| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | May 30, 2018 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE: * TRAC coming to Tarboro/Edgecombe County region June 14 * Two N.C.-filmed features debut in select theaters this week * N.C. has 2 among Dr. Beach's '2018 Top 10 Beaches' |
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 | | | A previous TRAC in Dobson |
TRAC coming to Tarboro/Edgecombe County region June 14 On June 14, tourism-related businesses in Tarboro and Edgecombe 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 am - 2 pm at the Tarboro Coffee House, 439 Main St. in Tarboro. There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there are no PowerPoint presentation. 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. 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. |
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Two North Carolina-filmed features debut in select theaters this week American Animals opens in select theaters June 1. The feature shot in Gaston, Iredell and Mecklenburg counties last year and a direct in-state spend of $6,277,307 while creating 1,222 job opportunities. The project received a rebate from the state's film and entertainment grant of $1,569.326.75. The film had its world premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival this past January and has played at several festivals across the U.S., including South By Southwest, and opened the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem. To view the trailer and to find out more about the film, click here. All Summers End also opens June 1, primarily in select theaters in the New York and Los Angeles areas. It filmed in Johnston, Nash and Wake counties in the summer of 2013 under the working title Grass Stains; the production had a direct in-state spend of $923,844. To view the trailer and to find out more about the film, click here. |
| | | Ocracoke |
N.C. has 2 among Dr. Beach's '2018 Top 10 Beaches' N.C. has 2 beaches among the Top Beaches for 2018. Determined by "Dr. Beach," a.k.a. Dr. Stephen Leatherman, the annual ranking rates beaches on criteria such as water and sand quality as well as safety and environmental management. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach was ranked #3. Of the Ocracoke selection, Dr. Beach explained, "Ocracoke, once the home of Blackbeard the pirate, is still a special place - it is my favorite getaway beach. Here you will find some of the wildest beaches in the country. Big surf dominates in late summer so families with children may want to come earlier in the year. Don't expect to play golf or stay at the Ritz; the main pursuits are swimming and beachcombing." Lilghthouse Beach in Buxton ranked #6. Of the selection, it was noted, "Lighthouse Beach boasts of the best surfing on the U.S. East Coast because of the large shoals offshore that focus wave energy on this beach where the Cape Hatteras Light once stood. The beach is also good for swimming because lifeguards are on duty, albeit families with small children might prefer at more gentle surf. The Outer Banks are steeped in history with the Wright Brothers making history more than a century ago with the first flight of an airplane. This coast is very dynamic and oftentimes there is a long spit just south of Lighthouse beach which is above water during low tide. I can remember walking out hundreds of feet on this narrow, low string of sand with the waves approaching from both directions, making me feel a bit like Moses in Biblical times. This area is also famous for surf fishing, especially during the fall season." |
NOAA expects hurricane season for 2018 to be near or above normal Up to four major hurricanes could form in the Atlantic this hurricane season, according to the annual forecast from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Overall, the season will likely be normal or somewhat more intense than normal, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says, with a 25 percent chance that hurricane activity will be below normal. The seasonal outlook can't predict landfall areas, but the forecasters warn that even an average season involves "quite a few hurricanes." |
New Civil War Trail marker installed at South Mills Representatives with the Civil War Trails program earlier this year installed a new NC Civil War Trails marker at South Mills. Civil War Trails teamed up with Camden County TDA, Visit North Carolina, and the N.C. Dept. of Natural & Cultural Resources for a marker to highlight the Dismal Swamp Canal. The Civil War Trails program covers five states and includes at least 279 markers in 78 counties of N.C. The markers' purpose isn't to commemorate or memorialize any sites or events, but to allow visitors to stand in the footsteps of soldiers, citizens, of those seeking their freedom and to imagine the historic events swirling around them. The markers are maintained through annual sponsorships from community partnerships. To find out more, contact Civil War Trails Executive Director Drew Gruber. |
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'Underrated Southern Lakes' includes lakes Lure & Mattamuskeet Garden & Gun's June/July issue features "Southern Lake Escapes," and spotlights "Five Underrated Southern Lakes" that includes Lake Lure and Lake Mattamuskett. Of Lake Lure, the article notes, in part, "Lake Lure exudes natural beauty. Nearby Chimney Rock dominates the horizon, and the fourteen-mile-long Hickory Nut Gorge provides hikes to waterfalls and sweeping overlooks, including 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, a decommissioned roadway, has been reshaped into a walking garden. The locale's good looks attracted the filmmakers for two now-iconic movies, Dirty Dancing and The Last of the Mohicans." Of Lake Mattamuskeet, in Swan Quarter, the article explains, in part, "No one knows for sure what created this shallow eighteen-mile-long coastal-plain destination for duck hunters, the largest natural lake in North Carolina. A meteor strike? A massive primeval fire? No matter how it formed, the 40,000-acre Lake Mattamuskeet has long been a sporting destination. Managed as part of a national wildlife refuge, the lake holds tens of thousands of ducks, geese, and swans during spring and fall migrations. Self-guided walks, drives, and observation decks abound around the refuge, making it easy to bird-watch." |
June offers the Annual Coastal Issue The June issue of Our State magazine offers the return of its Annual Coastal Issue, spotlight people, landmarks and towns, with a photo essay on places "away from the sand and surf." "Downtown" visits Swansboro; "Restaurant" features Miller's Restaurant in Mocksville; and "Farm Tour" highlights Wehrloom Honey in Robbinsville. The June issue is available now. |
Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends
How urban hotels achieve ROI from family promotions - As the summer getaway season approaches and business travel tends to drop, city-center hotels are coming up with novel ways to make sure they get their fair share of family travel to boost occupancy, reported HotelNewsNow. One of the most effective tools these properties have is rolling out promotions to encourage "staycations." But urban hotels need to ensure they properly accommodate families, including having the right room type available that is big enough to accommodate larger groups, offering easy access to parking and being able to get information quickly to guests if their plans change. One hotel partnered with the local children's museum, which had recently launched a new sports experiences program. Another launched its Baby Butler service, which stocks guestrooms with diapers, baby shampoo, baby wipes and other essential items for those traveling with infants and toddlers.
Hotels will be trendsetters for smart buildings - Competition in the hospitality industry to cater to guests and encourage repeat business is leading to hotel owners investing in substantial smart building technologies in order to foster more comfortable, intuitive and individualized experiences, Reports Electronics360, hotels have become eager innovators and market leaders in using the internet of things (IoT) in guest rooms. While most commercial buildings are renovated about once every 25 to 30 years on average, hotels are retrofitted with new equipment less than every 10 years. This year, hotels will spend more than $500 million on connected equipment and will invest $2.2 billion to refurbish guest rooms. What can guests expect to see coming in hotels in the realm of smart technology? Energy and security within guest rooms will allow for better customization and unique preferences. Mobile credentials with guests' smartphones acting as electronic keycards to enter their rooms will soon be available as well as expanding the use of smartphones to enable climate control, lighting and appliance settings through a single app.
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Stormwater runoff
Many businesses have a love/hate relationship with rain. Rain helps keep landscaping and the natural environment looking lush and healthy but rain at the wrong time can ruin even the most carefully planned outdoor event. An added problem with rain is stormwater runoff, untreated water that is not absorbed by the ground before it flows into a natural body of water. On its way to the nearest body of water, stormwater runoff can pick-up a wide assortment of pollutants, including oil from parking lots, pet waste, sediment, and pesticides and fertilizers, thereby polluting local streams, lakes and other bodies of water. There are several actions any business can implement to help reduce the amount of pollution caused by stormwater runoff. One of the simplest is to make sure all outdoor waste and grease receptacles are kept clean and leak proof. Reduce polluted stormwater runoff by making sure that all water from outdoor cleaning, such as pressure washing and cleaning automobiles, does not flow directly into a stormwater drain. For more information on what can be done to reduce stormwater runoff, visit Stormwater & Runoff Pollution, or contact NC GreenTravel manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of May 31 on North Carolina Weekend, enjoy a walking tour of historic downtown Apex. Tour Serpentarium Magic in Mills River. Explore the public art scene in Salisbury. Relax at The Sunnybank Inn in Hot Springs. And the "House Special" samples the fare at the Nothin' Fancy Café in Edenton. (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 Weekend available online. | Ninety percent of all domestic overnight visitors came to North Carolina for leisure purposes, while 8 percent of visitors came to conduct business (includes meeting/convention). The remaining 2 percent indicated "other" as the reason for visiting the state. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit the Visitor Profile Studies, or contact Tourism Research Director Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
June 8 - NC Sports Association Quarterly Meeting, TBD June 13 - BRNHA Spring Meeting, Asheville June 14 - Visit NC's TRAC, Tarboro July 19-20 - MPI-CC Meeting, Winston-Salem July 21-23 - AENC Annual Meeting, Greenville July 27 - Piedmont Triad DMO, High Point |
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