| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | January 17, 2018 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC's PR efforts lead to N.C. top travel destination for Canadians * Travel to N.C. featured in U.K. magazine campaign
* Visit NC's TRAC coming to Roxboro/Person County region Feb. 22
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 Visit NC's PR efforts lead to N.C. as top travel destination for Canadians
North Carolina topped the list of four "2018 Travel Destinations," featured in a CTV Vancouver (Canada) segment that aired last week. North Carolina was the only North American inclusion on the list. The segment was the result of the Visit NC Canadian PR team's efforts working with CTV, with solid story pitching and interaction. Regions across North Carolina (including Raleigh, Charlotte and Asheville) were featured in the piece which covered four destinations to visit in 2018. CTV is Canada's #1 private broadcaster, and a trusted news source for Canadians across the country. CTV Vancouver morning live reaches close to 375,000 viewers daily. |
 Travel to N.C. featured in U.K. magazine campaign
North Carolina was featured in the Winter edition of Family Traveller magazine, a U.K. publication that has just launched a sister website in the USA. The feature ran during the peak U.K. travel booking time, January - March. The audience is primarily female vacation planners looking for ideas to create memorable experiences for their families. The publication often features USA destinations as the choice of flights, lack of language barrier and good value are all strong draws for a family. Easy experiences and soft adventure in the mountains and on the coast will appeal to this audience. This feature is the first part of a larger negotiated program that will create a bespoke North Carolina hub on their website and will tie in with a competition to win a family holiday to North Carolina. The campaign will, where needed, also contain a tour operator call-to-action so as to maximize the return. Family Traveller is distributed to 80,000 ABC1 (U.K. TV channel) families and also sold at Waitrose, a leading U.K. retailer. In addition, the campaign also includes social media activity to 70,000 U.K. Facebook followers; coverage in database emewsletters, 100,000 banner advertisements in the U.K., N.C. banner advertisements on the Family Traveller websites in Germany and the U.S., and more. To learn more about Visit NC's international marketing programs, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
 TRAC coming to Roxboro/Person County region Feb. 22 On Feb. 22, tourism-related businesses in the Person County region - including 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 in reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending. Visit North Carolina's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC), a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses, will be held 10 am - 2 pm at the Kirby Cultural Arts Complex at 213 N. Main St. in Roxboro. The session is being held in partnership with the Person County TDA. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there are no PowerPoint presentations. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you'd-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. Dept. of Commerce's N.C. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources' N.C. State Parks, N.C. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services' Agritourism, and N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality's 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 André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
 RetireNC sees strong attendance in Long Island
Visit NC's André Nabors, along with Edenton-Chowan Partnership, 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 700 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 of Asheboro, Eden, Edenton, Jamestown/High Point, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, New Bern, Pittsboro, Reidsville, Sanford, Tarboro 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. |
 | | | The lunch counter at the Museum. |
U.S. Civil Rights Trail features International Civil Rights Center & Museum
The International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro is featured as a landmark site on the inaugural U.S. Civil Rights Trail, a project done in partnership with Travel South USA (TSUSA) and Visit North Carolina. The launch of the trail coincided with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The U.S. Civil Rights Trail is a curated collection of 130 destinations and landmarks that defined the course of the civil rights movement. It features sites in 14 states and the District of Columbia. The trail represents an effort by state tourism offices across the South to tell the story of the civil rights movement. It links the region's most important civil rights landmarks, including museums, churches, courthouses and memorials that were pivotal to the advancement of social equality during the 1950s and 1960s as compiled by historians, scholars and tourism officials. Additional North Carolina sites are on the inaugural U.S. Civil Rights Trail including the February One Monument in Greensboro; the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens and Shaw University's Estey Hall in Raleigh; and Hayti Heritage Center in Durham. The U.S. Civil Rights Trail website profiles the landmarks and offers an interactive map, interviews with prominent civil rights activists, past and present photographs and 360-degree video as special features.. |
 Cashiers, Beaufort among 'Best places to travel in the U.S. in February'
Cashiers and Beaufort are both among Travel + Leisure's "Best Places to Travel in the U.S. in February." Of Cashiers, the online article noted, "Few east coasters would think to head inland to the Blue Ridge Mountains for winter, but with 1,600-foot ski and snowboarding runs at the adventure-filled Sapphire Valley Resort, the remote forested peaks of North Carolina promise a delightfully rugged mid-February escape. When you're not snow tubing, the Great Outhouse Races (February 17) is an unmissable annual tradition: during the event, outlandishly decorated outhouses are released down the mountain while a crowd of spectators cheers on their favorite free-flying toilet." Of Beaufort, the online article explained, "For couples seeking an intimate getaway this month, there's plenty to discover in the coastal town of Beaufort, North Carolina. Despite brisk weather, February means reduced rates at places like The Inn on Turner, a family-run bed and breakfast celebrated for gourmet daily breakfasts and nightly wine hours (in the summer, these take place in lush gardens adjoining the house). Wild horses are the main attraction here, and the shiny-maned beauts can be spotted up-close during a kayaking expedition with Beaufort Paddle." |
'Best places to travel in February' includes Durham Condé Nast Traveler included Durham among its " Best Places to Travel in February." Of Durham, the online article said, "North Carolina's Research Triangle has seen an influx of fresh, youthful energy in the last decade, whether it's fashion folk drawn to Raleigh across from the beloved Nasher Museum of Art. Its 10 all-purpose studios are geared towards becoming proving grounds for the creative community, and over the opening weekend, it will host performances by the likes of composer Scott Lindroth and sound artist slash dancer Alisdair Macindoe." |
Use thermal leak detection to reduce energy bills
During the recent, lengthy cold weather, energy bills have soared. Fortunately, there are ways for hotels, attractions and other destinations to combat the cold. First, one must stop air leaks by making sure the building is properly sealed and insulated to prevent the warm air from escaping. Utilizing a thermal leak detector can help determine any these leaks are occurring. Leak detectors are affordable, hand-held infrared imaging devices that can be bought at home improvement stores or online. Use the detector to pinpoint the areas from which cold air is entering a building so those areas can be insulated, thus saving energy dollars. For information about energy savings, contact NC GreenTravel Initiative manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of Jan. 18 on North Carolina Weekend, take in the "State of the Art/Art of the State" exhibit at Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington. Stop by Brian Boggs Chairmakers in Asheville to see what they've created. Go geocaching in Bynum. Tempt your taste buds at La Guinguette Creperie in Black Mountain. And the "House Special" samples the fare at Towne Centre Diner in Winston-Salem. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, UNC-TV has made recent editions of North Carolina Weekendavailable online. | Eighty-four percent of all daytrippers visited North Carolina for pleasure purposes, while nearly 10 percent of visitors came to conduct business (includes meeting/convention). The remaining respondents indicated an "other" reason for visiting the state. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Visitor Profile Studies or contact Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Jan. 18-19 - MPI-CC Meeting, Charlotte Jan. 18-28 - Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah Jan. 26-30 - ABA Annual Meeting & Marketplace, Charlotte Jan. 28-29 - NC Assn. of Festivals & Events ShowFest, Charlotte Feb. 5 - NCRLA Annual Meeting, Raleigh Feb 21, 22 - HSMAI-NC "Building the Sales Pipeline," Charlotte (21), Durham (22) Feb. 22 - Visit NC's TRAC, Roxboro March 6 - NC Sports Association Quarterly Meeting, Winston-Salem March 15-16 - MPI-CC Meeting, Raleigh |
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