| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | May 1, 2019 |
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| * N.C. makes its presence known at New York Media Mission * Last chance for August/September Garden & Gun print co-op
* Ideal-Living print & online package now available * Chinese journalists experience N.C. via tour * TRAC coming to Wayne County region June 6 |
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N.C. makes its presence known at New York Media Mission
Visit NC's PR team led 25 DMO and local partners during Visit North Carolina's New York Media Mission last week, where everyone mingled with representatives from top national media outlets. The 33 media guests included representatives from Architectural Digest, Buzzfeed, Condé Nast Traveler, CNN Travel, Food & Wine, Martha Stewart Living and Black Enterprise, plus contributors to top brands such as Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Afar, New York Post and Forbes. Guests talked travel and sampled fare from Asheville's John Fleer, chef-owner of Rhubarb and The Rhu, and his team at the new Benne on Eagle: chef de cuisine Ashleigh Shanti and soul food mentor Hanan Shabazz. The beverage menu featured beer from Wilmington Brewing Company, Wise Man Brewing in Winston-Salem, and Harlem Brewing, whose founder is a partner in Rocky Mount Brewery; wine from Biltmore in Asheville; can cocktails from Durham Distillery; and signature cocktails inspired by spirits from Raleigh Rum Company and Seventeen Twelve Southern Spirits in Conover. For the third year, the New York trip included an opportunity to meet with editors and writers from Meredith Corporation publications. The pop-up trade show at Meredith Publishing drew representatives from Parents, Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living/Weddings, Travel and Leisure, Family Circle and other publications. The event stemmed from Visit NC's relationship with Meredith, which publishes the Official North Carolina Travel Guide. Partners participating at the New York events included Biltmore, Brevard Music Center, Burlington-Alamance County CVB, Cabarrus County CVB, Chapel Hill/Orange County VB, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Chow Chow festival in Asheville, Crystal Coast TDA, Durham CVB, Explore Asheville CVB, Fearrington Village, Greater Raleigh CVB, Greensboro CVB, Haywood County TDA, Hickory Metro CVB, Jackson County TDA, Lake Norman CVB, Nantahala Outdoor Center, N.C. Craft Brewer's Guild, Outer Banks VB, Pinehurst-Southern Pines-Aberdeen Area CVB, Rocky Mount Mills, Transylvania County TDA, Wilmington and Beaches CVB, and Winston-Salem CVB. To find out more about Visit NC's PR program, contact Eleanor Talley at (919) 447-7783.
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Last chance for August/September Garden & Gun print co-op There is still space available in one of Visit NC's most popular print co-ops. If interested in participating in the August/September Garden & Gun print co-op, contact the partner program team at LGA today before space runs out. Directory 1/6-page placements are available for $2,750 per partner. Garden & Gun advertising reaches an affluent audience of 400,000 readers who, when surveyed, said they take an average of 11 trips per year. Make sure they know your destination could be one of them. To reserve space or for more information, contact Michelle Murdoch or Hailey Weddington at (704) 552-6565. |
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Ideal-Living print & online package now available
For the first time this year, partners have the opportunity to buy into a year-long (July 2019-June 2020) package with Ideal-Living to reach potential retirees through its print and online channels. There are a limited number of spots still available and the deadline for materials is coming soon.
Ideal-Living Print + Online Package
* Investment is $2,500 for Certified Retirement Communities and $4,500 for non-Certified Retirement Communities
* Open to 12 partners
* Commitments due to LGA by this Friday, May 3; deadline for materials to LGA is May 8
As part of the one-year commitment, partners will receive
* A directory ad in each of these Ideal-Living issues: Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Winter 2020 and Spring 2020.
* A dedicated listing on IdealLiving.com within the RetireNC section, which would include a destination image, brief description, downstream URL and contact info. This is a new opportunity only available by purchasing the year-long package.
Partners can also buy into the Ideal-Living print co-ops at an à la carte rate of $750 for Certified Retirement Communities and $1,250 for non-Certified Retirement Communities per issue as space allows. For any questions or to reserve a spot, contact LGA's Hailey Weddington at (704) 552-6565. |
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Chinese journalists experience N.C. via tour Visit North Carolina, along with partners Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and Explore Asheville CVB, recently hosted seven Chinese journalists. As part of the Travel South-sponsored familiarization tour, N.C. teamed with Georgia and Tennessee to showcase the region and ease of flying in and out of the area. The group visited attractions throughout the trip. In Charlotte, the tour highlighted the Carolinas Aviation Museum, NASCAR Hall of Fame, 7th Street Public Market and Haberdish. In Asheville, the group enjoyed Biltmore and Benne on Eagle. The group also visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, in both North Carolina and Tennessee. All the journalists were very active on social media during the fam. The radio host has already aired four live radio shows - and planned to bring a group of followers/road trip travelers to come back to the South in fall. Chinese visitation to the state ranks third in number of visitors and #2 in overseas spending. For more information about Visit NC's international marketing program, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762. |
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TRAC coming to Wayne County region June 6
On June 6, tourism-related businesses in Goldsboro and Wayne County - plus 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) is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses. TRAC will be held 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Goldsboro; stayed tuned to future NewsLinks for the specific address. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there is no PowerPoint presentation. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you-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. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. State Parks, Agritourism, and NC GreenTravel are often 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 André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
| | | Visit NC's Canadian representative Stephanie Freed-Burns awaiting CAA associates |
CAA representatives learn more about N.C. travel Visit North Carolina's Canada office participated in the annual CAA (Canadian Automobile Assn.) conference this past weekend. The show saw close to 1,100 CAA associates from CAA South Central Ontario and Manitoba. Agents and guest service team members had the opportunity to learn about North Carolina through this dedicated supplier trade show.
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N.C.-filmed feature Bolden to finally hit theaters
The N.C.-filmed feature "Bolden," an imagination of the story of New Orleans cornet player Buddy Bolden, who would become a key figure in the birth of jazz, will open in select theaters this Friday. Work on the production first began in 2007, followed by reshoots in 2009 and 2010. The project then was reworked in 2015 and filming continued through 2016 in North Carolina, as well as in Georgia and Louisiana. During its time in North Carolina, "Bolden" filmed in New Hanover, Columbus, Pender and Bladen counties. A special, invitation-only screening of the picture was held in Wilmington last month. Watch the "Bolden" trailer here. |
| | | (photo courtesy Visit Edenton) |
Cycle NC's Coastal Ride draws cyclists from 36 states, D.C. and Canada
The 16th Annual Cycle North Carolina's Coastal Ride was held this past weekend in Edenton. This was the sixth year Edenton has hosted the event, which brought 1,750 cyclists from 36 different states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. In addition to the cycling routes, the CNC Coastal Ride included many off-the-bike recreational activities in the Chowan County area such as harbor cruises, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding, historic tours, and local art displays, plus special entertainment for the occasion. Visit North Carolina is a founding sponsor of Cycle NC's Coastal Ride in the spring, the Mountain Ride in August - this year in Brevard - and one of the founding sponsors of the Mountains to Coast ride in the fall. The rides are designed to promote North Carolina's scenic beauty while providing substantial economic impact to small towns across the state. Cycle NC offers one of the largest cross-state bicycle tours in the United States. |
Wells Fargo Championship remaining in Charlotte through 2024 On Tuesday (yesterday) at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, executives from Wells Fargo, the PGA Tour and the club disclosed a five-year contract extension that will keep the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte through 2024. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan praised the Charlotte tournament for strong sales and attendance, community involvement, and as one of players' favorite courses. Similar to the current five-year contract, expiring with the tournament this week, the new agreement includes a provision to move the Wells Fargo Championship from Quail Hollow for one year to avoid a conflict in 2021, when Quail Hollow hosts the Presidents Cup. |
May brings the Farm Issue The May issue of Our State magazine is the Farm Issue, looking at chickens to pigs, sheep to cows and more. "Downtown" visits Kinston; "Restaurant" features Old North State Winery in Mount Airy; and "Farm Tour" highlights Lavender Oaks Farm in Chapel Hill. The May issue is available now. |
Free assistance for creating an environmentally friendly destination
It's no secret that many hotels, restaurants, attractions and other destinations are growing greener. There are many more sustainable practices such as recycling, efficient lighting, water conservation and organics recovery being implemented. Owners and managers are realizing not only the environmental benefits of being green, but they are seeing a great return on investment through conservation. In short, it literally pays to be green. Through the implementation of low-cost and no-cost methods, businesses are realizing an increase in profits through cost savings and increased patronage. But where are the tools and information to become more sustainable? The NC GreenTravel Initiative is a great, free resource for those tools and tips to becoming greener. Not only does the program promote travel destinations through its recognition for green destinations, it also offers quite a few sustainable travel resources,videos, tutorials and information pages about purchasing, energy, recycling, cleaning and much more. For information about the NC GreenTravel Initiative and how to grow greener, contact program manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of May 2 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program repeats the episode that originally aired on March 7. Segments feature Linney's Mill in Union Grove and "A Vanderbilt House Party" exhibit at Biltmore, plus the "House Special" at Sensation Farmhouse Restaurant in Wallace. (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, hotel/motel occupancy hit record levels with an average statewide occupancy rate of 64.9. This was an increase of 2.4 percent from 2017. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Lodging Reports, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
May 2 - NC Coast Host Annual Meeting, Topsail Beach May 7 - Visit NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, Raleigh May 12-17 - STS Marketing College, Dahlonega, Ga. June 3 - NC Sports Assn. Quarterly Meeting, TBD June 6 - Visit NC TRAC, Goldsboro July 18 - MPI-CC Meeting, North Charleston, S.C. July 20-22 - AENC Annual Meeting, Charlotte |
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