Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC Partners - January 25, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC Tourism Conference pre-event workshop aims to help DMOs develop their narrative
* Visit NC PR team efforts generate coverage for
Blue Ridge Craft Trails
* Visit NC’s February webinar offers ‘Visitor Center Tips’
* N.C.-filmed 'I.S.S.' opens nationwide
* Final season of ‘Hightown’ premieres this Friday
Visit NC Tourism Conference pre-event workshop aims to help DMOs develop their narrative
From 12 - 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, award-winning travel writer, author and educator Andrew Nelson
will lead the pre-conference workshop for DMO conference attendees "Here Not There: Developing New Narratives.” In this hands-on workshop, Nelson will help attendees see their destination with fresh eyes and spark new media narratives and strategies. Key takeaways include seeing a destination as a journalist would view it, learning how to uncover diverse, untold stories and examining examples of how other destinations have unearthed new narratives that stay true to their brand. The cost for this workshop is $100 (outside of conference registration) and restricted to DMOs only. Boxed lunches will be provided.
Registration is openfor the Visit NC Tourism Conference, at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville, March 17-19. The annual conference brings together tourism industry leaders for educational sessions and insightful programming. It provides opportunities to catch up on the latest trends and issues facing the travel industry and gain insights from industry experts.
Hotel room blocks were secured at three properties connected to/adjacent from the convention center. While the Hilton is sold out, hotel rooms remain available at the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn. Click here for hotel block information.
Visit NC PR team efforts generate coverage for Blue Ridge Craft Trails
Wanderlust, a leading London-based travel magazine, featured the Blue Ridge Craft Trails in a post from a visit organized by the Visit NC PR team. “Meet the Makers of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains
” reflects the region’s artistic traditions with a journey that travels the ridgeline from the High Country to the state’s southwestern tip. Framed by a view of a heritage that begins with the Cherokee, the article features interviews with craftspeople in West Jefferson, Cherokee, Black Mountain and Brasstown. The writer’s visit was supported by destination partners and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. Wanderlust.com attracts 388,000 unique monthly visitors.
In other media activity, a Visit NC PR team pitch led to Charlotte’s inclusion in the Travel + Leisure roundup “20 Cheapest Places to Travel Around the World in 2024.” Travelandleisure.com attracts nearly 13 million unique monthly visitors.
Visit NC’s February webinar offers ‘Visitor Center Tips’
Visit NC’s February webinar offers “A Discussion on Visitor Center Tips.” Visit NC has invited several partners for a discussion on best practices related to the operations of Visitor Centers. This will include sharing things that have worked and things that haven't been as successful. The webinar will be 10 a.m. on Feb. 8. Click here to register.
On Tuesday, Visit NC’s André Nabors spoke with tourism partners in Clinton/Sampson County and the surrounding areas about Visit NC's programs and opportunities during one of four UPLIFT workshops, "Conceptualizing & Enhancing Your Tourism Experience." The workshops are designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to share their cultural practices and earn income by offering engaging, paid tourism experiences.
Visit NC at Coast Host
Visit NC's Scott Peacock presented a Visit NC update during the Coast Host annual meeting in Elizabethtown last week. He also moderated a panel discussion with Luquire’s Morgan Wagner and MediaOne’s Martin Armes on working with influencers and bloggers. Luquire’s Maggie Carpenter also presented to attendees on how to use AI for marketing and communications.
N.C.-filmed 'I.S.S.' opens nationwide
The N.C.-filmed feature “I.S.S.” opened nationwide this past weekend. The thriller, starring N.C.-native Ariana DeBose, takes place at the International Space Station. When conflict breaks out on Earth, the U.S. and Russian astronauts are pitted against one another when each receive orders to take control of the station by any means necessary. The production filmed entirely on the stages of then EUE/Screen Gems Studios-Wilmington (now Cinespace Studios-Wilmington) in 2021. It had a verified direct in-state spend of more than $13.8 million. The trailer for the feature can be viewed here.
Wilmington’s StarNews’ “How a Wilmington-shot space thriller offers a 'wind of change' to post-Cold War era
” highlighted the project, including an interview with director Gabriela Cowperthwaite about her experience in the area. "I lived in Wrightsville Beach. Most beautiful place I've ever been on a shoot. I walked (the beach) every weekend. It was amazing," Cowperthwaite said, adding, "You've got some world-class filmmakers in your town. It was a privilege to be there (on) this amazing, enormous stage that we were so lucky to get.
The third and final season of the Starz series “Hightown” premieres this Friday (Jan. 26) on the premium cable network. The series filmed seasons 2 and 3 in New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties after relocating from New York. Each season is estimated to have had a direct in-state spend of more than $40 million. A trailer for Season 3 can be viewed here.
Both “I.S.S.” and “Hightown” were projects from production companies that the North Carolina Film Office has been heavily recruiting and working with to bring more projects to the state.
Charlotte, Wilmington among the 'Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker, 2024'
Two North Carolina locations made MovieMaker Magazine’s "Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker, 2024." Wilmington ranked #4 in Small Cities & Towns, while Charlotte made its debut on the list at #17 in Big Cities. Write-ups on both locations noted the state’s 25 percent rebate program (via the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant) as being a key reason for inclusion, while also highlighting the strength of local crews and each city’s notable film festival.
Vote for Asheville’s River Arts District for Best Arts District
Vote for the River Arts District in Asheville as Best Arts District, among the nominations for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories for “Best art museums and artist havens.” Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends at noon Feb. 19.
Major League Rugby coming to Charlotte
Major League Rugby (MLR) announced last Friday the awarding of an expansion team to Charlotte. Anthem Rugby
Carolina (RC) starts competition this year with the club’s inaugural roster featuring players from various MLR teams who are eligible to participate on behalf of the U.S. in international competition. Anthem RC, through the relationship with World Rugby and USA Rugby, is focused on enhancing the development pipeline for American players and the USA Eagles, the national men’s rugby team of the U.S, in advance of qualifying for the 2031 Rugby World Cup. The league has 12 teams competing in the 2024 season so Anthem RC will play against teams in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New Orleans, San Diego, Seattle, and others.
“Charlotte is one of the best sports cities in the country, with a passionate fan base for everything from basketball to soccer, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring home its first professional rugby franchise, said MLR's Nic Benson. "There already is a great rugby community in Charlotte, and I’m excited to introduce this sport to new fans across the Carolinas.
Frontier expanding service to CLT, RDU
Frontier Airlines is expanding service to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Nonstop flights to Charlotte from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) will begin in April. Additionally, Frontier will begin nonstop service to CLT from Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) in May and to San Juan, Puerto Rico's Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) in June.
Frontier will begin nonstop service to RDU from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS), Miami International Airport (MIA), Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Chicago-O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in April. Frontier will also begin direct service to RDU from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in May.
James Beard Awards semi-finalists include N.C. sites, chefs The James Beard Awards has announced its 2024 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists and several N.C. restaurants and chefs are among those recognized. Nominees will be announced on April 3; winners will be recognized at a June 10 event in Chicago.
Outstanding Chef
- Dean Neff, Seabird, Wilmington
Best New Restaurant
- The Market Place, Asheville
- The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge Inn, Blowing Rock
Best New Restaurant
- Ajja, Raleigh
Outstanding Bakery
- Bobby Boy Bakeshop, Winston-Salem
Outstanding Hospitality
- Crawford and Son, Raleigh
Outstanding Bar
- Bittersweet, Raleigh
Best Chef Southeast
- Daryl Cooper and Oscar Johnson, Jimmy Pearls, Charlotte
- Jamie Davis, The Hackney, Washington
- Jason Sellers, Plant, Asheville - Kanlaya “Gun” Supachana, Dalaya Thai Cuisine, Sylva
- Preeti Waas, Cheeni Indian Food Emporium, Raleigh
Meeting industry experts discuss ‘2024 State of the Industry’
In its December 2023 issue, Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine offered its “2024 State of the Industry
.” The article gathered Maritz's Steve O’Malley, Omni Hotels & Resorts' Dan Surette, ASAE's Michelle Mason, and Hilton's Frank Passanante to share insights on the evolving landscape of meetings and events, with a focus on the latest trends, technology and evolutions. Some industry trends include cultural curiosity and event technology. Top concerns range from shifting demographics, travel bans, political influences, labor shortages, rising costs, to the evolution of AI and its disruptive or powerful potential, brands’ business models and the growing movement around inclusivity, safety and sustainability.
For the week of Jan. 25, "North Carolina Weekend” repeats the episode “Connects with Nature,” that originally aired Oct. 26. Featured segments include Lake Lure Flowering Bridge in Lake Lure; Raleigh-based Great Outdoor Provision Company; Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck; the Coharie Tribe's sorghum syrup, basing the segment in Clinton; and Navitat Canopy Adventures in Barnardsville.
(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 the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
150 Fayetteville St., Ste 1200, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, United States
