Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - May 31, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC's June webinar
looks at Outdoor NC initiative
* Participate on North Carolina
Featured Destination page
* Visit NC PR efforts return
multiple media placements
Visit NC's June webinar next week looks at Outdoor NC initiative
For its June webinar, Visit NC will focus on the Outdoor NC initiative, which was established to ensure North Carolina's treasured outdoor resources continue to thrive for the 51 million people who visit these spaces annually. The webinar will serve as a recap on where the initiative started, how it got to where it is now, and the direction it's headed.
Whether you are an Outdoor NC Partner or not, you'll want to join to see all the exciting new programs that will be offered in the coming months. The webinar will be held at 10 a.m. on June 8. Click here to register.
Participate on North Carolina Featured Destination page
Visit NC has teamed up with Travelzoo, a global deals publisher with 30 million members worldwide, to promote the state and help drive more visitors to its hotels and attractions. Visit NC will have a Featured Destination page on Travelzoo’s website, which will be promoted on their media network starting in July.
Visit NC partners have the opportunity to submit an offer for consideration to be included on this dedicated page. Please note that not every offer will be approved and incomplete offer submissions will not be reviewed. Space on the page is limited, but tourism partners are encouraged to fill out this Google submission form. Offers must be received by June 9.
Triangle reaps coverage in Canada from Visit NC sports fam
A pair of Canadian outlets have published features on the Triangle’s robust sports scene following Visit NC’s February media fam that was tied to the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stadium Series game. The Toronto Sun article “Hockey, hoops, halls and history: Goin' whole hog for sports in Raleigh, N.C.
" framed the feature with a question: “Where else can you watch an NHL game – in this case Carolina-Montreal – then three days later take in a heated NCAA rivalry basketball game between North Carolina and NC State … in the same arena? And in between that action, you can stroll through the incredible sports history of the state, which is located just steps from the Southeast’s largest natural history museum, and visit some of the best BBQ restos you’ll ever experience.” The post included stops at the Duke and Carolina basketball museums and meals at Sam Jones BBQ, Longleaf Swine and Picnic. The Toronto Sun attracts 2.55 million unique visitors per month.
The Daily Hive, a digital outlet based in Vancouver, delivered its take with “How to spend a BBQ and sports-filled weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina.” The writer described the destination as “the kind of metropolis where strangers say hello to one another. We quickly learned that it’s also commonplace for locals to chat you up if you’re ever alone on a barstool, in an elevator, or just about anywhere.” The publication’s reach is 296,000 UVPM. Visit NC’s PR team organized the fam with support from Greater Raleigh CVB, Durham CVB and the Visit Chapel Hill/Orange County VB.
Media fam and other Visit NC PR team efforts draw attention to Asheville
Due to the March PR fam organized as part of the Visit NC Tourism Conference in Asheville, the host city is featured in the print edition of Real Simple in “Big Food Scenes in Small Cities
." Noting Asheville’s mountainside setting and diverse restaurant scene, the writer highlighted Chai Pani, Cúrate and its casual La Bodega offshoot, and Neng Jr.’s, along with Buxton Hall Barbecue, Biscuit Head, 7 Clans Brewing and Biltmore Winery. Also recommended: taking an organized tour and wearing stretchy pants. Real Simple attracts an audience of nearly 2 million.
Parade.com included Asheville in its “20+ Must-See Destinations for Book Lovers To Transport You to a Whole Different World
.” The post referenced The Omni Grove Park Inn with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s stay, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, and Riverside Cemetery, where Wolfe and O. Henry are buried, as well as Malaprop’s Bookstore and Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar. Asheville was one of several destinations the Visit NC PR team included in its response to a HARO inquiry. Parade.com attracts 22.2 million unique monthly visitors.
Visit NC media pitch leads to Lake Norman among ‘Best lakes in the U.S. for a refreshing dip’
Time Out’s “The best lakes in the U.S. for a refreshing dip” featured Lake Norman on its list of 11 lakes. The placement resulted from a Visit NC PR team pitch to the writer. Noting the lake’s size (32,510 acres) and proximity to Charlotte, the post calls out Lake Norman’s appeal to anglers as well as adventure seekers with an interest in kayaking, paddleboarding, wakeboarding and flyboarding. “Travelers can also check out one of several waterfront parks like Ramsey Creek Park, which has its own beach and public swimming area. … Meanwhile, the lake’s namesake state park is beloved for its seven miles of hiking trails and around 30 miles of mountain biking trails.” TimeOut attracts 18.9 million unique monthly visitors.
Spring media tour leads to coastal coverage
Wilmington, Southport and other coastal destinations are featured in a US Weekly article headlined “‘Dawson’s Creek,’ ‘One Tree Hill’ and More Filming Locations: Check Out the North Carolina Destinations Seen In Your Favorite TV Shows, Movies
.” The placement followed the writer’s participation in a fam organized by the Visit NC PR team with hospitality from the Wilmington and Beaches CVB, NC’s Brunswick Islands, the Outer Banks VB and the New Bern CVB. The article traced the state’s film industry for 40 years, from 1983’s filming of Stephen King’s “Firestarter” to such recent productions as “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” A long list of project-specific locations also noted places that inspired Nicholas Sparks novels and Netflix's "Outer Banks" show. Before the feature’s publication, US Weekly’s Buzz-o-Meter included a
post about Brasserie du Soleil in Wilmington as a restaurant frequented by actor Joshua Jackson (“Dawson’s Creek”). The fam group dined there at the same time as the actor, who was in town filming a Starz series. US Weekly attracts 12.4 million unique monthly visitors.
Ocracoke Lighthouse lands in spotlight for its anniversary
Based on outreach from Visit NC’s PR team, Southern Living published the digital feature “North Carolina’s Ocracoke Light Station Celebrates 200th Anniversary
.” The post traced the story from the lighthouse’s origins in 1822, noting that “the entire project was completed within the year, and the light station has been a beacon ever since, thanks to 11 keepers and support from the U.S. Coast Guard.” Beyond the facts and figures, the article provided details about the summerlong anniversary celebration offered by the National Park Service. Southernliving.com attracts 10.7 million unique monthly visitors.
N.C.-filmed ‘Burden of Proof’ premieres next Tuesday
The N.C.-filmed and produced documentary “Burden of Proof” debuts on HBO and Max streaming service next Tuesday (June 6). Initially titled “Virginia Cold Case Project,” the production had a direct in-state spend of $1.7 million with filming of some of the re-enactments, interviews and other production-related activities taking place in Chatham, Durham, Lee, Mecklenburg, Orange and Wake counties. The project hails from Durham-based Markay Media (“A Chef’s Life,” “Private Violence”). It follows the story of Stephen Pandos as he investigates the disappearance of his sister, Jennifer, who went missing from her bedroom in 1987 in Williamsburg, Va.
View the trailer here.
A recent report by Destination Analysts shows excitement for leisure travel in the next 12 months has hit record high levels. Excitement is equally high throughout the U.S., in all regions. Households with higher incomes are more likely to express excitement, but those in lower earning brackets still show an eagerness to travel. Excitement for travel is also particularly high among family travelers who have school-age children in the household.
The mean number of trips American travelers anticipate taking in the next 12 months has also hit record levels with an average of 3.6. Ninety percent of travelers expect to take one or more trips in the next year.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies.
Vote for N.C. sites among ‘Best Chocolate Shop,’ ‘Best Ice Cream Shop’
N.C. has several nominations in two categories for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards for Best of Desserts and Treats. Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends at noon on June 26.
‘Here’s what NOAA forecasters expect for the Atlantic hurricane season’
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its forecast for the 2023 hurricane season last week. The agency is predicting 12 to 17 tropical storms, which get a name once their maximum sustained winds reach 39 mph; five to nine of those cyclones are forecast to strengthen into hurricanes. One to four hurricanes could reach “major” status. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 (tomorrow).
Leading NOAA to expect fewer tropical cyclones in the Atlantic: a fast-developing episode of the global climate pattern known as El Niño, which has been brewing for the past few months. El Niño has domino effects on global weather patterns. Among them: Conditions in the Atlantic tend to be less favorable for storms to organize and strengthen.
In June, NOAA will launch a new hurricane forecasting model that they expect will eventually become their primary forecasting tool, expected to improve predictions of storm track and intensity by 15 percent. The agency has also expanded its midrange forecasting capabilities as it invests in modeling and supercomputing, stretching its tropical weather outlooks from five days to seven days this year.
N.C. Music Hall of Fame announces class of 2023 inductees
The N. C. Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis has announced the six inductees that will comprise the 2023 class: Bill Curtis, Betty Davis, Fetchin Bones, Scotty McCreery, George Beverly Shea and Loudon Wainwright III. The 2023 class is scheduled to be enshrined during the annual induction ceremony on October 19 in Mooresville.
Seagrove included in ‘Get Lost in Clay, Even if It’s Just for the Weekend’
For its article “Get Lost in Clay, Even if It’s Just for the Weekend
,” about pottery-making workshops, The New York Times mentioned Penland School of Crafts in Bakersville and the N.C. Pottery Center in Seagrove. From the historical perspective, the article noted, in part, “Founded in 1929 to give Appalachian women a means of earning a living, the Penland School of Craft in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina – where clay was designated the “official state art medium” in 2013 – draws artists and hobbyists with a range of programs in different media.” As for pottery concentration, the article explained, in part, “the town of Seagrove, which has one of the highest concentrations of working potters in the country, advertises itself as America’s pottery capital. The area is home to more
than 50 pottery shops, studios and galleries as well as the North Carolina Pottery Center, a museum dedicated to the craft.”
June brings the ‘Seafood Issue’ For its June edition, Our State magazine offers the “Seafood Issue,” featuring “Coastal Legends.” “Local’s Guide” visits Burgaw; “Restaurant” highlights The Country Biscuit in New Bern; and “Happy Trails” treks Huggins Island Trail at Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro. The June issue is available now.
For the week of June 1, "North Carolina Weekend” highlights the “Perfect Stop Spot.” Featured segments include Old Orchard Creek Farm in Lansing; The Rural Seed Restaurant in Columbus; Botanist and Barrel Cidery in Cedar Grove; Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach; and Howdy Homemade Ice Cream in Asheville. (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.
Upcoming industry meetings & events
June 8 – Visit NC monthly webinar: Outdoor NC June 13-15 – TTRA Annual International Conference, St. Louis, Mo. June 28-29 – Blue Ridge Parkway Assn. Annual Meeting, Bedford, Va. July 10-13 – STS Congressional Summit on Travel & Tourism, Washington, D.C. July 13 – Visit NC monthly webinar July 18-20 – Destinations International Annual Convention, Dallas, Texas July 23-25 – AENC Annual Meeting, Winston-Salem Aug. 10 -- Visit NC monthly webinar Aug. 18-22 – SYTA Annual Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Aug. 19-22 – US Travel Assn’s ESTO, Savannah, Ga. Aug. 22-25 – NCMA-VMA-MCASC Regional Meeting, Cherokee
Visit North Carolina is part of Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
150 Fayetteville St. Suite 1200 Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, United States
