| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | June 19, 2019 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Three productions approved for funds from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant
* Vote for N.C. sites among high octane favorites
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Three productions approved for funds from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant The N.C. Dept. of Commerce, in conjunction with the N.C. Film Office, announced three new selections to receive funds from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant. "Reprisal," "Virginia Cold Case Project," and "The 24th," are all now in production across the state. Combined, the productions are expected to generate a direct in-state spend of more than $50.6 million. The productions are expected to create more than 5,800 job opportunities in the state, including more than 1,120 crew positions. "Reprisal" will be filming in the greater Wilmington area, with locations so far expected in Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Sampson counties; it will base out of EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington. The project, whose pilot also filmed in the state, is eligible for a rebate of up to $10.7 million. The series will be available for viewing on the streaming service Hulu, although a release date hasn't been announced yet. "Virginia Cold Case Project" is a made-for-television movie from N.C.-based Markay Media, who was responsible for the hit PBS series "A Chef's Life" and the 2014 Sundance Film Festival documentary selection "Private Violence." Production related activities are expected to take place in Durham, Mecklenburg, Moore and Robeson counties, and is eligible for a rebate of up to $370,000. Finally, "The 24th" will be filming in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg and Rowan counties and has been approved for an award of up to $1.6 million. With the latest announcement, the state has now confirmed eight projects that have been selected to receive funds from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant, totaling more than $34 million, during the 2019 fiscal year. |
Vote for N.C. sites among high octane favorites
North Carolina has several of nominations for the 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories regarding high octane favorites. Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com's website; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends July 15 at noon. |
Cape Hatteras among '10 lighthouses around the country worth traveling for'
Conde Nast Traveler included Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, in Buxton, among its '10 Lighthouses Around the Country Worth Traveling For." Of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the article noted, "Black and white candy cane stripes make this 208-foot lighthouse one of the most recognizable structures in the country. Its beacon shines 20 miles offshore, so it is well-known to boaters, too. Climb the 248 spiral steps or admire it from afar. Be sure to explore the rest of the barrier island of Hatteras, as it's the Outer Banks' quieter, wilder spot, where much of the sand remains undeveloped." |
Wilmington among '5 summer travel destinations the whole family will enjoy' "Today" featured Wilmington in its '5 summer travel destinations the whole family will enjoy," determined by a contributing editor to Condé Nast Traveler. Of Wilmington, the segment explained as to why someone should visit, "'Summer is the most ideal time to visit Wilmington, said the CNT editor. From free concerts and theater to fireworks by the boardwalk, the town seems to be filled with plenty of activities to entertain families during the warmer months." The CNT editor recommended the modern, minimalist retreat, Arrive Wilmington. |
Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends
Are micro-cations the newest millennial travel trend? - The days of the extra long, leisurely vacation are over, reports Travel + Leisure. At least, they seem to be for Millennials. It's no secret that the under-40 crowd are not the best at taking vacations. Even though Millennials love to travel, they often can't or won't go on trips due to work-related stress, finances, or simply the overwhelming task of planning a big getaway. Therefore, the micro-cation has become the most popular way for many Millennials to finally get out of the office. But, what is a micro-cation anyway? These short getaways are basically like taking long weekends in lieu of extended vacation time, kind of like a mini-moon without the wedding. It can be a good tactic for getting the most out of your paid time off if you want to go to lots of different places in short amounts of time, especially if you use your weekends well. According to one survey, 21 percent of Millennials said their longest trips were three to four nights, while 12 percent said they took trips no longer than one or two nights. In addition, 29 percent said they took at least three micro-cations in the entire year. Hotels increasingly offer in-room fitness amenities - If someone likes working out but doesn't want to make the trek down to the hotel fitness center, they can take advantage of the growing trend of in-room fitness amenities, reports USA Today. They can stick to their workout routine when traveling by using interactive home gym systems like Mirror; burning calories with stationary Peloton bikes located in their room; or get flowing on yoga mats, exercise balls and other workout equipment that allows them to break a sweat privately. Even Hotels, an IHG hotel brand, equips every guest room with a yoga mat and block, resistance bands and an exercise ball in addition to workout-friendly flooring and on-demand fitness videos ranging from 5 to 30 minutes. Hilton's Five Feet to Fitness concept offers guest rooms that include guided workout routines on a fitness kiosk, an indoor spin bike, suspension accessories, resistance bands, exercise balls, yoga mats and sports performance flooring. Westin has specifically designated WestinWorkout guest rooms in over 50 locations across the country, where travelers can work out on Peloton bikes. And some hotels across the country are incorporating another tech-based wellness tool in the rooms: Mirror, a digital personal trainer that instructs on different fitness routines, from yoga and Pilates to boxing and cardio. |
Ten most affordable digital lighting controls
Digital lighting controls are used for maximizing energy savings by controlling light output by dimming or shutting off lights when they are not needed. The obvious advantage of these control devices is to provide the correct amount of light for any given situation and to conserve electricity when lighting is not needed, such as in the case of occupancy sensors that automatically turn off lights when a room becomes unoccupied. Having these devices installed can save a significant amount of energy, and therefore save money on the energy bill. There are 10 digital controls that work flawlessly for switching lights on and off as needed. These "fingers," as they are called, are connected to the ends of our hands, and they are well suited for turning on and off lighting at the flick of a switch. The downside of these "controls" is that oftentimes, employees are not instructed as to how they function. Simply stated, when the room is dark, flip the light switch up and when you leave an empty room, flip the light switch down. It works every time, however employee training is essential. View the Art of Green Jujitsu training video for more information. For information about "greening" the tourism industry in N.C., contact NC GreenTravel manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of June 20 on "North Carolina Weekend," see what's new at Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville. Tempt your taste buds at Main Street Pizzeria & Taproom in Sparta. Discover where the buffalo roam at Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm in Roxboro. And the "House Special" samples the fare at Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse in Winston-Salem. (Check local listings; segments are subject to change.) "North Carolina Weekend" is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, UNC-TV has recent editions of "North Carolina Weekend" available online.
| In 2018, 66 percent of North Carolina visitors traveled to North Carolina's Piedmont Region, approximately 33.8 million person-trips (approximately 26.0 million overnight person-trips). For marketing purposes, the Piedmont Region is made up of the 49 most central counties of North Carolina. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit the Visitor Profile Studies, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
July 18 - MPI-CC Meeting, North Charleston, S.C. July 20-22 - AENC Annual Meeting, Charlotte Aug. 6 - BRNHA's Gather 'Round the Blue Ridge, Asheville Aug. 8 - Visit NC TRAC, Belmont Aug. 13 - NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, TBD Aug. 17-20 - US Travel Assn's ESTO, Austin, Texas Aug. 26-28 - Connect Sports Conference, Louisville, Ky. |
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