Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners
March 4, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Update on COVID-19
* Tomorrow is last chance to register 
for Regular rate at Visit NC 365
* Travel industry organizations offer 
coronavirus advice and advocacy
Update on COVID-19

Visit North Carolina respects of the seriousness of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the complexities that organizations and governments now face in combating this issue. We will do our best to convey the most up-to-date information to our partners and visitors on an on-going basis. If you have not been receiving Visit NC's COVID-19 statement emails and would like to do so, please contact Kathy Prickett and she will add you to the list.
 
As of this afternoon (Wednesday), the N.C. Dept. of Health & Human Services recommends everyone continue taking precautions to protect themselves and others from the spread of respiratory illnesses, which includes COVID-19. For more details, including updates for the state's response, click here.
Tomorrow is last chance to register for Regular rate

While we are continuing to monitor the situation, we are also still actively planning all Visit NC 365 Conference events. Hand sanitizers and reusable water bottles will be available. The conference agenda is also being updated to include sessions relating to the COVID-19 and its impact on the travel industry. For more information on the conference, contact Amanda Baker at (919) 447-7765.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is the last chance to get the registration rate of $499/person for the Visit NC 365 Conference, March 22-24 in Asheville. The conference brings together more than 500 members of the tourism industry to discuss the latest trends and issues facing the industry and hear insights from other tourism industry professionals. Register nowthrough tomorrow (Thursday) to receive the Regular rate; on Friday, the Late Registration rate goes into effect, at $525/person.
Travel industry organizations offer coronavirus advice and advocacy

The U.S. Travel Association offers information for the travel industry with its Emergency Preparedness and Response: Coronavirus (COVID-19) toolkit, which includes a guide for communicating healthy travel practices and talking points to the media.
 
Destinations International has created a COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Travel Industry Resource Page that provides critical information for DMOs to better understand the facts surrounding COVID-19.
Visit NC PR efforts lead to Avery, Watauga counties in the spotlight

Efforts by Visit NC's PR team have led to "Day Trips & Beyond: Skiing in Boone, N.C." in the Austin (Texas) Chronicle. The online article spotlights Appalachian Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain resorts, plus ventures off the slopes to showcase several sites in Boone. The Austin Chronicle online serves the Austin area and garners a unique weekly viewership of 165,000.
Puppy yoga
Visit NC, partners lead media mission to Canada

Visit North Carolina, along with partners from Greater Raleigh CVB, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Durham CVB, Johnston County VB, Brevard-Transylvania County TDA and the Outer Banks VB participated in a Canada Media Mission in Toronto and Montreal last week. The group spent three days in market and met with 43 media during several events, which included breakfast networking, desk-side visits and intimate dinners, plus flower-arranging workshops and puppy yoga with the media. The mission has already resulted in several social media posts and trade media stories.
Walters during one presentation
Visit NC promotes N.C. travel in Denmark, Sweden

Visit North Carolina's Heidi Walters joined other Travel South states' representatives in Denmark and Sweden to promote vacation travel to North Carolina and the Southeast. At Swedish tour operator Swanson's Travel, the group met with more than 1,300 consumers interested in travel to the U.S. At the Danish Federation of Danish Motorist (FDM) show, the South was promoted on the tradeshow floor and with presentations to 1,700 consumers who were only interested in U.S. travel. Finally, Travel South met with media and travel professionals at the Discover America Denmark's USA Travel South. Brand USA and the Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy were also in attendance. These events are important to continue the interest of these visitors that spend on average of 15 days on a U.S. holiday. In 2018, Sweden ranked #14 in N.C. travel spending $10 million with an average of $1,190 per person. Denmark ranks #17 with 5,900 visitors spending $15 million, an average of $2,542 per visitor. For more information on Visit North Carolina's international marketing, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762.
Inaugural Travel & Adventure Show in Atlanta sees strong interest in N.C.

This past weekend, Visit NC attended the Travel & Adventure Show in Atlanta, Ga., the first time it's been held in that city. Visit NC partnered with Outer Banks VB, Burlington/Alamance VB, Lexington TA, Heart of North Carolina VB, Mount Airy TDA, Yadkin Visitors Center, Boone-Watauga CountyTDA, and Bryson City TDA. The booth had a steady amount of traffic throughout the travel show, which saw an attendance of nearly 12,000 consumers, travel agents, bloggers and travel writers.
 
Consumer travel 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. Partners interested in participating in future shows with Visit NC should contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains among top national park visitation sites

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced "National Park Visitation Tops 327 Million in 2019." The 327.5 million total is the third highest since record-keeping began in 1904, and the fifth consecutive year for growth. The Blue Ridge Parkway took the #2 spot and Great Smoky Mountains National Park placed #3 in the National Park Service's list of the Top Ten Most Visited National Park Service Sites, which includes national parks as well as historic sites, lakeshores, seashores and more. 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 #8 among the top 10 National Historic Sites. Wright Brothers NM was #11 among the top 10 National Memorials. Guilford Courthouse NMP was #7 among the National Military Parks. To view the complete annual rankings, including a breakdown by categories of park types, start here.
Visit NC's Wit Tuttell explained to CNN in its "America's most popular national park is ...," North Carolina, which is home to the most popular national park and the second most popular park site, "gets more National Park Service site visitors than any state other than California." With 18.2 million visitors annually across 14 different sites, "It's impossible to overstate the impact these sites have on all sorts of communities across our state," he said. "For numerous towns, and particularly those in rural areas, the NPS sites are the main reason people are visiting, which leads to $1.3 billion in spending and more than 20,000 jobs statewide. For many rural communities that are struggling to maintain their economic vitality, these sites are crucial to their ability to survive." 
James Beard Awards semifinalists include N.C. sites, chefs

The James Beard Awards has announced its 2020 James Beard Award semifinalists and several N.C. restaurants and chefs are among those recognized. John Fleer, with Rhubarb in Asheville, is nominated for Outstanding Chef. Krystle Swenson, with Crawford and Son in Raleigh, is nominated for Outstanding Pastry Chef. Ashleigh Shanti, with Benne on Eagle in Asheville, is nominated for Rising Star Chef of the Year. Angus Barn Steakhouse, in Raleigh, is nominated for Outstanding Hospitality. Death & Taxes, in Raleigh, is among the Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Producer semifinalists. And Cultura in Asheville is among the semifinalists for Best New Restaurant.
 
Best Chef:  Southeast semi-finalists include Katie Button, with Curaté in Asheville; Gregory Collier, with Uptown Yolk in, Charlotte; Steven Devereaux Greene, with Herons in Cary; Meherwan Irani, with Chai Pani in Asheville; Joe Kindred, with Kindred in Davidson; Cheetie Kumar, with Garland in Raleigh; and Ricky Moore, with Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham.
Carolina Hurricanes to host 2020-21 NHL Stadium Series outdoor game at N.C. State

The Carolina Hurricanes have hosted the Stanley Cup finals, an NHL All-Star Game and the NHL Draft in PNC Arena in Raleigh. Now, the Canes are taking it outside. An NHL Stadium Series game will be played at N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium on Feb. 20, 2021, the league announced last month. The opponent for the night outdoor game has not been selected. "We're proud to be the first NHL market in the Southeast to host an outdoor game," Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon said. "We're going to do everything we can to make as many seats available as possible, because we know how high demand will be for this game, and the epic tailgate that will accompany it." "It's a testament to the great fan base that we've always known has been in the Triangle," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "It's great to see the community reengage in the way they have over the last season. There's no doubt the fan base is passionate, connected, excited. And I think it's a testament to the way the team is playing and the effort Tom Dundon and the organization have put into hockey in the Triangle." Bettman also noted, "All [previous] 30 outdoor games to date have been sold out."
In the spirit of sustainability

It is no secret that the spirits production industry is way ahead of the game when it comes to environmental sustainability. After all, the fermentation process occurs naturally. It is common sense that North Carolina distilleries are able to take advantage of these processes and create their tasty products while reducing their environmental impact. Distillers such as Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill and Fair Game Beverage in Pittsboro have made sustainability a top priority by continually seeking ways to improve their production process and minimize waste. For instance, Fair Game Beverage has reduced waste by composting spent grains, yeast and other commodities instead of sending them to the landfill. Top of the Hill sends their spent commodities to farms for animal consumption. Both companies have strong waste reduction and recycling/reuse programs and purchase ingredients from local sources to save energy and boost the local economy. To learn more about sustainable spirits production and the NC GreenTravel Initiative, contact program manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140.
For the week of March 5 on "North Carolina Weekend," step back in time at Fort Defiance in Lenoir. Lift a glass at Fortnight Brewing in Cary. Check out Black Mountain's music scene at White Horse Black Mountain. And the "House Special" samples the fare at Chico's Mexican Restaurant in Greenville. (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.
The Western Region of the state had the highest room rates for commercial lodging properties in 2019 with an average of $136.73. The second highest ADR could be found in the Southwest Region with an average of $110.70. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Lodging Reports, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748.
Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events

March 8-11 - Travel South Showcase, Baton Rouge, La.
March 10-12 - NC Main Street Conference, New Bern
March 13-17 - SXSW Conference, Austin, Texas
March 17 - Visit NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, Raleigh
March 22-24 - Visit NC 365 Conference, Asheville
April 1-2 - U.S. Travel Assn. Destination Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
April 20-23 - Sports ETA Symposium, Kansas City, Mo.
May 3-9 - National Travel & Tourism Week, nationwide
May 12 - BRPA Annual Meeting, Roanoke, Va.
May 15 - NC Coast Host Quarterly Meeting, Manteo
May 19 - Visit NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, TBD
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