| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | October 23, 2019 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Register now for 2020 Visit NC 365
* Visit NC PR team's efforts lead to Fearrington Village in the luxury spotlight
* Johnston County becomes the first county to join Retire NC
* Governor Cooper announces the Governor's Advisory Council on Film, Television and Digital Streaming
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Register now for 2020 Visit NC 365
Early-Early Bird Registration is now open for the 2020 Visit NC 365 Conference, in Asheville March 22 - 24 at the Omni Grove Park Inn. The Visit NC 365 Conference, named for the year-round tourism industry across the state, brings together more than 500 of the state's tourism industry leaders during this three-day premier travel industry event. Finishing touches are being finalized but, in the meantime, get discounted conference registration with the Early-Early Bird rate, which is $425/person now throughNov. 22. When you register, don't forget to share in the action with the hashtag #VisitNC365 on Twitter - @NCTourism and Facebook - @NCarolinaTourism. For more information on the conference, contact Amanda Baker at (919) 447-7765. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, offering a range of options. |
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Visit NC PR team's efforts lead to Fearrington Village in the luxury spotlight
Efforts by Visit NC's PR team have led to Fearrington Village being included in the Robb Report's "Ditch the Kitchen and Enjoy Thanksgiving at These 8 Luxury Farm Hotels." Fearrington was among the properties the PR team pitched in response to an inquiry from the writer. Of Fearrington, the article said, "Located on a former dairy farm in Pittsboro, North Carolina, Fearrington Village, a Relais & Château property, is home to an inn, spa, and three restaurants. The original dairy barn, granary, farmhouse, and silo remain, while gardens growing vegetables and herbs for the restaurants are sprinkled throughout the property, and Belted Galloway cows, chicken, and Tennessee Fainting Goats graze in a pasture near the entrance. The fine dining Fearrington House Restaurant, run by James Beard Award semifinalist Colin Bedford, will serve a multi-course pre-fix menu on Thanksgiving that will include Southern essentials like collard greens, sweet potatoes, pork and chestnut stuffing, and a sorghum-glazed turkey, with much of the ingredients sourced on site or from nearby farms." |
| | | (lf-rt) Nabors,Johnston County VB's Rick Heilmann, Paul Boucher and Donna Bailey-Taylor, and Tuttell |
Johnston County becomes the first county to join Retire NC
Visit NC's Wit Tuttell and André Nabors presented Johnston County with its N.C. Certified Retirement Community certificate today (Wednesday), making Johnston County the first county to join the program. The distinction means the state has certified that Johnston County 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. Johnston County 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, Johnston County will work with Visit North Carolina to promote the community as a great relocation destination for retirees through Retire NC and consumer trade shows, such as Ideal Living Resort & Retirement Expo. Johnston County is the latest community to be designated into the NC Certified Retirement Community Program, joining Eden, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Jamestown/High Point, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, New Bern, Reidsville, Roanoke Rapids, Salisbury, Sanford, Tarboro, Washington, and Winterville. To find out more about RetireNC and the Certified Retirement Community program, contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
Governor Cooper announces creation of the Governor's Advisory Council on Film, Television and Digital Streaming
On Tuesday (yesterday), Governor Roy Cooper announced the creation of the Governor's Advisory Council on Film, Television and Digital Streaming, which will lead efforts to continue growing North Carolina's successful film industry. "North Carolina's natural beauty, welcoming communities, and local talent make it a perfect home for the film industry," said Governor Cooper. "This advisory council will play a critical role in helping the industry flourish, which creates good-paying jobs right here in North Carolina." The Council will advise the governor on efforts to grow and develop North Carolina's film industry and support the work of the N.C. Film Office. The initial list of council members includes N.C. Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susi Hamilton, Dr. Amy Tiemann, Beth Petty, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, Bill Vassar, Chris Cooney, Chip Hackler, Dale Williams, Darla McGlamery, David Burris, Eric Johnson, Herman A. Stone, John Bankson, Johnny Griffin, Judy Girard, Lana Garland, Lauren Vilchik, Mike McGaha, Rebecca Clark, Robert Newton, Tim Bourne, and Tod Thorne. Additional members may be added. |
National Park Service grants include $355,675 for Bentonville Battlefield
The National Park Service has announced Bentonville Battlefield in Four Oaks is slated to receive a $355,675 grant from the National Park Service. The grant is part of more than $4.6 million in grants from the NPS' American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) to help protect more than 921 acres of significant battlefields in Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia threatened with damage or destruction by suburban development. |
Readers' Choice Awards recognize several in N.C.
Condé Nast Traveler has announced its 2019 Readers' Choice Awards and several sites in N.C. were recognized. The Swag in Waynesville was ranked #9 among the Top Resorts in the U.S. Among the Top 20 Hotels in the South, The Ivey's Hotel in Charlotte was ranked #6, Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands ranked #9, and 21 Museum Hotel in Durham ranked #14. Of the Top 20 Resorts in the South, The Swag in Waynesville was ranked #1, Greystone Inn in Lake Toxaway ranked #11 and Sanderling Resort in Duck ranked #13. |
Vote for three in N.C. among Sporting Events, Planners & Destination to Watch for 2020
Voting is now open for SportsEvents' Readers' Choice Awards and three in N.C. are among the nominees. Vote for the Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro for 2020 Events to Watch; Hill Carrow, with Triangle Sports Commission and Sports & Properties, Inc., for Planners and Industry Professionals to Watch in 2020; and Greensboro Coliseum Complex and Aquatic Center in Greensboro for Destinations and Venues to Watch in 2020. Voting ends Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. CDT. |
What makes a product green?
As more businesses are going green, many are looking for environmentally preferable alternative products to use in operations. Suppliers have answered the call by developing a sometimes overwhelming list of "green" products. When purchasing items for a business, remember the three Rs: ask if the product reduces the amount of waste generated; if the product can be reused;or if it can be recycled. Reduce could mean it has less packaging, is a compostable product, or less resources were used to produce and/or transport it. Reuse would mean the product can be reused in its current form or in another form, such as shredding paper for packaging. Recycle can mean that a product is recyclable or is made from recycled materials. To find out more about green procurement, visit the EPA's Sustainable Marketplace: Greener Products and Services. For more information on green product options in the tourism industry, check out the Green Product & Service Directory. To learn more about the NC GreenTravel Initiative, contact Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | For the week of Oct. 24 on "North Carolina Weekend," experience "A Self in the Remaking: Katharine Smith Reynolds Johnston," an exhibition at Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem. Explore Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh. Enjoy the activities at Homeplace Farm in Farmville. And take to the skies with Kitty Hawk Kites at Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head. (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, the average travel party size for all Piedmont Region visitors was 2.1 people. Twenty-seven percent of all travel parties to the region included children in the party. 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
Oct. 29-30 - Civil War Trails Meeting, Charleston, W.V. Nov. 6-8 - AARC Annual Conference, Chattanooga, Tenn. Nov. 7-8 - AENC Fall Conference, Cary Nov. 8 - NC Coast Host Meeting, Lumberton Nov. 19 - Visit NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, Cary Dec. 12 - AENC Annual Showcase |
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