Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - October 5, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC’s ‘For Real, Visit NC’ campaign in the spotlight
* Visit NC PR team efforts find success
* NCRLA launching state-wide hospitality recruitment campaign, "Serving Careers"
* Visit NC’s webinar next week features Mid-Year Update
‘For Real, Visit NC’ campaign in the spotlight
Visit NC’s brand campaign and three North Carolina attractions are featured in the September-October issue of “Destinations,” the print magazine published by the American Bus Association. “For Real, Visit NC: Discover authentic places curated just for you” spotlighted the campaign promise, included quotes from Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell and highlighted the appeal of three signature attractions: the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee and the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City.
““The ‘For Real, Visit NC’ message naturally connects to North Carolina’s signature scenic beauty, our mountain landscapes, and coastal horizons,” Tuttell said. “Yet it runs much deeper with authentic experiences that immerse travelers in our culture, unique history, and foodways that grow out of our agricultural roots. Destinations across the state draw on this authenticity across a spectrum of activities that align with the interests of group travelers.”
Destinations targets U.S. drivers and riders with content that can be used to build itineraries for the millions of people who travel via bus each year. The magazine is published every other month.
Visit NC PR team, partners pitch at Visit NC’s mini-media mission in Charleston
Visit NC’s Veda Gilbert and four destination partners traveled to Charleston, S.C., this week for a two-day mini-media mission. Over meals and drinks, eight media representatives from local, regional and national outlets heard pitches from Haywood County TDA’s Amie Newsome, Franklin & Nantahala TDC's Eric Haggar, Surry County TDA’s Jessica Roberts and Burke County TDA’s Katherine Christie. The Visit NC PR team, including Efrain Rivera from DCI, and the partners will follow up with journalists to maximize connections from the event.
To find out more about Visit North Carolina's public relations program, contact Veda Gilbert and Suzanne Brown at media@visitnc.com.
Visit NC PR team pitch leads to The Umstead among ‘Best U.S. Hotels for Foodies’
The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary is featured in a Time Out roundup of “The Best U.S. Hotels for Foodies
,” thanks to a pitch from Visit NC’s PR team. Noting that Herons, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is one of only 79 Forbes Five-Star restaurants in the world, the article credits four-time James Beard Semifinalist Steven Greene for dishes created with ingredients from 14 nearby farms and The Umstead’s own 2-acre plot. “The 98-seat dining area offers spectacular garden views plus a specially curated art collection so guests can eat and drink in style,” the article says. Among the highlighted dishes: “a decadent crab cake Benedict,” poached oysters, foie gras and quail with blueberry and miso. TimeOut.com attracts more than 21.4 million unique monthly visitors.
Other coverage from PR team pitching: The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone in a Medium.com roundup headlined “Fall Is The Perfect Time Of Year To Get Your Travel On.” Medium.com attracts more than 69.5 million unique monthly visitors.
NCRLA launching ‘Serving Careers,’ a state-wide hospitality recruitment campaign
Next Monday (Oct. 9), the N.C. Restaurant & Lodging Association is launching its Serving Careers, a state-wide hospitality recruitment campaign. North Carolina’s restaurants and hotels continue to struggle with labor shortages. In 2022, there were more than 100,000 jobs posted by employers across the state. NCRLA’s Serving Careers campaign will target entry level and mid-level candidates. The new campaign has been built on a solid foundation of research and input from hundreds of hospitality employers and employees. Funded by a
$5 million allocation from the state’s portion of the American Rescue Plan the omnichannel campaign mixes journalism, content marketing, design and broadcast to get the word out. NCRLA will also be targeting employers with content to help with hiring and retention.
The virtual press conference to launch the campaign will be at 1 p.m. on Oct. 9. Click here to register.
Visit NC’s monthly webinar next week features Mid-Year Update
For its October webinar, Visit NC offers its Mid-Year Update. Visit NC's Wit Tuttell will lead a discussion on where Visit NC's efforts stand at this time and its plans leading up to the Visit NC Tourism Conference next March. The webinar will be next Thursday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. Click here to register.
A previous TRAC in Concord
Visit NC’s TRAC coming to Wilkes County Oct. 19
Tourism-related businesses in Wilkes County – plus the surrounding counties – will have an opportunity to work with Visit NC staff to learn about its research, film recruitment, development and marketing services, and discuss best practices for reaching travelers and the media, and increasing tourism visitation and spending. Visit NC's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses. TRAC will be held 2 - 6 p.m. Oct. 19 in Wilkes County. The specific location and address will be in next week’s NewsLink.
There is no charge to attend, no reservation is required, and there is no PowerPoint presentation. This is a come-when-you-can/stay-as-long-as-you-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 NC'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 NC and its partners.
Representatives from the EDPNC's Business Services, N.C. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. State Parks, and Agritourism 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 Visit NC's André Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
Visit NC looking for haunted tales, spooky locations for upcoming campaign
Visit NC's marketing team is seeking input from partners on the haunted and/or spooky locations in their destinations for a new campaign idea. Anyone with interesting ghost stories, hauntings or other paranormal experiences should submit their ideas via this form. For examples of the types of tales Visit NC is interested in, check out VisitNC.com's "Things That Go Bump in the Night: 8 Haunted Places in North Carolina
." For questions, contact Visit NC’s
Katie Bailey.
Wilmington and Beaches CVB hosted N.C. Welcome Center staff for a productive informative study tour (familiarization trip). The group took a boat tour of the Cape Fear River to the Port of Wilmington, observing wildlife along the shore. They toured the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Cameron Art Museum and saw the Carolina Beach Mural. The group also toured area hotels that have newly opened or been recently renovated: Aloft Embassy Suites, Blockade Runner, Lumina and the Hotel Ballast. Travel entity partners such as a CVB, TDA or chamber interested in hosting Welcome Center staff to provide them with first-hand knowledge of their destinations should contact Wally Wazan at (919) 814-4649 for more information.
Research reports growing influence of AI for travel planning
Recent research from Longwoods International and Miles Partnership shows that travelers are beginning to use AI in the trip planning process. In the last six months, 17 percent of travelers say they have used ChatGPT in travel planning. This is up from 14 percent from early summer. CNBC
recently reported that AI could soon change the approach by which travel companies interact with travelers. For instance, Airbnb’s CEO indicates the desire to “build a robust profile about you, learn about you and ask you two bigger questions: Who are you, and what do you want?” While not quite there yet, the enormous amounts of data that AI is able to search will allow it to recall past searches to build on a conversation. CNBC reports that while large amounts of travelers are still not quite ready to use AI for trip planning, travel companies are getting into the technology to be ready when travelers are.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through NewsLink with links to available studies.
Pender County TDA seeking new tourism director
The Pender County TDA is seeking a new tourism director, as Tammy Proctor is retiring Nov. 30 and then leading the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. View the job posting and application instructions here. The deadline for applications is Oct. 29.
Readers' Choice Awards recognize several in N.C. Condé Nast Traveler has announced its 2023 Readers' Choice Awards and several sites in N.C. were recognized. For the Top 25 Hotels in the South, CNT included JW Marriott in Charlotte, Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro, and Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville. For the Top 20 Resorts in the South. The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville was #8, High Hampton in Cashiers #12 and Greystone inn in Lake Toxaway #19.
Asheville’s The Radical, Blind Tiger Asheville among ‘5 Hotels Where Fall Takes Center Stage'
The New York Times included Asheville’s The Radical and Blind Tiger Asheville among its “5 Hotels Where Fall Takes Center Stage.” Of The Radical, the article noted, in part, "Opening on Oct. 12, this playful boutique hotel is in a 1920s warehouse that was once a breakfast cereal factory... The hotel is in the city’s River Arts District, which means that when you’re not admiring autumn’s colors, you can easily stop into the studios and galleries of numerous local artists, as well as spots to eat and drink along the French Broad River. The hotel’s public spaces and 70 rooms and suites take their inspiration from the district’s creative spirit, as well as its industrial past, with exposed brick walls, concrete pillars and street art." Of Blind Tiger Asheville, the article explained, in part, "Built in the late 1800s as a private
residence, this boutique hotel... opened in June in Asheville’s Chestnut Hills neighborhood with 14 rooms, including a cottage with a kitchen, double-sided fireplace and private porch. The property retains a lived-in feeling. It’s decorated with vintage, antique and handmade pieces. Common spaces, including a parlor, solarium, living room and barroom, are meant to be used as extensions of the guest rooms. And at any time of day or night you can grab items from the pantry, which is stocked with free snacks, cold brew and cocktail fixings."
For the week of Oct. 5, "North Carolina Weekend” kicks off its 21st season with “A Weekend in Lake Norman and Beyond.” Featured segments include showcasing a weekend in Lake Norman; and, as part of its Year of the Trail observance, the Emerald Necklace trail in Cornellus. (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.
Visit North Carolina is part of Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
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