Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners, May 26, 2021 |
|
| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC, Raleigh efforts featured in 'To Kickstart a Downtown Comeback, Cities Bet on Tourism' * Visit NC at Mojo this week * 'One Tree Hill’ star says he’d go to Wilmington ‘in a heartbeat’ |
|
Visit NC, Raleigh efforts featured in 'To kickstart a downtown comeback, cities bet on tourism' Efforts by Visit NC and Raleigh were highlighted in Bloomberg’s “To Kickstart a Downtown Comeback, Cities Bet on Tourism.” As in cities across the U.S., officials in Raleigh are looking for ways to spark activity and spending in business districts left deserted by the pandemic, noted the article. Many are pinning their hopes on summer visitors from neighboring cities and states who are looking for easily drivable getaways. To convince vacationers to spend a weekend downtown, the region’s marketing has adopted a pandemic-era twist. North Carolina’s “Get Back to a Better Place” campaign, unveiled in late April, highlights the state’s natural resources, including forests and beaches, as well the urban outdoor experience in places like Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park. (One image shows [hotel guests] on a rooftop in nearby Durham.) “We’re trying to show our urban areas aren’t all densely packed,” says Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell. “There’s space, there’s green, there’s beauty. We’re trying to let people know we’re ready to host them in a way that keeps people safe.” Instead of blockbuster events, Raleigh plans to focus on luring visiting Carolinians and others to outdoor spaces. Downtown Raleigh Alliance's Bill King noted that efforts to set up parklets and pedlets across town to create outdoor dining and event space have been successful, and the Dine Out Downtown events on Saturdays, which take over a city block and set up tables and stages for performances by local music, have been packed every night. “The approach will be, how can we use the public realm well?” King said. “We’re getting out of the phase of parking cones and spray-paint solutions and into something more durable.” For smaller, less-well-known tourist destinations, officials see summer 2021 as a rare chance to reset travel habits and perhaps introduce themselves to a new crowd. “People tend to travel in patterns, so when you disrupt those patterns, you can gain and lose that market share,” said Tuttell. “It’s an opportunity, but one we have to carefully plan out and orchestrate so we don’t abuse it.” |
|
Visit NC at DMO Mojo
Visit NC’s Allison Schult was at DMO Mojo this week in Tampa, Fla. Schult was a panelist on "Rebuilding the Hospitality Industry Workforce." DMO Mojo offers insight and education for some of the top issues facing the industry. |
|
‘One Tree Hill’ star says he’d go to Wilmington ‘in a heartbeat’ “One Tree Hill” star Chad Michael Murray recently spoke to People magazine about work, family and life as an actor on the road – and admitted that if there's one place he will always travel back to in a heartbeat, it's Wilmington, North Carolina, the town where he shot “One Tree Hill.” “There's just something magical about it," said Murray of the Southern city, where he lived while filming the show between 2003 and 2011. He says he first fell for the city because it has "a bit of everything for anyone. "I'll always have an affinity for North Carolina. I just love it." In the article, Murray also suggested things to do and places to visit in the Wilmington area. |
|
Research shows travel increasing, customer service concerns Optimism for travel continues to improve as vaccinations continue to grow, says Destination Analysts in its weekly research report. Nearly three-quarters of American travelers have been vaccinated and, of those, 87 percent are comfortable with the idea of traveling. Travel for business and travel to metropolitan areas have both improved, with more than 37 percent of travelers who plan to travel for leisure in the next three months saying they will be visiting urban areas. |
|
Memorial Day weekend travel looks strong despite the gas instability. While about a quarter of American travelers say that the fuel situation has led them to change or cancel holiday weekend travel, nearly the same proportion of American travelers say that they will travel for Memorial Day weekend. The average distance expected for travel is 534 miles away from home. |
|
While optimism is improving, much work is needed for travel in the U.S. to be back to normal. In particular, American travelers say that their experiences in lodging accommodations and restaurants are the furthest from normal. More than 20 percent of travelers noted that customer service at restaurants had been problematic and nearly 8 percent said that customer service problems at their lodging establishments was negative. Many believe that much of these problems stem from workforce availability. |
|
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
|
‘Madison River Park opens with high hopes for economic boon’ Madison River Park opened last Friday along the Dan River in Madison as one of the Southeast's first recreational sites to wed a fish-preserving weir system with a small town's need for a dam and tourism. Gutted by the exodus of economic mainstays textiles and tobacco in the ‘90s, the western side of Rockingham County holds high hopes the $2.5 million park will become a popular destination and revitalize the area's economy, officials said. The restoration, planned nearly four years ago, used ancient engineering methods to do several things at once: rescue endangered fish species once thought extinct, such as the Roanoke Logperch, modernize Madison's decrepit 50-year-old dam, enhance water system efficiency for the greater Madison area, and fortify a recreational access point to the Dan River. The project will ultimately open 50 miles of the Dan River to the public. The $2.5 million project was funded largely by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and supplemented by funds from the N.C. General Assembly, bringing Madison's cost to zero, officials said. Madison Mayor David Myers said he is excited about the park's potential to stimulate major economic development for the town and county. He said similar projects in Pennsylvania and Colorado have generated as much as $20 million in annual tourism revenue, for example. And local economic development officials estimate Madison River Park could see about 250,000 visitors annually. |
|
Another active Atlantic hurricane season predicted The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season. However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020. For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected. The Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through November 30. |
|
Vote for Carowinds’ Carolina Harbor, Fury 325 among the Best Theme and Water Parks Carowinds has sites among the nominations for two 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories for the Best Theme Parks and Water Parks. Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends June 21 at noon. Best Roller Coaster – Fury 325, Charlotte |
|
June brings Annual Coastal Issue The June issue of Our State magazine brings the Annual Coastal Issue, spotlighting “Sun & Fun.” “Downtown” visits Carolina Beach and “Restaurant” highlights The Mills Downtown Bistro in Elizabeth City. The June issue is available now. |
|
‘North Carolina Weekend’
For the week of May 27, "North Carolina Weekend" showcases sites recognized by the NC GreenTravel Initiative. In addition to a profile of the NC GreenTravel Initiative, segments feature Lake Waccamaw State Park in Lake Waccamaw; Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery in Ronda; N.C. Botanical Garden and Top of the Hill Restaurant, Brewery and Distillery, both in Chapel Hill; and Print Works Bistro in Greensboro. (Check local listings for schedule; segments are subject to change.) "North Carolina Weekend" is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, PBS North Carolina has recent editions of "North Carolina Weekend" available online. |
|
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. |
|
NewsLink is a publication of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina 150 Fayetteville St., Suite 1200, Raleigh, NC 27601 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
