| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | November 13, 2019 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC meets with tour operators, media at WTM * Salisbury becomes the newest city to join RetireNC
* Visit NC at AARC conference
* Statewide film activity promoted on Raleigh radio show
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 | | | Visit NC amid the Travel South delegation |
Visit NC meets with tour operators, media at WTM
Visit NC's Heidi Walters, along with Visit NC's U.K. and Ireland representative Duncan McCubbin, attended World Travel Market in London, Nov. 4-6. The annual event is the largest gathering of the U.K. travel trade industry. WTM gives Visit North Carolina the opportunity to meet with both tour operators and media contacts to continue to promote the travel options across the state. During the course of the three days, the North Carolina team met with 40 trade and media professionals. Visit North Carolina partnered with Travel South USA on a joint booth for the show. As a partner with Travel South, this offered Visit North Carolina a higher degree of exposure as the stand continues to be one of the most impressive within the USA section. During the Travel South USA and Brand USA receptions, Moravian cookies were featured, courtesy of the Winston-Salem CVB. To learn more about Visit NC's international marketing program, contact Heidi Walters at (919) 447-7762.. |
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Salisbury becomes the newest city to join RetireNC
Visit NC's André Nabors presented Salisbury with its N.C. Certified Retirement Community certificate today (Wednesday). The distinction means the state has certified that Salisbury has the infrastructure and amenities sought by retirees. In addition, EDPNC/Visit North Carolina will provide promotional assistance to help encourage retirees to visit and relocate to those areas. Salisbury met a rigorous set of requirements, including a comprehensive community survey and an asset assessment of the community's preparedness for retiree attraction. Now that it has been named a CRC, Salisbury will work with Visit North Carolina to promote the community as a great relocation destination for retirees through RetireNC and consumer trade shows, such as Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo.
Visit North Carolina markets the N.C. Certified Retirement Community Program, which recognizes towns that are positioning themselves for retiree attraction as an economic and community development strategy. The recognized towns of the N.C. Certified Retirement Community Program now consist of Eden, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Jamestown/High Point, Johnston County, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, New Bern, Reidsville, Roanoke Rapids, Salisbury, Sanford, Tarboro, Washington and Winterville. Once a community has completed the certification process, Visit North Carolina will help market and promote the community through web presence on RetireNC.com, e-marketing, trade shows, social media, public relations, visitor services and research, among other opportunities. For more information on the N.C. Certified Retirement Community program, contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
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| | | Reidsville's Judy Yarbrough and André Nabors | |
Visit NC at AARC conference
Visit NC's André Nabors and Certified Retirement Community partners Edenton, Mount Airy and Reidsville represented RetireNC at the American Association of Retirement Communities annual conference in Chattanooga, Tenn., last week. Attendees learned best practices from industry leaders, comparing strategies and tactics with communities who seek to better understand the needs of the wave of Baby Boomer retirees, as well as the research trends, digital advertising strategies and social media marketing to attract this growing market. Nabors participated in a session that featured a case study on the RetireNC and RetireTN programs with Focus 3. In addition, he and Reidsville's Judy Yarbrough accepted an award with for the City of Reidsville's recognition as an AARC Seal of Approval community; the program recognizes communities who have made a commitment - both in "hard" amenity offerings and "soft" programs - to a "best in class" lifestyle for retirees. |
| | | (lf - rt) Kevin McClendon, Camille Kauer, Guy Gaster and Erroll Reese |
Statewide film activity promoted on Raleigh radio show
Last Thursday, N.C. Film Office Director Guy Gaster appeared on the daily sports radio talk show "The Sports Shop with Reese and KMac" on Buzz Sports Radio (99.3 FM in Raleigh, 96.5 FM in Durham, and 99.9HD3), as part of the show's weekly entertainment segment. Gaster promoted film production successes of 2019 in North Carolina and talked more about the state's rebate program, which is funded through the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant. Hear highlights of the conversation by clicking here (starts at the 13:14 mark). |
Ocracoke set to open for visitors more than two months after Hurricane Dorian
Ocracoke island will reopen to visitors Nov. 22, more than two months after Hurricane Dorian left record flooding and widespread destruction. Officials waited to open the island until much of the debris was removed and repairs on N.C. 12 were done, according to a news release from Hyde County. The N.C. Department of Transportation expects repairs on the island's main highway to be completed by Nov. 22. Officials are warning people to watch out for remaining debris, and amenities such as food, gas and lodging are still limited. Tourism is the primary industry in the community, and local business owners were anxious to see visitors return. Some shops are open and more hope to be ready for Thanksgiving weekend, which traditionally attracts a surge in visitors, said Helena Stevens, with the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association. |
Wide Open Bluegrass Festival sees largest economic impact to-date This past September's Wide Open Bluegrass festival saw a combined attendance of 218,301 in their seventh year in Raleigh. This year's festivities also generated $18.65 million in direct economic impact within Wake County, the highest single-year total yet according to figures released last week by the Greater Raleigh CVB. The events, held from Sept. 24-28, included the three-day IBMA Business Conference and Music Expo, the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, Bluegrass Ramble and the two-day festival, which also included the North Carolina Pork Council's 2019 Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship. Notably, the $18.65 million is a conservative estimate that does not include locals' spending, nor does it include a multiplier of indirect or induced impacts. It represents tourism economic impact only, which is new money coming into the local economy. |
Sanford TDA seeking executive director
The Sanford TDA is seeking an executive director. To view the full description or to submit an application, click here.The position is open until filled. |
Becoming an effective energy manager for lodging
Tourism managers know that success in the hospitality industry is dependent on maximizing guest satisfaction while simultaneously reducing the costs associated with doing so. This difficult balancing act often comes to a head with regards to energy usage where accommodations are concerned. Between allowing guests to set the air conditioner much cooler than they would at home and keeping energy costs low can be greatly enhanced by using effective energy management strategies. A growing number of tourism-related facilities are using automated energy management systems to improve energy efficiency without sacrificing guest comfort. These systems can offer a number of energy solutions such as sensing when a room is unoccupied and adjusting temperature settings accordingly. Although having an automated system can greatly enhance the ability to manage energy use, there are also several simple and low cost measures any facility can implement. For example, filling north-facing rooms first during the hot summer months can reduce the need for air conditioning. Even a simple measure like instructing housekeeping to close drapes to reduce heat loss in the winter or heat gain in the summer can help reduce utility bills. To learn more information on energy management, visit the EPA's "Energy Savings Tips for Small Businesses: Lodging." For more information on sustainable tourism, contact NC GreenTravel Initiative manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of Nov. 14 on "North Carolina Weekend," explore the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park in Wilson. Discover the Lionel Train Store in Concord. Tour the Bellamy Mansion Museum in Wilmington. And the "House Special" samples the fare at Zanyu Asian Noodles in Raleigh. (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, out-of-state visitors were more likely to have stayed in a private home or rental home as accommodations than resident visitors. Resident visitors are more likely to stay in an RV park/campground or personal second home than out-of-state visitors. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit Visitor Profile Studies, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Nov. 19 - Visit NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, Raleigh Dec. 12 - AENC Annual Showcase, Raleigh Jan. 6-7 - BRPA Winter Meeting, Sparta Jan. 25-27 - NC Assn. of Festivals & Events Showfest, Charlotte Jan. 28 - NC Sports Assn. Meeting, Durham |
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