Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, January 5, 2022 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC 365 Conference opening keynote speaker Shane Snow * Visit NC working with Airbnb for ‘Rediscover North Carolina’ campaign * Peacock joins Visit NC as director of tourism marketing |
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Visit NC 365 Conference opening keynote speaker Shane Snow The tourism industry has seen widespread changes during the last couple of years. Some areas have seen record visitation while others have been struggling without business/meeting travel. This year’s Visit NC 365 – in Durham, March 20-22 – features opening keynote speaker, Shane Snow. He will get your teams to work more innovatively – and to get the naysayers on board with new ideas. Breakthrough innovation happens when we rethink conventional wisdom. But how do you train yourself – or your organization – to think differently? In his clever and surprising keynote, Snow debunks myths of success, shares unforgettable research and stories. Don’t forget, early bird registrationends Jan. 15. The price will increase from $475 to $499 per person for full conference registration. For more information or questions about the conference, contact Kelly Dawson. |
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Visit NC working with Airbnb for ‘Rediscover North Carolina’ campaign Visit North Carolina has partnered with Airbnb for "Rediscover North Carolina." The joint campaign aims to support the state’s tourism recovery by inspiring guests to add the state to their 2022 travel plans. Targeting residents of North Carolina and nearby states including South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia, the campaign is designed to keep North Carolina top of mind for when people are ready to travel. It features a dedicated landing page highlighting the state’s three distinct regions – small towns in the Smoky and Blue Ridge mountains, bustling Piedmont cities and scenic communities along the coast. As part of the initiative, Airbnb will launch a social media campaign focused on local attractions, unique stays and signature experiences. |
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Peacock joins Visit NC asdirector of tourism marketing
Visit North Carolina announces the hiring of Director of Tourism Marketing Scott Peacock, effective Jan. 10. An accomplished marketing and communications leader with proven tourism industry experience, Peacock is charged with overseeing Visit North Carolina’s brand positioning, messaging and integrated marketing strategy.
“Scott has an infectious enthusiasm for tourism in North Carolina,” said Visit NC's Wit Tuttell. "We are excited to have him lead our marketing efforts to bring visitors back to destinations across the state.”
Peacock returns to Visit North Carolina having served as the organization’s public relations manager 2015-2016. He has worked in the destination marketing sector for nearly 15 years and has a proven track record of driving results through data-driven, integrated marketing strategies that bolster tourism and broader economic development for communities. He most recently oversaw integrated marketing efforts for Raleigh-based telecommunications-tech firm Bandwidth. Prior to that he was the director of public relations and international tourism at Visit Raleigh. |
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Visit NC PR efforts lead to Mount Olive’s Pickle Drop in the spotlight Due to the efforts of Visit NC’s PR team, Mount Olive’s Pickle Drop was included in TimeOut.com’s "9 weird but wonderful New Year’s Eve events in the USA." The team worked with TimeOut for the placement. Of the Pickle Drop inclusion, the article noted, in part, “Garnering thousands of attendees every year, the celebration centers on a three-and-a-half-foot illuminated pickle that the local fire department lowers into a redwood tank. Accompanied by a food drive for the local food bank (not to mention a solid display of fireworks), the event is so wholesome that it takes place at 7pm (just enough time for briny revelry tucking the little ones in for bedtime).” TimeOut.com garners more than 10.9 million unique monthly visitors. The site garners more than 10.9 million unique monthly visitors. |
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N.C. holiday events highlighted WTVD in Durham interviewed Visit NC's Margo Metzger for part of its "ABC 11 Together Perspectives," which aired Dec. 19. For the "NC Holiday Tourism/Getaways" segment, Metzger discussed winter activities and experiences within the state, such as skiing, Christmas at Biltmore in Asheville, Kersey Valley Christmas in Archdale, Greensboro Science Center’s Winter Wonderlights, Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord and Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden’s Holiday at the Garden in Belmont. |
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Visit NC at Esports Travel Summit Visit NC’s Amanda Baker attended the 2021 EsportsTravel Summit, presented by SportsTravel Dec. 14-16 in Pittsburgh, Penn. Launched in conjunction with the TEAMS Conference & Expo in 2017, the EsportsTravel Summit is the world’s largest gathering of esports tournament and video-game event organizers and the only event focused on the travel side of the esports industry. Baker participated in pre-scheduled appointments during the summit. For more information on Visit NC's statewide sports marketing efforts, contact Amanda Baker at (919) 447-7765. |
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Trailer for N.C.-filmed ‘Line Sisters’ released The first trailer has been released for N.C.-filmed “Line Sisters.” According to the N.C. Film Office, “Line Sisters” filmed in and around the Wilmington area in May and June of 2021. The Lifetime movie follows four sorority sisters who reunite for weekend in North Carolina that turns out differently than expected. The production was estimated to have a direct in-state spend more than $3 million and was approved for a rebate via the NC Film and Entertainment Grant. View the trailer here. |
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Research shows increasing concern for travel during pandemic, but travel excitement still there
The growing number of infections across the country, due in part from the Omicron variant, is causing American travelers to feel less positive about a return to normal, and will impact travel, says the most recent data from Destination Analysts. Nearly 47 percent of American travelers expect the situation to get worse in the next month, the highest this percentage has been since early September. More than a quarter of travelers say that the variant will affect their travel during the next six months. |
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Despite the pessimism regarding the virus and return to normalcy in the short term and feelings of being able to travel safely decline, enthusiasm for travel remains undeterred. Nearly 70 percent of American travelers still report that they are excited to travel and nearly as many are open to travel inspiration. |
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Travel experience priorities, while similar to last January, show that travelers are more interested this year in enjoying nature, visiting new destinations, excitement/energy, bucket list travel and budget travel. Getting away from crowds remains high as well. In terms of specific experiences, enjoying scenic beauty, outdoor activities, visits to beach areas, road trips, national park visits, cuisine experiences and visiting small towns and parks top the list and are all increases from last year. |
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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NCDOR offering two webinars on Business Recovery Grants The N.C. Department of Revenue is offering two free Business Recovery Grant Program webinars, one on Jan. 6 and one on Jan. 18. The webinars will provide an overview of the program which includes information on the types of grant awards under the program, eligibility requirements to receive the grant payment, and how businesses apply for the payment, as well as the resources available on the NCDOR website. Click here to register for either webinar. The Business Recovery Grant Program will issue a one-time payment to an eligible North Carolina business that experienced a significant economic loss due to COVID-19. Two types of grants will be available to an eligible business that suffered an economic loss of at least 20 percent during the pandemic - a hospitality grant and a reimbursement grant. The grant amount is a percentage of the economic loss demonstrated by the eligible business or $500,000, whichever is less. The application period closes Jan. 31. |
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Icelandair bringing direct flight to RDU Icelandair is bringing a direct flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The flight will connect RDU with Reykjavik, Iceland, a tourist destination that also serves as a midway point between North America and Europe. The seasonal flight is slated to start in May.. |
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Old Fort Trails Project: Pisgah National Forest to get 40 miles of new trails with aim of community building More than 40 miles of new trails are coming to Pisgah National Forest around Old Fort, with the first 6 miles of fully accessible paths opening as soon as this summer, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. These will be the first purpose-built trails in the more than 500,0000-acre, heavily trafficked national forest in Western North Carolina, but what really makes them special is how the Old Fort Trails Project was born out of community planning, with ideas coming from the users to the Forest Service, instead of vice versa, according to project partners. Several organizations – including People on the Move for Old Fort, Pisgah National Forest's Grandfather Ranger District, a volunteer trail work and advocacy group G5 Trail Collective and a coalition of other groups – led the efforts for what will eventually give hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians much more recreational access to Pisgah National Forest between Old Fort and the Blue Ridge Parkway in McDowell County. There’s also the potential economic boon the trail system could bring Old Fort. |
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Carolina Predators bringing arena football back to Fayetteville The Carolina Predators is bringing arena football back to Fayetteville, reported the Fayetteville Observer. The team will call the Crown Coliseum home for the 2022 season as members of the American Indoor Football Alliance. Fayetteville hasn't been home to an arena football team since the Cape Fear Heroes folded in 2019 after a seven-year run. Other AIFA teams include the Birmingham Ravens, Las Vegas Kings, Mississippi Raiders, St. Charles Bandits and Tampa Bay Cyclones. With tryouts starting this month, the league is set to begin play on March. 26. |
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Laura Kleiss Hoeft is the new executive director for the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. She may be contacted at (828) 389-3704 or via laura@claychambernc.com. |
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Pegg new tourism manager for Rockingham County TDA Lindsay Pegg is the new tourism manager for Rockingham County TDA. She may be contacted at (336) 342-8167 or via lpegg@co.rockingham.nc.us. |
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McAdenville included in ‘In these Christmas-obsessed towns, miles of lights deliver “all the feels”’ Last month, The Washington Post included McAdenville in its article “In these Christmas-obsessed towns, miles of lights deliver ‘all the feels.’” Of the inclusion, the article noted, in part, “McAdenville takes on its trademarked alter ego: ‘Christmas Town U.S.A.,’ a mile-plus stretch of holiday lights and decorations that draws an estimated 600,000 visitors every year. The tradition dates back to the mid-1950s, when a grass roots decorating effort caught the interest and financial backing of the founder of Pharr Yarns, a textile mill and major employer. Now known just as Pharr, the company has continued to deck out the common areas of town over the decades. As for the rest: That’s up to the several hundred residents, some of whom have moved to McAdenville because of the festivities.” |
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January issue offers ‘Winter Welcome’ The January issue of Our State magazine looks at “Winter Wonder.” “Local’s Guide” explores Hickory; “Restaurants” samples East Frank Superette & Kitchen in Monroe; “Drink” visits Call Family Distillers in Wilkesboro; and “Bakery” checks out Sweet D’s Cuisine in Wilmington. The January issue is available now. |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Jan. 6, "North Carolina Weekend" repeats the “History in the Making” episode that originally aired Nov. 11. Segments feature N.C Museum of History’s “Dressing the Abbey” exhibit in Raleigh; Hunting Boy Wood Carvings in Robbinsville; Celebration of Seagrove Potters Studio Tour in Seagrove; and Cline's Country Antiques in Mount Pleasant. (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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