| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | March 29, 2017 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* NC Beer Month kicks off this Saturday * Visit NC-supported media trip spreads barbecue love across Canada
* Philadelphia travel attendees show solid interest in N.C.
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 NC Beer Month kicks off this Saturday
The fifth annual NC Beer Month begins this Saturday with more than 80 breweries and dozens of destinations across the state participating. Co-sponsored by Visit North Carolina and the NC Craft Brewers Guild, NC Beer Month is designed to draw the attention of beer travelers with special events throughout April and to solidify North Carolina's stature as a top beer destination year-round. In recognition, too, Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed April as NC Beer Month. The number of craft breweries in North Carolina has more than quadrupled since 2010. According to studies collected by the Craft Brewers Guild, the annual economic impact of the craft beer industry was $1.2 billion in 2015. It accounts for $300 million in annual wages and 10,000 jobs. Interest in craft beer clearly inspires travel, according to Visit NC's Wit Tuttell. Visitor surveys indicate that in 2015, 1.7 million travelers visited breweries during their overnight trips to North Carolina destinations. The April calendar includes major festivals (such as World Beer Festival Raleigh, Burly Beers and Barleywines Festival in Mills River, Hickory Hops in Hickory); culinary events ( Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine in Wilmington, beer dinners at The Eddy in Saxapahaw); beer and barbecue ( Bikes, Brews & BBQ in Blowing Rock, North Carolina 'Cuegrass Festival in Raleigh, Blue, Brew & Que in Kenansville); outdoor challenges ( Hop Swap Half Marathon & 5k in Winston-Salem, Rock 'n' Run in Southern Pines, Corkscrew & Brew 5k in Blowing Rock); tasty learning opportunities (" In the Company of Women" in Raleigh, Big Boss Brewing's " Brewers and Bottlers 1774-1908" in Raleigh); local area celebrations ( Sylva Brew Hop, Craft Beer SpringFest in Cornelius, Apple Country Cider Jam in Hendersonville); and uniquely North Carolina events (Venus flytrap Bloom Boom in Wilmington, Neuse River Paddle & Beer Weekend Celebration in Kinston). . Beer-related events can be posted to NCBeerMonth.com through the shared VisitNC.com database by Extranet contacts in all 100 counties. |
 Visit NC-supported media trip spreads barbecue love across Canada
The story of North Carolina's most celebrated food tradition enjoyed a fresh telling after a Toronto Sun writer's cross-state trip. Organized by the Visit NC public relations team, the trip combined generations-old barbecue joints with new restaurants that honor the wood-pit tradition while adding artisan side dishes and alcohol. The article, "Finger Lickin' Fabulous," was initially published in the Toronto Sun's Sunday edition, then picked up by 24 Hours Toronto and 24 Hours Vancouver for a combined circulation of 923,600. It also ran in online editions of the Toronto Sun, Ottawa Sun, Calgary Sun, Edmonton Sun and Canoe for a combined reach of 8.1 million UMV. The writer sampled barbecue at 11 spots in five counties. Local hospitality was extended by the Henderson County TDA, Asheville CVB, Lexington TA and Durham CVB. |
 | | | The NC group |
Philadelphia travel attendees show solid interest in NC
This past weekend, Visit NC attended the Travel & Adventure Show in Philadelphia, Penn., partnering with the Outer Banks VB, New Bern/Craven County CVB and Smithfield/Johnston County TDA. The booth saw a solid amount of traffic throughout the consumer travel show, which saw an attendance of nearly 11,000 consumers, travel agents, bloggers and travel writers. These shows offer additional opportunities for Visit NC and interested partners to promote travel to North Carolina to potential visitors who are actively looking for travel suggestions and information. |
 TRAC coming to Marion/McDowell County region April 27
Tourism-related businesses in the Marion/McDowell County regional area - 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 on April 27 at the McDowell House, 136 US Hwy. 70, in Marion.
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, N.C. Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources and NC GreenTravel will also be 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 Andre Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
| | | A break-out session at this year's conference |
Visit NC 365 conference presentations now online
Many of the presentations from the 2017 Visit NC 365 Conference are now available online. Some of the presentations include information from the break-out sessions on room tax, research, Snapchat and crisis management plus several of the keynote sessions. In addition, presentations from past Visit NC 365/N.C. Governor's Conferences on Tourism are also archived on this webpage. Save the date for next year's Visit NC 365 conference in Winston-Salem, March 4-6, 2018. |
 Film industry has long-lasting impact for Wilmington businesses
When TNT's Good Behavior starts filming its second season in April, the printers at Port City Signs and Graphics will have already been running for more than a month to get production ready, reports the (Wilmington) Star-News. Over at Stevens Ace Hardware, orders for set building materials will also be well underway. For those in the film industry and the local businesses that work alongside it, a local film or TV production's worth to the region starts early, ramps up during filming, and lingers long after the cameras stop rolling. With a handful of staff working in the first few weeks, calls are made to local vendors for everything from office supplies to coffee makers to furniture; hotels are block booked for the coming weeks; and local crew contracts are signed for what could months of production depending on the project. On both of its applications for grant funding from the state - it has been approved for $8.8 million for season two - Good Behavior indicated 125 crew members would be hired for each season, with 105 being permanent state residents. On set, local caterers feed the cast and crew sometimes two meals a day. To film on location, they pay Wilmington police officers for security and rent businesses for shoots. As the threads of local business extend outward from a production, Good Behavior's unit production manager said those not associated with industry don't always grasp how it works. |
| | | The group at Broadslab Distillery in Benson |
Welcome Center managers tour Johnston County, plan additional familiarization tours
The Johnston County Area CVB hosted North Carolina's Welcome Center managers for a familiarization tour recently. The managers, who were in Raleigh for their annual business meeting, visited GALOT Motorsports Park, the Ava Gardner Museum, Broadslab Distilleryand other several local breweries. The Welcome Center managers even rode a "Party Bus" to Clayton Steakhouse.) "Familiarization tours are such an important part of our training program," Visitor Services Director Bryan Gupton said. "Our travel counselors have credibility with visitors because they are familiar with North Carolina and its attractions. There's just no substitute for a first-hand visit." Gupton said he and Visitor Services Program Manager Wally Wazan are currently considering proposals for summer familiarization tours. "Not only do our travel counselors share their fam experiences with co-workers back at their Welcome Centers," Gupton said, "But more importantly they share them with visitors, every day." Local CVBs, TDAs or chambers interested in hosting Welcome Center staff to provide them with first-hand knowledge of their destinations should contact Wally Wazan at (919) 814-4649 for more information. |
 Vote for one of two NC towns for Best Southern Small Town
North Carolina has two towns among the nominations for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards for Best Southern Small Town. Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com's website. Click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends April 24 at noon. |
 Durham among 'Top 5 cities for retirement'
Durham is among Conde Nast Traveler's "Top 5 cities for retirement," which was presented on the Today Show last week. Durham was noted for its great healthcare and the young energy with Duke University. |
 Asheville among 'The 8 best US cities to visit this spring'
Asheville is among Marie Claire's "The 8 Best US Cities to Visit This Spring." Of Asheville, the online article said, "The city is booming nowadays, with a young, vibrant energy-and spring makes it a perfect time to visit. Set among blooming wildflowers and amazing mountain views, you'll be able to enjoy awesome hikes before hitting the scene in Asheville's thriving downtown." |
NC airport & airline news
American Airlines launching new summer route from South Dakota to CLT - American Airlines has announced it will offer a new seasonal route from Rapid City (S.D.) Regional Airport to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, starting June 3. The nonstop, weekly flight from RAP will run through Aug. 19. American also recently announced seasonal routes to CLT from Georgetown, Bahamas, and Bangor, Maine. Those weekly flights also will begin in early June and operate only on Saturdays. |
 April issue offers 'Bucket list," NC brewery guide
The April edition of Our State magazine offers "The Bucket List," notable fried chicken sites in the state. It also contains a special pull-out insert that serves as a brewery guide, highlighting NC craft beers and breweries - perfect for April N.C. Beer Month. "City Portrait" highlights Washington; "Hotels & Inns" profiles Inner Banks Inn in Edenton; "Restaurant" features Panciuto in Hillsborough; "Wineries & Breweries" visits Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville, and "Bakery" spotlights One Belle Bakery in Wilmington. The April issue is on sale now. |
Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends
Where's the growth coming next? Just follow the beer - If you wanted to invent a foolproof system for tracking which neighborhoods are soon-to-be hotbeds for revitalization, gentrification and the M-word (Millennials), you could do worse than following the breweries, reports the Charlotte Observer. In neighborhoods from South End to NoDa, Plaza Midwood to Villa Heights, breweries have moved in, repurposing old buildings and serving as a marker for hipness. That's also the case farther afield from Charlotte, where breweries have popped up in towns like Belmont and Concord. A brewery is often the first "pioneer" business pushing into a changing area, and a sought-after tenant for landlords seeking to renovate and reuse old buildings. But what makes simple fresh beer such a potent symbol of change, hipsters and the powerful, often invisible forces that drive a city's growth? "A beer garden isn't just defined by people outside drinking beer," said a representative with Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. "It's considered a community hub." Penn. Hotel donates pillows to animals in need - The Hilton Garden Inn in Exton, Penn., offers more than just comfortable accommodations to its guests, reports Daily Local News. The hotel recently donated more than 100 pillows to the local SPCA. The SPCA serves as home to a number of animals hoping to be adopted by loving families. "This is a win-win-win situation," states the hotel's general manager. "Our guests continue to enjoy the newest Hilton Garden Inn pillows because they are regularly replaced, the animals at the SPCA are made much more comfortable during their own 'overnight' stays, and all of these used pillows do not end up in a landfill, in keeping with our green practices." From search engine to booking engine - For its "2017 Hotel Report," Sojern teamed up with Google to explore and explain the modern traveler's path to purchase. The project combined Google's deep insight into hospitality and hotel search trends with Sojern's unique data set of 350 million global traveler profiles, including billions of booking and search signals from data partnerships across the travel industry. Among the findings, as explained by Travel Smart News, more than half of travelers for leisure and business start their journey with a general search engine query, while only 4 percent start by looking for a hotel brand. More and more customers are searching for boutique properties. Mobile searches are significantly more prevalent at lower price points, though they are growing for all segments of the industry. Download the report here.
Engagement, design key to how independent hotel attract families - While extensive children's programming may be common for large resorts, it's not necessarily the case at smaller independent hotels. But hoteliers are finding ways to incorporate unique family-friendly programming and amenities that boost engagement with kids and adults alike, reports HotelNewsNow. One independent property in Vermont says making a connection with guests and showing them what they can experience instead of handing them a pamphlet of activities in the area adds to the genuine experience. One company believes open lobbies foster that sense of casual interaction at its two properties. They feature relaxed, camp-style décor and a variety of board games available for use. Guests traveling to a soon-to-open Washington, DC, hotel will let families choose themed activities backpacks, which will include guided maps of local museums, landmarks and the National Zoo. For urban locations, its general manager suggests loaning out strollers, scooters or pushcarts so families with kids can maneuver around the city better. Hotel bookings on mobile devices up 67 percent - A new study from HotelsCombined points to the continued importance of mobile devices for travelers looking to book their vacation, reports eHotelier. According to the study, hotel bookings on mobile devices increase 67 percent in the US in 2016 compared to the previous year. Bookings on tablets also grew by 30 per cent year over year, while desktop bookings increased by only 4 per cent - meaning more Americans are making travel decisions on the go. Hotel searches on mobile devices experienced similar growth in 2016, being up 137 per ent year over year, 25 percent more than on desktop. However, the total volume of mobile searches was seven times lower compared to desktop searches in 2016. Small hotels tailor amenities to upscale guests - Small hotels are where it's at for most upscale travelers, notes Travel Market Report. But when it comes to choosing a property, clients are looking for a lot more than marble bathrooms and a basket of fresh fruit. They want immersive experiences in local culture, according to luxury trend reports and luxury agents. The "Experiential Explosion," as Forbes put it, in its 2017 luxury trends report, are the new buzzwords describing what up-market clients are after. One hotel in London offers personalized services that are part of the hotel's "Sports Buddies" program, where the hotel can arrange horseback riding in Hyde Park or walking tours, or even have staff play tennis or golf with a guest. |
Food for your car
With the local food movement well on its way, new opportunities for travelers to get a taste of local flavors are emerging. Naturally, there is local beer, local crafts, and even local t-shirts. But locally fueled transportation is also starting to make its way into the travel experience. Rickshaws or pedicabs can now be found in many urban travel destinations. For travelers looking to turn local food into local energy, there are bicycle tours. Fuels made from local plants and wood waste products are also being used to power cars. Some tourism businesses are taking local fuel even closer to home by recycling used fryer oil to make locally sourced and produced biodiesel. Other organizations are using the sun's energy to produce energy to power cars. To learn more about opportunities to integrate local fuel in your tourism business, contact ECU Center for Sustainability Partnership Coordinator Kamara Jones at (252) 737-4312, or NC GreenTravel Initiative Manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | On North Carolina Weekend for the week of March 30, discover your wild side at the ropes course at Skywild in Greensboro. Tempt your taste buds at Vortex Doughnuts in Asheville. Meet a family of fisherman devoted to shad in Weldon. Lift a glass at Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards in Hendersonville. And treat yourself with a visit to B&B on Tiffany Hill in Mills River. (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. | Room demand (number of commercial room nights sold) was up each of the North Carolina prosperity zones in 2016, particularly in the Northwest Region (+8.9 percent). Room demand in that region has grown 24 percent since 2012. For more North Carolina lodging information, visit the Lodging Reports, or contact Tourism Research Director Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748.
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Through March 30 - NASC Sports Event Symposium, Sacramento, Calif. April 6 - MPI-CC Global Meetings Industry Day, Charlotte, Raleigh & Myrtle Beach April 6 - NC Coast Host Quarterly Meeting, Elizabethtown April 6 - HSMAI-NC Meeting, Raleigh April 27 - Visit NC TRAC, Marion May 3-4 - Blue Ridge Parkway Assn Annual Meeting, Gatlinburg, Tenn. May 9 - Visit NC T&T Board Meeting, Raleigh May 10-11 - MPI-CC Annual Meeting, New Bern May 18 - Visit NC TRAC, Oxford |
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