| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | October 25, 2017 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC joins other tourism pros at TTRA's Marketing Outlook Forum * Good Behavior producers discuss filming in N.C.
* 'Insider' tells of working with RetireNC
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 Visit NC joins other tourism pros at TTRA's Marketing Outlook Forum
Visit NC's Mark Shore and Marlise Taylor were in Baltimore, Md., this week for Travel & Tourism Research Association's (TTRA) Marketing Outlook Forum. Taylor moderated the DMO Researchers Roundtable. MOF brings together nearly 400 travel professionals from around the world for a global perspective of the state of the travel industry. The Forum is the leading travel forecast conference combining industry networking and quality educational programs into a premier event attracting delegates from nearly all state and provincial tourism offices in the U.S. and Canada, international tourism offices, airlines and hotels, as well as many travel industry suppliers. |
 Good Behavior producers discuss filming in N.C.
For an online piece, the producers of Good Behavior discuss why they chose to film the TV show, in North Carolina and how the location influences the show. "I said, 'Where can we do this that is really, really cool and looks awesome and it will be cinematic?'" said Executive Producer Chad Hodge. "I think I was surprised by just how many beautiful places there are here... North Carolina/Wilmington is the perfect place to come. I can't imagine having shot this anywhere else." Producer Randy Sutter noted, "I think the most surprising thing about being in Wilmington is the friendliness of the people." View the online segment here (requires Flash to view). The drama, which filmed in the Wilmington region and is now in its second season on TNT, qualified and has funds set aside from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant program. The N.C. Film Office, which worked to get the project to initially film in North Carolina and to keep it here, said the series' second season is expected to have an overall direct in-state spend of more than $36 million while creating more than 1,000 job opportunities. |
 | | | (lf-rt) Visit New Bern's Mary McGhee, Visit NC's Andre Nabors and Beth Byrd |
'Insider' tells of working with RetireNC
Washington has been recognized as a Certified Retirement Community, which means it's promoted through RetireNC, including with opportunities to participate in consumer shows such as the Ideal-Living shows. For "What it means to retire N.C.," an article in the Washington Daily News, Washington realtor Beth Byrd tells of working with RetireNC and how pleased she was to represent retiring to North Carolina at a recent Ideal-Living Expo. |
 Asheville lands Haute Route, international 3-day cycling event
A prestigious European cycling event, Haute Route, will land in Asheville next spring, cementing Western North Carolina as a world-class cycling destination. Asheville will be the first of three U.S. locations to host a shorter, three-day format of the global cycling series. Scheduled May 18-20, the event will begin and end each day in downtown Asheville. More than 300 riders from across the United States and Europe are expected to participate, resulting in an estimated economic impact of more than $1 million. The Haute Route coup - a three-year commitment - was a collaborative effort between the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission and Explore Asheville, as well as the city and Buncombe County Recreation Services. |
 Bluegrass Festival is a hit as it sets new records
Last month's International Bluegrass Music Association World of Bluegrass festival in Raleigh set another attendance high in 2017, according to figures released Tuesday (yesterday) by the Greater Raleigh CVB. This year's total attendance topped 221,000, up slightly from 2016's then-record total of more than 217,000. The total direct economic impact also rose, to $11.7 million, up from last year's $11.5 million, according to the tourism bureau. The visitors bureau notes that the economic impact comes from new money coming into the local economy and doesn't include local resident spending. The total World of Bluegrass attendance figure includes people attending the events from Sept. 26-30, including the IBMA convention, performances and the free Wide Open Bluegrass street festival. |
 Visit Greenville launches Pitt County Brew & 'Cue Trail
The Greenville-Pitt County CVB (Visit Greenville, NC) has launched its new Pitt County Brew & 'Cue Trail. The trail will help promote Greenville-Pitt County's growing number of local craft breweries and legendary barbecue joints, in addition to showcasing its reputation as a culinary destination. Visitors can pick up a Pitt County Brew & 'Cue Trail "Passpork" at the CVB's visitors center or at any of the Pit and Pint Stops featured on the trail. Participants can get an official trail stamp from each location in their Passpork and, once the Passpork is full, it can be redeemed at the visitors center for a Brew & 'Cue t-shirt or pint glass and have their picture added to the Brew & 'Cue Wall of Fame. |
| | | (lf-rt) Awards Chair Dee Ann McKinney (Visit Missouri), Nick Breedlove and Conference Chair Sheila Flanagan (Dublin Institute of Technology) |
Breedlove recognized as 2017 Rising Star Young Professional
Jackson County TDA's Executive Director, Nick Breedlove was recognized with the Rising Star Young Professional's Award at the Marketing Outlook Forum, in Baltimore, Md., this week. The award is presented annually to one young professional (age 35 or under) employed in the travel and tourism industry who has shown commitment to increasing his/her expertise in the industry, demonstrated leadership abilities, and achieved outstanding accomplishments that have added value to travel and tourism. |
 Harrington named president VRMA board of directors
Mike Harrington has been named president of the board of directors for the Vacation Rentals Managers Association. Harrington is president of Topsail Realty Vacation Rentals in Surf City. VRMA is the national organization that promotes the value of the vacation rental experience to the public and serve as the collective voice that drives industry growth and professionalism. |
 Civil War Trail markers getting updates, improvements
Starting this month, representatives with the Civil War Trails program are working to update and/or replace several NC Civil War Trails markers in the state. New inserts, paint on pedestals and perhaps some DOT signage replacement are in the plans, with work being done this weekend in the Yadkin Valley area. Update to the markers will continue into next year. The Civil War Trails program covers five states and includes more than 279 markers in 78 counties of N.C. The markers are maintained through annual sponsorships from community partnerships. To find out more, contact Civil War Trails Executive Director Drew Gruber. |
PNC Arena, Carolina Hurricanes announce launch of new sensory friendly initiative
The Carolina Hurricanes and Gale Force Sports & Entertainment, which manages PNC Arena in Raleigh, announced Tuesday (yesterday) the launch of a new sensory inclusive program that's been developed in collaboration with KultureCity, a startup nonprofit that rethinks accessibility to create acceptance and inclusion for individuals of all abilities. With guidance from KultureCity, PNC Arena will now have new resources for those with sensory processing needs, who may have trouble with noise and lights during an event, according to a press release. The resources will be available at all events at the PNC Arena, including Carolina Hurricanes games, N.C. State men's basketball games, concerts and family shows. New resources include sensory bags, weighted lap pads and photosensitivity glasses plus a designated quiet area. PNC Arena part-time and full-time staff members also went through KultureCity's certification program to recognize and accommodate guests with sensory needs. |
 Sweet dreams: Asheville hotels donate more than 100,000 meals to MANNA
One small gesture has helped change the course of an entire community, reports Explore Asheville. Nearly 30 Asheville-area hotels have raised more than $30,000 to help end hunger in Western North Carolina through an unprecedented campaign effort called Sweet Dreams, Full Plates: Hospitality Feeds Families. Hotel guests during September were given the opportunity to forgo stayover services by simply hanging a door hanger on their room door. The door hanger read, "We Fed A Family," and for every room that choose to participate, the hotel made a $2 donation on their behalf. With each $2 donation, MANNA FoodBank is able to provide enough food for seven meals. Boosting excitement, participating hotels competed internally for who could raise the most money during the month. Participants hope to not only make this an annual program, but to inspire hospitality-based charity efforts across the nation. What makes the program so unique, hoteliers say, is the area-wide collaboration of businesses, guests, and the community to achieve a common goal - a true testament of Southern hospitality. Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville took home the Golden Pineapple Award for most overall funds raised. Residence Inn Biltmore won for most revenue per available room and was awarded the the Dream Team Award. |
 Henderson County recognized by America in Bloom Henderson County received a 5-bloom rating out of a possible five blooms and special recognition for its Environmental Efforts by America in Bloom. Sites were evaluated on floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation and overall impression. The Henderson County TDA finds the AIB program to be a valuable tool to determine what tourists observe when visiting Hendersonville. The judge's fresh eyes on the community along with the suggestions they offer in each of the six criteria are helpful in determining the improvements and enhancements that are needed countywide. These components are needed in the entire tourism industry when enticing visitors to choose Hendersonville as their vacation destination. America in Bloom is a national program that envisions communities across the country to be vibrant places to live, work, play and visit. Communities benefit from colorful plants, trees, clean environments, preserving their heritage and civic pride through volunteerism. Eligible participants include towns, cities, college and university campuses, business districts, military installations, and recognized neighborhoods of large cities. |
Surveys, Industry, Marketing & Travel Trends
Be our guest: How to build a better banquet - The traditional banquet has become staid, boring and predictable for planners and attendees alike, according to Hotel Business. They've been there, done that and are craving new experiences. While banquets may get a bad rap, they can be creative, exciting and even memorable events. So, how do you go about building a better banquet? It starts with the basics - the elements of surprise and delight. Instead of your typical presentations of food, the catering team at one Minneapolis hotel opts to make it fresh and interactive for a lasting impression, such as make-it-yourself ice cream float station stocked with retro-flavored soda bottles. In hospitality, the trend is to create an experience that a guest wouldn't normally have access to. And, this is also true for catered affairs. One Chicago hotel offers interactive food breaks and chef-attended food stations to offer a hands-on experience. Hoteliers celebrate fall with quick menu refreshes - Whether it's serving up a "spooky" cocktail or adding comfort food to the menu for fall, a quick food-and-beverage refresh is a good way to entice guests and locals to have a meal or drink at a hotel's restaurant, notes HotelNewsNow. For instance, the seasonal creativity at one Chicago hotel doesn't stop at the drinks but continues with creating interactive experiences. A hotel representative explains rooms on the fifth floor of the hotel, right above the restaurant, will become a haunted house including actors that engage with guests - both around the hotel and behind the bar to make a drink or two, providing a "fully immersive experience." Aside from themed cocktails, the hotel refreshes the restaurant's menu options approximately four times per year in coordination with the seasons. It's not a complete menu overhaul, as favorites from the menu and the cocktail list stay year-round. Day of the Dead, Halloween boost business at hotels - Guests, locals and vacationers are getting involved with Halloween events at hotels across the United States and in Day of the Dead celebrations at hotels in Mexico, resulting in a bit of a boost in business around these holidays, reports HotelNewsNow. "We sell out for Halloween each year and offer consistent annual activities guests have come to expect, such as trick or treating, games, scary decorations and Halloween movies in the theater," said a representative with a lodge in New York. "Some parents make a point of coming to the lodge every year so that kids can enjoy the Halloween fun." A supposedly haunted lodge in Ohio offers ghost tours which are accompanied by a wine and cheese hour for the adult tours and a pizza party for the family tours. And a multi-property collection in Mexico host two days of activities for guests and locals that include traditional Day of the Dead altar decorating and a parade to showcase costumes of the celebration, in addition to special food-and-beverage options. Since the events are open to locals, a representative said properties see a boost in F&B sales, and added that the celebrations are a great way for hotel guests to experience Mexican culture. |
Tell the world you're green
Attractions, accommodations, restaurants and even events should and can be rewarded for going green. Yes, shout it out and let everyone know that you have a green destination. The study The 2016 Role of Sustainability in Travel and Tourism revealed that 60 percent of U.S. travelers have taken a "sustainable" trip in the past three years. The study showed that 60 million U.S. travelers are selecting their travel company based on their sustainability practices, and 56 million make destination choices based on the sustainable practices at the destination. But how can a destination show off their sustainable side? There are quite a few ways in which they can become certified or recognized for being green. In the case of restaurants, the Green Restaurant Association offers green certification for dining establishments that meet a set of guidelines for being sustainable. Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification offered by Sustainable Travel International is yet another. LEED certification by the US Green Building Council is a great one. North Carolina's NC GreenTravel Initiative offers recognition to a variety of destinations including lodging facilities, restaurants, attractions, farm tourism among others. Your tourism may very well qualify for recognition in the NC GreenTravel Initiative. It is a no-cost recognition that will put your business name out there for all to see. To apply, visit NC GreenTravel Initiative online, fill out the application based on your type of tourism business, and submit it by email. Recognized businesses receive a certificate, door decals and a free listing on NCGT's website. Learn more about this free recognition program by contacting NC GreenTravel Initiative Manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. |
| | On North Carolina Weekend for the week of Oct. 26, discover the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and Museum in Wilson. Explore historic downtown Apex. Check out the Down East Holiday Show in Greenville. Get your toes a-tappin' at the Warren Haynes 29th Annual Christmas in Asheville. And the "House Special" samples the fare at Dickinson Avenue Public House in Greenville. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, UNC-TV has made recent editions of North Carolina Weekend available online. | In 2016, the average trip expenditure in the Mountain Region was $485. The average trip expenditure for overnight visitors to the Mountain Region was $611. Daytrip parties to the Mountain Region spent approximately $171 per visit. For more North Carolina visitor information, visit the Visitor Profile Studies or contact Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Oct. 26 - NC Coast Host Quarterly Meeting, Wilson Nov. 9-10 - MPC-CC Meeting, Greensboro Dec. 5-6 - STS Fall Forum (rescheduled from Oct.), Biloxi, Miss. Dec. 11-13 - (NC & SC) Carolinas Recreation & Parks Assn. Conference, Greensboro Dec. 12 - NC Sports Assn. Quarterly Meeting, Greensboro |
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