredibly Cool Food Trails You Can Visit in the U.S.
” The Visit NC PR team connected with the writer during its mini-mission in New York City. The article explained, "The Surry Sonker trail in North Carolina is a delight. Surry County is the only place in the world that calls cobbler 'sonker,' and to celebrate that, the state has an eight-stop sonker trail for visitors to enjoy." Of the Oyster Trail, the article noted, "Oyster farmers have committed themselves to maintaining the supply of oysters that are showcased on their oyster trail across the state." Food & Wine attracts more than 7.9 million unique monthly visitors.
New Year’s pitch from PR team yields Raleigh coverage
Raleigh’s acorn drop, the signature of its First Night celebration, is featured in a Fodors.com roundup “12 New Year’s Eve Destinations That Drop Something Besides a Ball." The Raleigh festivities were included in a pitch from the Visit NC PR team about distinctive New Year’s events across the state. Noting that the Capital City is known as the City of Oaks, the post explained, “it’s no surprise they drop a 10-foot-tall, 1,250-pound copper and steel acorn followed by a firework show…. Each year, on this special evening, it’s shined up and brought out to commemorate a countdown to the New Year.” Fodors.com attracts more than 1.9 million unique monthly visitors.
Hallmark Channel announces first 2023 Christmas movie – which will be filmed at Biltmore
Hallmark Channel is planning ahead. [This] month, the network will begin production on their first holiday movie of 2023. “A Biltmore Christmas” will film entirely on the Biltmore Estate
, a national historic landmark known for its classic holiday traditions. “Each year we look for ways to create exciting, new holiday viewing experiences for our audience,” says [Hallmark Media’s] Samantha DiPippo. “We know fans will love being transported back in time and the iconic, beautiful Biltmore Estate is the perfect setting to help fans get into the holiday spirit.” According to Variety, in 2022, Hallmark Channel ranked as the most-watched entertainment cable network during the holiday season among multiple demos.
State film industry brings in more than $250 million in 2022
Wilmington's WECT interviewed N.C. Film Office Director Guy Gaster for its “State film industry brings in more than $250 million in 2022” story. “We saw over $257 million being spent by projects. A good number of those being series, which, of course, are some of our top target markets,” said Gaster. The official tally is expected later this year. He also noted the production of television shows is what drove the industry to continued success in the state in 2022. Last year saw the premiere of locally-filmed shows “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Amazon) and “Welcome to Flatch” (Fox), both of which have been continued for a second season. Netflix’s locally-filmed series “Florida Man” could premiere on the streaming service in 2023.
Research shows Leisure & Hospitality sectors struggling to return to pre-pandemic levels
Recent research from the U.S. Travel Association reports that while travel spending nationally through October remains 3 percent above 2019 levels, and domestic leisure travel forecasts remain positive, domestic business travel will experience a slight slowdown in 2023 as the economy enters a mild recession.
As well, overseas arrivals still remain 30 percent below 2019 levels. The forecast for international travelers to the U.S. remains sluggish with a full recovery not expected until 2025.
Though the overall jobs market in the U.S. has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, the leisure and hospitality sector (L&H) remains behind pre-pandemic levels. This sector has a higher share of jobs still lost than nearly all other industries. Accommodations remain the farthest behind “sub-category” within L&H in terms of employment with a 17 percent share of job loss since February 2020. *Note that L&H is used as a proxy for the travel industry as they have historically followed similar trends
Despite ongoing losses in L&H jobs, the number of job openings has increased. In September 2022, L&H’s share of job openings (job openings rate) was 9.3 percent compared to a 6.5 percent opening rate for the overall economy. This sector has experienced a disproportionate number of “job quits” as a result of the pandemic and the “job quits” rate remains elevated. Of the 4.1 million Americans who quit their job in September, 21 percent of them were jobs in the L&H sector. There are not enough unemployed people to fill these new positions.
As a result of the competition for L&H employees, wages in this sector have grown significantly. In October 2022, L&H wages were 23 percent higher than 2019 levels while overall private sector wages were up 15 percent.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies.
January issue celebrates 90 years
For its January edition, Our State magazine celebrates 90 years of the publication. “Locals’ Guide” visits Washington; “Restaurant” highlights Out West Steakhouse in Kernersville; and “Happy Trails” treks North Pond Wildlife Trail at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge near Rodanthe. The January issue is available now.
‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Jan. 5, "North Carolina Weekend” offers “Brewery Tour,” which initially aired Oct. 27. Featured segments include Spaceway Brewing Company in Rocky Mount; Hillman Beer in Old Fort; Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Biergarten in Charlotte; Outer Banks Brewing Company in Kill Devil Hills; and Wicked Weed Brewing Company in Asheville. (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 Economic Development Partners of North Carolina
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