Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, March 31, 2021 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
** Keynote speaker Grant on ‘Permission: Granted to Attract Diverse Markets’ * Media Training with Visit NC PR team webinar next Wednesday * 2022 N.C. Travel Guide ad sales start |
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Keynote speaker Grant on ‘Permission: Granted to Attract Diverse Markets’ Risha Grant, award-winning D&I consultant, author, and International speaker is the keynote speaker for the Visit NC 365 conference on Wednesday, April 21. Companies need to know what to say and how to get diverse customers to buy their products and services. Why? Because of business sustainability, competitive advantage, a constantly changing economy and about $14 trillion in buying power. In this session, Grant will share the keys to effectively engaging diverse groups and provide tips to create a diversity communications strategy. Attendees will leave this session understanding how to create a successful diversity communications plan of action, communicate to diverse audiences, and market to diverse groups vs. mainstream audiences. Brought to you virtually this year April 21-22, Visit NC 365 is a complimentary, open-to-all event. Click here to register. More information on each speaker and the full agenda can be found here.
For more information on the conference, contact Amanda Baker. Sponsorship opportunities are also available; to learn more, contact Dana Grimstead. |
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Media Training with Visit NC PR team during webinar next Wednesday Want to brush up on your interview skills? As everyone inches toward normalcy, Visit NC expects increased media interest around COVID-recovery travel stories. Join the Visit NC PR team and experts from J Public Relations for a media training webinar next Wednesday (April 7) at 11 a.m. The hour-long Zoom includes a refresher on best practices plus tips on making the most of virtual interviews which are likely here to stay. Click hereto register. Please note the webinar is limited to 100 participants.
The webinar will be recorded and posted later on the Visit NC Industry Partners YouTube site, where previous Visit NC webinars are also available. |
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Ad sales have started for the 2022 Official North Carolina Travel Guide, Visit North Carolina's fulfillment piece for visitors to and within the state. The N.C. Travel Guide is available at the state's nine Welcome Centers, Visitor Centers, via the 1-800-VISIT NC Call Center and VisitNC.com.
The guide will feature road trips, outdoor adventures (both urban and rural), multigenerational travel, and other key findings from Meredith Travel Marketing predictive travel insights in 2022. Outdoor NC and Dog Travel Agent, two primary Visit NC marketing strategies, will be addressed throughout the book. It will also focus on consumer behaviors, as tactics travelers can employ through the duration of planning and adventure, rather than subsects of travel audiences. The guide will also include content tied to accessibility, highlighting ADA-accessible trails and destinations that offer experiences for those with sensory and physical limitations. The readers are active vacationers - 63 percent planning to take three or more trips this year. They are inspired by the guide - 95 percent of readers saying it inspired them to take or plan a trip to North Carolina. And 75 percent save the guide to reference later. |
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Easing of capacity restrictions helpful to many tourism businesses The state’s latest phase of easing restrictions, “Staying Ahead of the Curve,” due to the pandemic should benefit many tourism-related businesses. Museums, aquariums, retail businesses and shops are now able to open at 100 percent capacity. Restaurants, breweries, wineries, amusement parks and pools can open at 75 percent capacity. Conference centers, reception venues, sports arenas, bars and other live performance venues may open at 50 percent capacity, both indoors and out. This is different from the limits for indoor and outdoor mass gatherings. These restrictions are in effect until April 30, at the earliest, as they're partly dependent on these establishments following safety protocols. |
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‘State's tourism industry lost $10 billion in 2020’ Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell was interviewed by Spectrum News for its “State's tourism industry lost $10 billion in 2020,” which also highlighted The Gorge Canopy Zipline in Saluda. The report explained, “Visit North Carolina estimates the state’s tourism industry lost more than $10 billion in 2020. ‘Our biggest impact was actually business travel. Business travel stopped, meetings and conventions and sporting events which are big draws,’ [Tuttell said]. Outdoor leisure businesses like The Gorge have faired slightly better as more and more people found other ways to spend their time during the pandemic. But in order for the tourism industry to bounce back, not only tourists are needed, but North Carolinians exploring their own state is just as important.” |
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With new surges in the virus, Americans’ concern about contracting the virus have increased somewhat during the last several weeks, according to Destination Analysts. However, despite these rising fears, American travelers’ concerns about the financial impact of the pandemic remain at a record low. Travelers appear relatively optimistic about their financial future and their ability to fund travel experiences. Nearly 40 percent say that right now is a good time for them to spend money on leisure travel and 42 percent expect to spend more on leisure travel in the next 12 months as compared to previous years. |
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Optimism regarding travel remains positive this week. A record 66 percent of Americans report being in a ready-to-travel mindset. Nearly two-thirds are highly open to travel inspiration and are showing high levels of excitement at the prospect of traveling now. This positive sentiment can be seen in Americans’ current trip plans. More than 71 percent of American travelers did some travel dreaming or planning in the last week alone, including 16 percent who booked or made reservations. Summer vacations are on this year. This week, nearly 63 percent of Americans report they are traveling for leisure this summer, up 26 percentage points from 2020. Just 36 percent say their summer vacation is already well-developed though, so there is still ample opportunity for marketers. While a large proportion say they will travel within their home state (54 percent), 70 percent say they will travel out-of-state this summer. |
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Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
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Partners can still work with N.C. Welcome Centers during National Travel & Tourism Week Each year during National Travel & Tourism Week, North Carolina's Welcome Centers celebrate the occasion by inviting travel partners to help thank visitors for traveling here. Due to the pandemic this year, partners being onsite on a specific day during NTTW – this year May 2-8 – won’t be possible. However, interested partners are invited to share their promotional items with the N.C. Welcome Center(s) of their choice, which will distribute the items throughout NTTW with pre-bagged destination information. This annual celebration provides an excellent opportunity for partners to bring their message directly to visitors in the state seeking travel information. DMOs, attractions, accommodations and other tourism-related businesses are invited to participate in NTTW. To coordinate participation, tourism-related businesses should contact the N.C. Welcome Center(s) of their choice, finding the contact information here. |
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Delta adding flights from New York to AVL, ILM Delta is adding flights from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, N.Y. to both Asheville Regional Airport and Wilmington International Airport. The separate flights from LGA to AVL and ILM are slated to start May 5. |
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Ocracoke, Hatteras among 'Forget Hawaii. Go to These 10 U.S. Islands Instead' Fodor’s Travel included Ocracoke and Hatteras islands among its “Forget Hawaii. Go to These 10 U.S. Islands Instead,” places “which offer an equally stunning escape but with a little more peace and quiet.” Of the inclusion of Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island, the online article explained, “The Outer Banks of North Carolina is made up of several barrier islands, a standout few of which include Roanoke Island, Hatteras, and Ocracoke. These hidden gems give visitors a glimpse of island life, Southern hospitality, and untouched beauty all in one destination. Ocracoke Island is a beautiful escape enveloped by natural beauty and protected largely by the National Park Service. Hatteras Island is the perfect destination for those looking for a quiet, yet beautiful island escape with roughly 50 miles of scenic coastline and seven small villages offering locals and guests alike peace and seclusion with some of the best views on the East Coast.” |
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April issue spotlights outdoor art The April issue of Our State magazine spotlights “Art in the Great Wide Open.” “Downtown” visits Kernersville; “Getaway” checks out The Buck House Inn at Bald Mountain Creek in Burnsville; and “Restaurant” highlights The Market Place Restaurant in Asheville. The April issue is available now. |
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‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of Jan. 7, "North Carolina Weekend" features segments on southern beaches in winter, based in Sunset Beach; Beech Mountain Resort in Beech Mountain; the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville; a winter tour of waterfalls, based in Brevard; and a profile of Morganton master weaver Joanne Blough. (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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