Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners - September 28, 2023
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC’s TRAC in Concord today
* Visit NC looking for haunted tales, spooky locations for upcoming campaign
* Visit NC at Outdoor Economy Conference, hosts partner reception
Visit NC is monitoring the possible U.S. government shutdown and the effects to federally run attractions and sites across the state during the busy fall travel season. There is a plan in place to showcase the wide variety of non-Federal sites across the state should a government shutdown occur. Visit NC will send out more information as the situation progresses.
A previous TRAC in
High Point
Visit NC’s TRAC coming to Concord this afternoon
This afternoon, tourism-related businesses in Cabarrus 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. today (Thursday)at the Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/Concord, 7831 Gateway Ln. NW in Concord.
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.
Visit NC at Outdoor Economy Conference, hosts partner reception
Visit NC's Wit Tuttell, Heidi Walters and Amanda Baker attended the annual Outdoor Economy Conference in Cherokee. The conference brought together more than 600 attendees from across the country to discuss issues regarding the outdoor economy; it also showcased products made in N.C. Visit NC hosted a Meet & Greet event for N.C. partners to learn more about its Outdoor NC 2.0 initiative, including Learning Labs, Outdoor NC updates, Accessible Travel and Trail Town designations. More than 50 partners attended the event. In addition, Tuttell was interviewed for the Exploration Local podcast.
Cinespace Studios has acquired EUE/Screen Gems in Wilmington. Cinespace says this move is part of ongoing efforts to provide a diverse portfolio of studios and resources to accommodate productions of all sizes under one global network. The Wilmington production facility is 10 column-free and purpose-built sound stages totaling 152,000 sq. feet of shooting space alongside construction mills and office spaces. In the past 40 years, the Wilmington studio, with its iconic coastline and rural landscape has hosted more than 400 productions, including Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man 3,” Amazon Studios’ “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” and much more. Cinespace also acquired EUE/Screen Gems' campus in Atlanta.It is one of the largest sound stage operators globally with nearly 90 active stages in Chicago, Toronto and Germany.
Research reports fall travel will include road trips
Recent research from Longwoods International and Miles Partnership shows that fall travel will include road trips by many Americans. Nearly a quarter of travelers say they will travel by car within 200 miles for their next trip, and 16 percent will take a road trip of more than 200 miles. This represents growth from the spring.
Outdoor activities are the top activities that travelers plan for fall travel. In addition to road trips and visiting friends and family, travelers plan to visit parks, festivals, view fall foliage, hike, bike and experience fall harvest activities.
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through NewsLink with links to available studies.
Charlotte’s 3rd & Fernwood among ‘10 Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of Fall 2023’
Bon Appétit included 3rd & Fernwood among its “10 Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of Fall 2023.” In November, husband-wife team Greg and Subrina Collier are opening the "hotly anticipated 3rd & Fernwood in Charlotte. Their newest project will dive into the cuisines of the African diaspora and the American South. The Colliers have turned to chef Cleophus Hethington to run the kitchen... At 3rd & Fernwood, Hethington will offer his take on meat and three meals with mains like a fried chicken sandwich and grilled catfish with roasted okra gravy; and sides such as creamed collard greens, braised turnips, and hambone grits.
October brings the ‘Annual Mountain Issue’
For its October edition, Our State magazine brings its “Annual Mountain Issue.” “Local’s Guide” visits Newton; “Getaway” checks out The Saluda Inn in Saluda; “Restaurant” highlights Shine in Hendersonville; and “Happy Trails” spotlights the Overmountain Victory Trail at the W. Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkesboro. The October issue is available now.
For the week of Sept. 28, "North Carolina Weekend” repeats its “Made Right Here” episode, which originally aired May 18. Featured segments include Tryon Arts & Crafts School in Tryon; Barksdale Art in Burlington; STARworks in Star; Bolick & Traditions Pottery in Lenoir; and Hunting Boy Wood Carving in Robbinsville. (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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