Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC partners | September 30, 2020 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC webinar looks at 'Safely Hosting Events & Festivals'
* Count On Me NC face masks available to order
* Research shows confidence in safe travel affected by fears virus will worsen
* RetireNC 'at' Ideal-Living Virtual Expo for Greater D.C.
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Visit NC webinar looks at 'Safely Hosting Events & Festivals' For this week's webinar, "Safely Hosting Events & Festivals," Visit NC's Wit Tuttell kicked off the session with a traveler sentiment update, including the increasing popularity of "workcations," working remotely but not from home and more likely another destination when "after work" can turn into vacation time. Tuttell reported 40 DMO partners are participating in the Tourism Recovery Grants that Visit NC is doing with NCTIA; more than $500,000 has been awarded in $10,000 and $15,000 grants, depending on a county's dependence on tourism. The deadline for DMOs to apply for the Tourism Recovery Grant is today (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. The Visit NC Marketing Credit Program currently has 113 DMO partners from 70 counties participating. So far, $4.35 million has been awarded. Tuttell noted as many as 55 DMO partners haven't taken advantage of the Marketing Credit Program yet, potentially missing out on receiving $1,000 to $100,000 in the program's marketing options. The deadline for applications for the Marketing Credit Program is Oct. 9. Visit NC's Allison Schult gave an update on Count On Me NC, including a new partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports, including Petty himself, plus promotions with drivers Thad Moffitt, Gray Gaulding and Kyle Busch. There's a contest going on, too, that invites bands to submit their performance of the Count On Me NC jingle, which has already had a number of entries. To date, Count On Me NC has seen nearly 289,500 sessions, more than 203,000 new users, nearly 15,000 individual training certificates, and more than 3,500 unique businesses are participating; plus, nearly 10,650 individuals have personally taken the pledge. After giving an update on the Meetings/Convention Co-op Visit NC is working on for participating partners to highlight their destinations, Visit NC's Heidi Walters introduced the events and festivals aspect. She was joined by N.C. Association of Festival & Events and N.C. Barbecue Festival's Stephanie Saintsing Naset, N.C. Seafood Festival's Stephanie McIntyre and Henderson County TDA's Beth Carden. Stephanie McIntyre showcased changes to this year's N.C. Seafood Festival, since it can't be held in person. Festival events such the vendor marketplace and road race are now virtual. However, as a tie-in to N.C. Seafood Month, the event worked to create a "Cooking with the Chefs," a selection of boxes that people can order which contain recipes, produce and step-by-step chef videos. The box includes ingredients that showcase not only North Carolina seafood (which the user supplies) but North Carolina farmers, artisans, brewers, distillers and wineries, sort of to help people bring a taste of the festival to their home. Beth Carden explained how the HCTDA worked to modify two major traditional events, including even expanding one event. For example, Garden Jubilee is normally held on Main Street and draws more than 200,000 people. This year's event was reformatted to send the public to area nurseries and orchards, then attendees were encouraged to go to Main Street for dining. Feedback from both attendees and vendors was overwhelmingly positive. In addition, many restaurants and hotels stated their numbers were even higher than during the previous event. Carden also discussed the newly created Cheers Trail Passport, available for $10 each from HCTDA. The passport encourages visitors to go to area craft beverage venues; once 12 passport stamps are gathered, the visitor redeems it for a $10 gift. Recordings of the Visit NC webinars are available here. Visit NC's webinar topics and registration information will be posted as available on Partners.VisitNC - COVID-19 and VisitNC365. 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, Oct. 6. |
Count On Me NC masks available to order
Many partners have inquired about getting a supply of branded Count On Me NC masks to share with their stakeholders and visitor centers. Visit NC is placing a new bulk order of Count On Me NC branded masks, which partners can now join in if they'd like a supply for their own needs. The masks are being offered at a per unit price of approximately $2.93 (plus shipping). DMOs can use Marketing Credit funds (if eligible and already approved) or be invoiced individually for their total order cost (this could mean using Tourism Recovery Grant funds, if eligible). A minimum of 50 masks is required to order and quantities above that are available in increments of 50 To participate in the order, please complete all fields in this order sheet no later than Friday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. For questions, contact Visit NC's Dana Grimstead. |
Research shows confidence in safe travel affected by fears virus will worsen After a month of lower levels of concern regarding the virus, Americans this week expressed higher levels of concern. Similarly, the proportion of American travelers who feel the virus will get worse in the next month rose this week to 43 percent from 38 percent last week. These rising concerns are affecting the confidence that Americans have to be able to travel safely says Destination Analysts. In addition to concerns regarding health and safety with regards to travel, social pressure is also affecting the desire to travel. Nearly 22 percent of Americans report worry about what people will think if they travel.
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For those Americans who do plan to travel in the fall, North Carolina ranks high in terms of interest. Indeed, the outdoor assets in North Caroline complement the interests of fall travelers. Travelers note that the most important reasons for traveling this fall are to relax/de-stress (84 percent), spend time with family (82 percent), escape (78 percent), visit friends/family (73 percent) and enjoy the outdoors (68 percent). |
However, leisure activities are not the only activities planned by fall travelers. "Workcations" and "schoolcations" are new terms to describe travel where people visit a vacation destination while continuing to work and learn remotely. Forty-six percent of American travelers report the likelihood of taking a workcation this fall while more than half indicate that it is likely they will take a schoolcation this fall. The characteristics of an ideal workcation or schoolcation include access to a beach/lake/waterfront, a relaxing atmosphere, but, most importantly, high-speed Wi-Fi/Internet service. |
Visit NC will be providing frequent research updates through Newslink with links to available studies. |
RetireNC sees significant interest in Ideal-Living Virtual Expo for Greater D.C. area
Visit NC's André Nabors, along with City of New Bern, Edenton and Salisbury, promoted North Carolina as a retirement destination at the Virtual Ideal-Living Resort & Retirement Expo "in" the Greater D.C. area this past weekend. The Expo had nearly 900 registered attendees from the region who were interested in exploring opportunities and engaging with exhibitors from across the Southeast. The Virtual Expo was set up for attendees to download materials, visit websites and watch videos of the exhibitors. In addition, attendees were able to chat, call or video chat with experts from towns and community developers to gain insights and get answers to help plan, design and enjoy their retirement. North Carolina has consistently been one of the most requested states by the attendees. Visit North Carolina attended the Expo to continue its efforts to promote the N.C. Certified Retirement Community Program, which consists of Carteret County, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Jamestown/High Point, Johnston County, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, New Bern, Reidsville, Roanoke Rapids, Salisbury, Tarboro, Washington, and Winterville. For more information about the Certified Retirement Community Program or Visit North Carolina's marketing initiatives for retirement relocation, contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
'Swamp Thing' sees network premiere next Tuesday
"Swamp Thing" will make its broadcast debut on the CW Network on Tuesday, Oct 6. This is the same series that filmed in North Carolina and aired on the streaming platform DC Universe. The series got a second life on a network station because of shift in production related to the coronavirus pandemic. As a reminder, when combining the pilot and the remainder of Season 1, the production had a direct in-state spend of $57.6 million, while creating more than 2,000 job opportunities with filming taking place in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties. It was awarded funds from the N.C. Film and Entertainment Grant. |
October brings the 'Annual Mountain Issue'
The October issue of Our State magazine brings the "Annual Mountain Issue," plus a photo essay on "State Fare." "Downtown" visits Burnsville; "Restaurant" features Heirloom Brewshop in Raleigh; and "Museum" highlights the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians in Bryson City. The October issue is available now. |
For the week of Oct. 1 on "North Carolina Weekend," the program kicks off its 18th season of popular stories. The season premiere features Good Hops Brewing in Carolina Beach; Mason's Sweet Shoppe in Union Grove; Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro; and Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro. "NC Weekend" is partnering with Our State magazine for featured videos; this week will highlight Glas in Raleigh. (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. |
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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