 In this issue:
• Digital marketing expert and best-selling author Jay Baer leads closing session at Governor's Conference; early bird registration ends today
• NYC Media Mission rescheduled
• Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends
...and more
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| Digital marketing expert and best-selling author Jay Baer leads closing session at Governor's Conference; early bird registration ends today |
Digital marketing expert and best-selling author Jay Baer will lead the closing session at the N.C. Governor's Conference on Tourism, at the Pinehurst Resort's Carolina Hotel March 8-10. In Baer’s presentation, discover a new approach that cuts through the clutter: marketing that is truly, inherently useful. If you sell something, you make a customer today, but if you genuinely help someone, you create a customer for life. Filled with dozens of real-world examples, his hilarious and powerful presentation will fundamentally change the way you think about your business, and is based on Baer’s New York Times best-selling business book. It’s a smash hit because it’s relevant, resonant, practical, funny and true.
Registration is available online for the 2015 Governor's Conference with an early bird rate of $399 through today. Save even more with an additional discount of $25 per person for three or more attendees from the same organization. The early registration rate ends today but registration is still open.
Room reservations may be made by contacting Pinehurst Resort at (855) 412-4803. Book your room at the resort by Feb. 23 and mention the N.C. Governor's Conference for the group rate. Conference rates, per night, start at $139 at the Manor Inn and $160 at the Carolina, Holly Inn or golf course/lake view condominiums. Both of these rates are for single or double occupancy.
Prospective conference sponsors should contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762 to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. Be sure to join On Event Service, Amtrak, Hearst Women’s Travel Group, The Local Palate, Atlanta Magazine, Journal Communications, Luquire George Andrews, N.C. Sports Association, Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen Area CVB, and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino at the Governor's Conference this March in Pinehurst.
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| Halifax County learns about Certified Retirement Community Program |  | Nabors (rt) with Roy Barnes at
the Roanoke Canal Museum |
Last week, Partner Relations Manager Andre Nabors met with officials in Halifax County to discuss the Certified Retirement Community Program and encourage participation in the program. Representatives from Halifax County, Economic Development and the Halifax County Community College Small Business Development office were among the attendees. In addition, Nabors toured some of the neighborhoods and planned communities in the area plus visited the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail; the Roanoke Canal is part of the N.C. Civil War Trails programs.
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| NYC Media Mission rescheduled | | With the forecast of an epic snowstorm for New York City, Visit North Carolina canceled the New York Media Mission that had been scheduled for Tuesday (last) night. The PR team is looking at options for rescheduling the event and will let partners know when the new date is set. |
| N.C. film promoted at Sundance Film Festival |  | NCFO Director Guy Gaster (rt) speaks
to industry attendees at N.C.’s setup at the
AFCI/Beyond Cinema Media Studio |
N.C. Film Office Director Guy Gaster was at the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, last week, where he promoted North Carolina and the benefits of filming here. Gaster had a packed five-day schedule that included meeting with film industry professionals and talking about the state's new $10 million grant program, as well as North Carolina's strong crew base and variety of locations. In addition to meetings, the NCFO, along with the UNC School of the Arts, in conjunction with the Wilmington Regional Film Commission and the Charlotte Regional Film Commission, hosted a meet-and-greet with filmmakers last Saturday in which more than 350 people attended.
On a related note, nearly 30 alumni from the School of Filmmaking and the School of Drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) have ties to at least 14 independent films screening at Sundance Film Festival and the alternative Slamdance Film Festival, also in Park City. "Independent filmmaking is usually the gateway into the industry for our graduates," said Film Dean Susan Ruskin. "Independent film festivals like Sundance and Slamdance are very important for getting their work seen. We are extremely proud of our presence at these festivals, year after year."
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| Applications now available for N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant |  Administered by the N.C. Dept. of Commerce and marketed by the N.C. Film Office, the grant program replaces the state's previous 25 percent refundable tax credit which ended on Dec. 31, 2014. Projects seeking to apply for the grant must have a direct in-state spend of at least $5 million for feature films, $250,000 per episode for television series, and $250,000 for commercials. The grant will rebate productions up to 25 percent back – based on availability – on their qualified in-state spend but will not exceed $5 million per feature film or television series or $250,000 per commercial. To find out more, click here.
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| Successful EDPNC Open House brings out partners |  | Gov. McCrory (center) and EDPNC CEO
Chris Chung (rt) cut the ribbon to debut the
new headquarters of the EDPNC. They're
joined (lf-rt) by EDPNC Board Chairman
John Lassiter, N.C. Dept. of Commerce Sec.
John Skvarla and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest |
More than 270 guests attended the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina Open House last week, offering the first chance to everyone to visit the new offices for the EDPNC. In addition to meeting the new CEO, Chris Chung, partners were able to tour the offices and network. Greatly appreciated were wines donated by Childress Vineyards, Shelton Vineyards and Surry Cellars, plus other assorted N.C. wines donated by the N.C. Wine & Grape Council. Beers were donated by the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild and included beers from Fullsteam Brewery, Mother Earth Brewing and several other N.C. brews. Earlier in the day, Gov. Pat McCrory and EDPNC CEO Chris Chung participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut the EDPNC’s new headquarters.
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| Obama administration proposes drilling off Carolinas coast; Gov. McCrory applauds decision |
As reported by the Associated Press, an Obama administration plan for drilling off the Atlantic coast could rekindle an old debate pitting the lure of oil and gas revenues against North Carolina’s environment and its tourism industry. The Interior Department on Tuesday proposed offering one drilling lease for sale in 2021 in federal waters off the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia, the first since the 1980s. The department plans 13 other sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Alaska coast. With Tuesday’s announcement, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said, the agency seeks to “build up our understanding” of deposits and environmental risks. Drilling would begin only after environmental studies, public comment and a finding that it is consistent with state coastal management policies. The Obama administration reopened the East Coast from Delaware to Florida to offshore exploration last July, allowing seismic testing that can pinpoint deposits under the sea floor. Most of the 10 testing applications before the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management include North Carolina, indicating that the industry views its coast as a sweet spot for drilling. Testing could begin this year. "Generally speaking, we are geographically well positioned here in that a large portion of the Mid-Atlantic resource is off the North Carolina coast," said David McGowan of the N.C. Petroleum Council. The Obama proposal, he added, would go "hand in hand" with a measure U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Richard Burr introduced last week to allow Atlantic drilling in return for states receiving a share of oil and gas revenues.
The Associated Press also reports Gov. Pat McCrory says moving closer to drilling offshore of the Carolinas is a step in the right direction. McCrory chairs the Outer Continental Shelf Governors Coalition consisting of coastal state governors favoring offshore energy development. McCrory said in a statement that responsible development of gas and oil off the coast will create thousands of jobs and generate billions in tax revenue. He says it will also help the nation move closer to energy independence. The governors' group wants revenue sharing for coastal states to compensate local communities for infrastructure, environmental protection and other needs generated by the energy industry.
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| N.C. state parks report record visitation of 15.6 million in 2014 |  | Biking is a popular activity at William B. Umstead
State Park, the most-visited state park in 2014 |
North Carolina's state parks and state recreation areas had record attendance in 2014, with 15.6 million visitors, a 10 percent increase compared to 14.2 million the previous year, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Among 39 state parks and state recreation areas, 27 reported increases in attendance in 2014. William B. Umstead State Park in Wake County reported the highest attendance at 1.29 million visits, and was among six state park units logging more than a million visitors. The others were Fort Macon and Jockey's Ridge state parks and Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas. Parks reporting the largest increases in visitation included Crowders Mountain in Gaston County (65 percent), Hammocks Beach in Onslow County (32 percent), Lake Norman in Iredell County (70 percent), Lake Waccamaw in Columbus County (26 percent) and Morrow Mountain in Stanly County (64 percent).
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| Old Edwards Inn & Spa, The Umstead Hotel and Spa among 'Best Hotels in the U.S.' |  U.S. News & World Report has released its "Best Hotels in the USA 2015." The Old Edwards Inn & Spa (#37), in Highlands, and The Umstead Hotel and Spa (#42), in Durham, are among the "50 Best Hotels in the U.S.A." The full "2015 Best Hotels in the USA Winners" also include The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte (#72) and The Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro (#118). The travel editors at U.S. News researched and analyzed an array of resources – from guest reviews and expert recommendations to travel websites and industry award lists – to solidify an extensive list of the best places to stay in the United States. Its editors used a comprehensive methodology to evaluate more than 1,700 luxury hotels across the USA, taking into account the hotel's class rating, the number and prominence of industry awards it received and traveler reviews.
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| Smokies scientists find 900 more miles of streams | |
There are much more than black bears hidden among the vast old-growth forests and frosty-topped, towering mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Although the more than half-million-acre park straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border is the most-visited national park in the country, hosting 10 million visitors in 2014, its rugged wildness makes parts of the park still largely unexplored. The park is so biologically diverse, it is known to contain at least 100 species of trees, 1,500 plant species, 200 species of birds, 66 types of mammals, 67 native fish species and 39 varieties of reptiles, among many others being discovered all the time, and likewise more waterways. Because of its exceptionally high rainfall, the park is also home to plenty of streams, and after a three-year, stream-mapping project, scientists in the Smokies have discovered that the park contains about 900 more miles of streams than originally thought. As the study is ongoing, it's expected there will be more streams discovered in the coming years.
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| AVL sets passenger record in 2014 |  More people than ever took to the skies at Asheville Regional Airport during 2014, officials announced Tuesday (yesterday). The number of passengers climbed 11.6 percent, to 756,425, in 2014 compared to 2013, when 678,023 people flew, according to figures released by airport officials. The previous record was set in 2010. An AVL official identified two reasons for the increase in fliers: maintaining connections to airline hubs and attracting new low-cost service to Florida.
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| Vote for Hillsborough, Washington for 'America's Coolest Small Town 2015' | | Budget Travel is seeking America's Coolest Small Town - and both Hillsborough and Washington are among the 15 nominees. To vote or to find out more, click here. The online contest closes at midnight Feb. 25.
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| STS offers N.C. non-members special pricing for Spring Symposium |  The Southeast Tourism Society is offering special pricing to N.C. non-members for its 2015 Spring Symposium, in Charlotte, March 30-April 1. The one-time discount price registration fee is meant to introduce non-STS members to the organization. Visit North Carolina and Visit Charlotte are hosting the opening night reception at this year’s event. To find out more, click here.
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| 'Sandwich Issue' looks at N.C. favorites | | In its February issue, themed the "Sandwich Issue," Our State magazine looks at favorite sandwiches across North Carolina, with sandwiches ranging from pork chop to collards, soft-shelled crab to livermush, and more. The Photo Essay looks at several mills and factories that, while initially designed to be solely functional, have now been reworked to serve a variety of purposes. "Our State Quiz" asks about notable couples with N.C. ties and the "Civil War" series examines Sherman’s Final March. The February issue is on sale now.
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| Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends | FCC rules hotel Wi-Fi blocking is illegal and subject to penalties – The U.S. Federal Communications Commission forcefully came down on the "disturbing trend" of hotels and other commercial entities blocking consumers' personal Wi-Fi hot spots and declared such practices "illegal." The enforcement advisory directly rebuffs efforts by Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and the rest of the U.S. hotel industry to get the authority to block attendees' personal Wi-Fi hotspots at meetings and conventions. Although the FCC hasn’t directly ruled on the Marriott and American Hotel & Lodging Association petition, filed in August, to seek clarification of the law as it pertains to Wi-Fi blocking, the FCC did note: "While the Enforcement Bureau recognizes that the Petition questions our position, the Bureau will continue to enforce the law as it understands it unless and until the Commission determines otherwise." "Willful or malicious interference with Wi-Fi hot spots is illegal," the FCC states. "Wi-Fi blocking violates Section 333 of the Communications Act, as amended. The Enforcement Bureau has seen a disturbing trend in which hotels and other commercial establishments block wireless consumers from using their own personal Wi-Fi hot spots on the commercial establishment's premises. As a result, the Bureau is protecting consumers by aggressively investigating and acting against such unlawful intentional interference."
NRA's forecast reveals economic, workforce, food and technology trends – The National Restaurant Association's 2015 Restaurant Industry Forecast reports while the operating environment will remain challenging, total restaurant industry sales are expected to reach a record $709.2 billion in 2015 – a 3.8 percent increase over 2014, marking the sixth consecutive year of real sales growth for the industry. One trend notes that despite increased consumer use of technology options, personal service will continue to be the hallmark of dining out. Plus, consumers are showing increased interest in local sourcing and more restaurants are taking notice.
Top hotel trends to watch in 2015 – Hotels have long been an integral part of travel, whether they're booked for business trips, family vacations or anything in between. But with the rise of home-sharing and vacation rental businesses like Airbnb and HomeAway, the industry is being forced to improve upon the status quo and find new ways to appeal to travelers. U.S. News & World Report offers four of the top hotel trends to watch in 2015, which include mobile bookings, tech-savvy amenities and features, a focus on health and wellness, and providing a pleasant stay for pets, too.
The search for more space: Fitness Center Design – When the average guest is on the road, he or she is not going to the hotel gym to necessarily bulk up. Instead, guests are focused on keeping up with the physical routine they follow when at home, which for many travelers involves more than just lifting weights, and often involves classes such as yoga and Pilates. According to a representative with the architecture, design and construction consulting firm Jonathan Nehmer + Associates, hotels are catering to these needs by introducing more and more empty or open space in their fitness centers, and sometimes even an adjacent classroom space if possible. These hotels understand that some guests are choosing brands based on fitness facilities, and are upping their ante on fitness design.
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 | | NC GreenTravel: Uses of herbs, fruits and vegetables more than just for restaurants | |
Including herbs, fruits and vegetables in a facility's landscape design can be a cost-effective highlight for a business and ties in well with the growing movement to consume delicious and nutritious locally grown products. Sometimes winter's balmy weather suggests it’s never too early to start planning a spring garden. While the benefits are clear to restaurants, herb gardens can also be cultivated and used in attractions as well as lodging businesses to include pleasing aromas in flower arrangements, create sachets and potpourri for pillows and drawers, or "muddle" in drinks, for example, crushing basil leaves in iced tea. The benefits of edible landscaping for a business can translate to cost savings from reduced expenditures on food purchases and reductions in carbon footprint by limiting transportation. Many commercial landscaping companies are knowledgeable about appropriate edible plants for an area, which are likely to include native species that generally require less irrigation and maintenance than exotic plants. Another great source for expert information and ideas are the county extension services, many of which have a "Master Gardener" program; check their website for locations throughout the state. For more information on edible landscapes, click here. For information on sustainable tourism, contact NC GreenTravel program manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140, or Liz Brown-Pickren with ECU’s Center for Sustainability at (252) 737-1346.
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For the week of Jan. 29 on North Carolina Weekend, take a trip to the Cook Shack in Union Grove. Explore the New Winston Museum in Winston-Salem. Enjoy the great outdoors at Hunting Creek Preserves in Harmony. Tempt your taste buds at Fiddles Pub in Elkin. And relax at Shutters on the Banks in Kill Devil Hills. (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 Weekend available online.
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Coastal Region overnight visitors to North Carolina plan their visits further in advance than do visitors to the Piedmont or Mountain regions. Twenty-five percent of Coastal Region overnight visitors plan their trip more than six months in advance, while only 13 percent of Piedmont Region overnight visitors and 15 percent of Mountain Region overnight visitors plan that far in advance. For additional information on visitor spending, click here. For more information, contact Director of Tourism Research Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748.
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| Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events | Jan. 29-30 – N.C. Coast Host Meeting, Sunset Beach
Feb. 3 – NCRLA Annual Meeting, Raleigh
Feb. 4 – NCTIA Legislative Reception, Raleigh
Feb. 6-8 – Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo, Greenwich, Conn.
Feb. 9-10 – Annual Emerging Issues Forum, Raleigh
Feb. 10 – N.C. Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, Cary
Feb. 13-15 – Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo, Rochester, Mich.
Feb. 27-March 1 – Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo, McLean, Va.
March 3-8 – ITB Berlin, Berlin, Germany
March 8-10 – N.C. Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Pinehurst
March 14-17 – AARP Life@50 + Expo, Miami, Fla.
March 18-20 – N.C. Main Street Conference, Morganton
March 22-25 – Travel South Showcase, Shreveport, La.
March 25-26 – U.S. Travel Association's Destination: Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
March 30-April 1 – STS Spring Symposium, Charlotte
March 31 – N.C. Sports Association Meeting, Greenville
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15000 Weston Parkway
Cary, NC 27513 |
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