Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners
October 21, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC webinar today looks at two available grants
* MURR program funding available to many types of tourism-related businesses
* Visit NC hosts virtual media mission 
celebrating female entrepreneurs
Visit NC webinar today looks at two available grants

Visit NC's webinar today (Wednesday) looked at two available grants - the MURR (Mortgage, Utility and Rent Relief) program (see the next story for details) and the second round of Tourism Promotion Grants offered in the EDPNC Recovery Grant with the N.C. Travel Industry Association.
 
Visit NC's Wit Tuttell kicked off the webinar looking at recent travel sentiment information. Tuttell noted that, while media is primarily driving traveler perception, nearly 75 percent of American travelers believe a second wave of COVID-19 is likely/very likely to occur. One piece of good news shows more people are comfortable going out in their own communities. This is encouraging on its own but this also means they're more welcoming to those visitors coming to their area.
 
Tuttell reviewed the Tourism Promotion Grants that are specifically for DMOs, noting 60 DMO partners have already taken advantage of them. That said, there was money not awarded so a second round of grants is available, in amounts of $25,000 and $30,000, depending on a county's tourism dependency. DMOs who received grants in the initial offering can reapply for a grant in the second round, but they won't have to resubmit the original documentation. Tuttell offered suggestions for best practices when submitting an application. As with the first round of Tourism Promotion Grants, this must be used and implemented by Dec. 30, 2020. To find out more about the Tourism Promotion Grants, click here.
 
Recordings of the Visit NC webinars are available here, including today's. Visit NC's webinar topics and registration information will be posted as available on Partners.VisitNC - COVID-19 and VisitNC365. The next Visit NC webinar will be in two weeks, on Wednesday, Nov. 4; it will look at the forms for the Tourism Promotion Grants and the monthly submissions expected. In a continuing effort to foster collaboration through the COVID-19 crisis, Visit NC and NCTIA have been hosting bi-weekly, regional online meetings for DMOs across the state. The next DMO Forums will be Tuesday, Nov. 3.
MURR program funding available to many types of tourism-related businesses

The EDPNC's John Loyack examined the MURR (Mortgage, Utility and Rent Relief) program being offered by the N.C. Department of Commerce. MURR is for certain businesses who have been catastrophically affected by the pandemic. Loyack pointed out that MURR is not a grant or a loan, but a direct payment, and is being offered on a first come, first served basis. MURR Program assistance is based on four months of rent or mortgage interest and utility costs at an eligible North Carolina business location during the April - August 2020 time period. However, the relief amount may not exceed $20,000, with a limit of up to two business locations per applicant.
 
The MURR program website has information on Eligibility Requirements, including the types of businesses that may apply; what documentation will be needed before applying; application forms and even a short video that will walk a business through the application; FAQs; and more useful information. Such qualifying businesses must be for-profit, were closed sometime between April 1 and July 31, and plan to reopen.
 
Loyack also noted the "fine print" for MURR compensation, such as an application may be subject to North Carolina Public Records law. But he also pointed out the expedient phases within the application process. There isn't a "must use by" date for MURR because this is to compensate for previously paid expenses.
Visit NC hosts virtual media mission celebrating female entrepreneurs

Today (Wednesday), Visit NC and JPR hosted a Zoom webinar for media featuring five women entrepreneurs from across North Carolina who were selected from tourism partner submissions. Ten journalists participated in the hour-long session themed to tie-in with the suffrage centennial and its relevance to the issues of equal rights today. The guest panelists discussed entrepreneurship, empowerment and hospitality in their hometowns. Media guests represented top national outlets including Travel + Leisure, Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, Southern Living and Oprah Magazine, among others.

Panelists included Jenny Pickens, self-taught Asheville muralist, doll maker and artist active in bringing back The Block , Asheville's Black business district; Morgan Tarbutton, director of Chetola Resort's outdoor program and Sporting Preserve, and an advocate for women in the sports of fly fishing and target shooting; Tiffany Griffin, owner of Bright Black Candles in Durham, who uses scent as an artistic medium and candles as a platform to share positive narratives about Blackness; Glenn Patterson Wilson, former Marriott design executive, who's working to breathe new life into her hometown of Halifax one historic building at a time; and Leesa Jones, founder of the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum, which is built on her research into her own family roots.
Visit NC PR story pitches lead to N.C. beach rentals, Corolla restaurant in the spotlight

Trivago Magazine published a roundup of "6 of the Best North Carolina Beach Rentals with Private Pools" that originated with a July headline pitch about destinations along North Carolina's coastal waterways. In a follow-up conversation, the writer's interest took a different turn and yielded a piece that highlighted Carolina Beach, Corolla, Duck, Emerald Isle, Nags Head, Wrightsville Beach, as well as specific rental properties. Trivago Magazine has a circulation of 138,000.
 
The PR team repurposed a springtime pitch for Upside Restaurant's Southern Boil recipe, which was picked up by the Postmedia Network's newspaper outlets picked it up for October being National Seafood Month in Canada. For example, Toronto Sun's "Celebrating National Seafood Month with a vacation on a platter" included the Corolla restaurants spin on a seafood boil. The online reach exceeds 2 million unique visits per month.
Research shows travelers open to travel but not necessarily ready yet

As the number of cases of the virus continue to grow, so does the pessimism that the virus is on a path to another wave this year Nearly three-quarters of American travelers, and those in the South region, feel that the country will experience a new wave, reports Destination Analysts this week. While this pessimism hasn't negatively affected openness to travel and excitement to learn about new destinations, it has affected travel readiness. The percent of Americans with tentative trip plans has dropped to 75 percent after being at 80 percent for several weeks.


The current state of mind of travelers with regards to the pandemic is expected to affect the holiday travel season, as many Americans deter holiday travel. It is expected that nearly 25 percent fewer Americans will be traveling to celebrate the holidays this year, the majority of them citing fear of the virus and not wanting to infect friends and loved ones. Those who do plan to travel say that they will spend less this year on that travel (43 perfect), while only 15 percent note that they will spend more.


On a positive note, Americans report that they are seeking safety in the outdoors as much as they can, according to the most recent Harris Poll. The survey reports that two-thirds of Americans are suffering from "digital burnout" and are looking to the outdoors to stay safe and sane. Sixty-five percent say they are trying to find safe outdoor activities, and 48 percent report they are trying to find new places to work from home or spend time outdoors.
 
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies.
Southwest announces new flights from Denver, Phoenix to CLT
 
Southwest Airlines is adding nonstop flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport from Denver and Phoenix. Southwest will launch once-daily service from Denver on Nov. 4 and trom Phoenix on Feb. 11. The Phoenix route will also operate on select dates during the holidays from November through December.
Mooresville CVB changes emails, website

The Mooresville CVB has changed the suffix for their emails. Staff emails are now firstname@visitmooresville.com, such as leah@visitmooresville.com for Mooresville CVB's Leah Mitcham. In addition, the website has been renamed and is now www.visitmooresville.com.
Asheville among '15 Best Thanksgiving Getaways for Families or Couples'

Oprah.com included Asheville in its "15 Best Thanksgiving Getaways for Families or Couples" as, due to the ramifications of COVID-19 hampering family get-togethers, now might be the best time to take that Thanksgiving vacation. Of Asheville, the article noted, in part, "This charming city in the Blue Ridge Mountains has long been known for its bucket-list breweries, thriving art scene, stunning drives, hikes, and Biltmore, America's largest home, built by George Vanderbilt. The winter is an ideal time to visit: temperatures are mild, the travel rates are the best of the year, and it's easier than any other season to land hard-to-get restaurant reservations, with plenty of outdoor seating available for those looking for it."
Chimney Rock among '50 states, 50 natural wonders: Most beautiful sights in the U.S.'

USA Today's 10Best selected Chimney Rock for the North Carolina aspect in its "50 states, 50 natural wonders: Most beautiful sights in the U.S." Of the site in Chimney Rock, the article explained, One of the most identifiable landmarks in Western North Carolina sits within Chimney Rock State Park. The 315-foot rocky outcrop affords phenomenal views of Hickory Nut Gorge and the Rocky Broad River for visitors who climb the 499 steps to the top (or ride the elevator)."
For the week of Oct. 22, "North Carolina Weekend" features segments on Round Peak Vineyards in Mount Airy; Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach; Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre in Henderson; Appalachian Mural Trail near Asheville; and So Good Pupusas in Durham. (Check local listings for schedule; 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.
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.
 

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