Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, March 10, 2021 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Adam Sacks, Risha Grant, Matthew Luhn keynote speakers for Visit NC 365 * North Carolina featured in ‘Mountains, moonshine and barbecue’ for U.K. * Efforts by Visit NC's PR team lead to placements in Southern Living, Food & Wine |
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Adam Sacks, Risha Grant, Matthew Luhn keynote speakers for Visit NC 365 Brought to you virtually this year on Wednesday, April 21, and Thursday, April 22, the Visit NC 365 Conferencewill feature keynote speakers Adam Sacks, founder and president at Tourism Economics; Risha Grant, award-winning D&I consultant, author, and international speaker; and Matthew Luhn, former lead storyteller and animator at Pixar Studios. More information on each speaker and the full conference agenda can be found via VisitNC365.com. Registration, offered free of charge this year, is open for the annual Visit NC 365 Conference, so please preregister. This industry event, in addition to engaging keynote speakers, will offer breakout sessions and reveal Visit NC’s newest marketing campaign and 2021-‘22 cooperative marketing program. The Visit NC 365 Conference, named for the year-round tourism industry across the state, brings together more than 500 of the state's tourism industry leaders. For more information on the conference, contact Amanda Baker. Sponsorship opportunities are also available; to learn more, contact Dana Grimstead. |
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North Carolina featured in ‘Mountains, moonshine and barbecue’ for United Kingdom On Tuesday (yesterday), North Carolina was the featured destination on the National Geographic Traveler’s U.K. virtual event “Travel Geeks: Mountains, moonshine and barbecue.”The opportunity was organized by Visit NC’s Heidi Walters, in concert with its U.K. office, with support from Visit Raleigh’s Scott Peacock. The hour-long event targeted U.K. travelers in order to build affinity for North Carolina as a destination, and hundreds of people tuned in not only from the U.K. but also from Europe and the U.S. Panelists included Chef Cheetie Kumar of Garland in Raleigh, freelance writer Emma John and Visit NC‘s PR consultant Margo Metzger, among others. Cheetie Kumar shared her recipe for pan-seared fish with coconut broth and peanut chutney, as well as her Carolina-Calcutta cooler cocktail. A recording of the event is available here; watch Kumar cook the dish and make the cocktail here. |
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Visit NC PR team assists with Southern Living guide to Wilmington The Visit NC PR team contributed information and perspective for a new Southern Living article titled "Why You Should Plan a Trip to Wilmington, North Carolina."Responding to an inquiry from the writer, the PR team worked with the Wilmington and Beaches CVB to share details about developments that make the Port City a choice destination for 2021. The online article noted, “You can witness the beauty of Wilmington, North Carolina, any time of year, but especially in spring. The city's North Carolina Azalea Festival, held every April, features parades, street fairs, home tours, art shows, concerts, and of course, its namesake blooming bushes in vivid shades of purple, pink, and red. These bold flowers are indicative of the personality of this special beachside town, which comes to life with historic allure, natural wonders, and an independent spirit that's caught the eye of Hollywood, too: Hundreds of projects from ‘Dawson's Creek’ to ‘Iron Man 3’ to the final movie of the ‘Halloween’ franchise (releasing in October) have been filmed here. See why everyone's got their eyes on this jaunty coastal city lately.” |
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Visit NC PR team’s efforts lead to Divine Llama Vineyards among ‘The Most Extreme Wine Tastings Around the World' Due to the efforts of Visit NC’s PR team, the llama trek at Divine Llama Vineyards in East Bend is among Food & Wine’s "The Most Extreme Wine Tastings Around the World." The PR team pitched the hike in response to the writer’s inquiry about over-the-top wine experiences. Of the llama trekking, the online article explained, “This Yadkin Valley winery is pairing the fruits of their soil with the animals that tred upon it with their weekly Llama Treks. Guests are teamed up with one of the farm's friendly llamas for a two-mile hike over rolling hills and murmuring creeks before returning for a tasting flight on the patio. The treks take place weekends through fall, winter, and spring; reservations required.” FoodandWine.com garners more than 3 million unique monthly visitors. SouthernLiving.com garners more than 2.1 million unique monthly visitors. |
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N.C. Film Office’s Gaster talks uptick in filming in N.C., Charlotte WCCB in Charlotte recently reported on the uptick in productions that are taking place in the Charlotte area in its "The Queen City Back In Business With Show Business." The same report also noted that North Carolina as a whole was seeing more interest of late from the film and television industry. The premiere of “Delilah,” which recently wrapped shooting in the greater Charlotte area, along with the upcoming filming of the feature adaption of the book “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret” has brought the spotlight back to the Queen City. N.C. Film Office’s Guy Gaster was featured in the story and he highlighted Charlotte’s ability to stand in for other areas of the country as one of the many reasons there is interest in filming in Charlotte. |
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Research shows travelers want safety restrictions; expect changes to business travel
This week, travel confidence and openness to travel inspiration reached record pandemic highs and enthusiasm for travel is up, reports Destination Analysts. However, American travelers still want safety restrictions. About 45 percent both disapprove of states fully opening right now and also say that a state fully lifting its coronavirus restrictions now makes the state less appealing as a destination. |
As the country continues to move towards recovery, and employers look to resume business travel, expectations have changed towards this type of travel. Nearly half of respondents who do travel for business report that they expect longer term changes in business travel policies. More than half expect fewer overall business trips will be taken, and more than a third expect smaller groups traveling on business trips. More than half of business travelers say they hope they don’t have to travel as much for business as they did prior to the pandemic. |
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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N.C. towns, more among 'The South's Best' Southern Living has released the results of its "The South's Best" winners, a digitally crowd-sourced survey. New Bern was among the Best Small Towns. Wilmington and Winston-Salem are among the Best Cities on the Rise. Nags Head is among Best Beach Towns. Banner Elk, Boone and Hendersonville are among the Best Mountain Towns. Great Smoky National Park and Pisgah National Forest are among Best Parks. Snowshoeing in Beech Mountain and Camping on the Appalachian Trail are among the Best Outdoor Adventures. Highland Mountain House in Highlands is among the Best Stays. Backyard BBQ Pit in Durham is among the Most Legendary BBQ Joints. |
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Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains among top national park visitation sites The National Park Service (NPS) has announced Annual Visitation Highlights for 2020. In 2020, the National Park Service received 237 million recreation visits, down more than 90 million visits (27.6 percent) from 2019. The decrease was due largely to temporary park closures implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park was #1 among the most visited national parks. The Blue Ridge Parkway was #1 among national parkways. Cape Hatteras National Seashore was #3 in the most visited national seashores, with Cape Lookout NS at #8. Moores Creek NB was #9 among National Battlefields. Fort Raleigh NHS was #5 among the top 10 National Historic Sites. Wright Brothers NM was #11 among the top 10 National Memorials. Guilford Courthouse NMP was #6 among the National Military Parks. To view the complete annual rankings, including a breakdown by categories of park types, start here. |
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Mapping the Nation’s Table: African American Legacy Foodways The Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) in New York is mapping Black food and drink businesses across the country as part of its African/American: Making the Nation's Table. The upcoming exhibition, including an online aspect, will have both Legacy and Contemporary aspects in several categories, including Restaurants, Farm, Bakery and Beverage. Legacy businesses have been in operation for 50 years or longer and are still serving communities today. Currently, North Carolina has three businesses listed: The Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham, Pine Knot Farms in Hurdle Mills, and Pitmaster Enterprises. MOFAD is seeking additional businesses to be listed; submissions may be made here. |
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N.C. Civil Rights Trail announces first three markers The N.C. Civil Rights Trail has announced the first historical markers being added to the trail system following the first round of applications. The first three markers will be located in Cleveland, Hertford and Lenoir counties. The trail will physically mark sites across the state that are critical to the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina. Applications for the second round opened this week. An initiative of the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, with support from Visit North Carolina and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, the N.C. Civil Rights Trail will be developed with community involvement across the state. With funding from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, 40 to 50 sites will be designated for the trail, with at least 10 in Tier I and 2 rural North Carolina counties in alignment with Gov. Roy Cooper’s Hometown Strong initiative. Completion of the N.C. Civil Rights Trail Marker Program is targeted for January 2023 at a cost of $173,500 to cover a full-time program coordinator; development of a digital GIS map; development of an interactive web portal, featuring at least 150 sites; and up to 50 physical community-based markers. For more information, contact Visit NC’s André Naborsor N.C. Civil Right Trail Coordinator Markecia Koulesser. |
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Cape Lookout National Seashore, Asheville among the 'Best’ Travel + Leisure included Cape Lookout National Seashore in among its “The Best Beach Camping in the U.S.” Of the Cape Lookout National Seashore selection, the online article explained, "Anyone who is looking to really rough it should definitely take a trip to this campground in North Carolina. There are no formal campsites and few amenities, so you’ll mostly have to fend for yourself, but the gorgeous, sandy beach and beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean are tough to beat."
In a separate article, Travel + Leisure included Asheville among its suggestions for “The Best Places to Travel in April.” Of the inclusion, the online article explained, "Spring is a wonderful time in western North Carolina, with trees and flowers in bloom, the Blue Ridge Parkway a bit less crowded, and the waterfalls flowing. The weather is ideal for a hike along one of many trails near Asheville or in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Biltmore Estate, Asheville's prime attraction, offers hiking trails for all fitness levels, bike paths, and horseback riding. The Estate's gardens… are in bloom with bright yellow forsythia, tulips, azaleas, flowering dogwoods, cherry trees, and magnolias. Enjoy the flowers at your own pace with a self-guided tour. A stay at The Foundry Hotel, a restored steel factory, provides stately accommodations along with local culture and history." |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of March 11, "North Carolina Weekend" repeats the “Sweet Temptations” episode that originally aired Jan. 14. Featured segments include The Candy Factory in Lexington; La Guinguette in Black Mountain; Uncle Cheesecake in High Point, Miss Angels Heavenly Pies in Mount Airy; and Imladris Farm’s "Jam Man" in Asheville. (Check local listings for schedule; segments are subject to change.) "North Carolina Weekend" is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, PBS North Carolina (formerly UNC-TV) 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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