| Weekly e-newsletter for VisitNC partners | September 12, 2018 |
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| IN THIS ISSUE: * Visit NC efforts for Hurricane Florence
* WEG brings the world's attention to western N.C.
* N.C. destinations promoted at D.C. media mission
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Visit NC efforts for Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence forced one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history and North Carolina is hosting thousands of evacuees, both visitors and residents. As the storm approaches North Carolina, Visit NC is collecting and then updating information on available accommodations for evacuees looking for relocation. This document is being used internally by the 1-800-VISIT-NC Call Center - (800) 847-4862 - and welcome centers to assist visitors who contact them. The Call Center has extended hours till 8 p.m. today (Wednesday) and begins operating 24/7 starting at 6 a.m. Thursday (tomorrow), with plans to maintain a flexible schedule as needed due to the expected high volume of calls. In addition, visitors and residents alike can find up-to-date information regarding evacuations at the Travel Advisory page on VisitNC.com. |
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WEG brings the world's attention to western N.C.
The FEI World Equestrian Games is bringing thousands of visitors from across the world to the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring. The event, which had its opening ceremonies yesterday (Tuesday), runs through Sept. 23. Visit NC is participating with WEG by promoting travel to North Carolina at a booth, joined by the N.C. Welcome Centers, Swain County TDA and Currituck County Extension Office.
Based on past economic impact of previous games, which are held every four years in the middle of the Summer Olympics cycle, the games may have a $400 million impact on the region. Organizers at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, which is hosting the games, expect about 70 percent of spectators to come from the United States, about 30 percent from overseas. World champions will be crowned across eight disciplines, including the three Olympic events - jumping, dressage and eventing. NBC Sports will air nearly 65 hours of the Games coverage, including a record 57 live hours, starting today (Wednesday), presented across NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. Some events will also be live-streamed. |
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N.C. destinations promoted at D.C. media mission
Eighteen destination partners participated in Visit North Carolina's biennial D.C. media reception this past Monday with Visit NC's Eleanor Talley, Suzanne Brown and Hayes Norris. Fifteen writers, editors and freelancers from print and digital outlets - including staffers and contributors for Afar magazine, CNN, Fodor's, Outside magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Washingtonian - attended the event, held at Teddy & the Bully Bar.
Participating partners included Brunswick County TDA, Chapel Hill-Orange County VB, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Chowan County TDA, Crystal Coast TDA, Durham CVB, Explore Asheville, Greensboro Area CVB, Jackson County TDA, Jacksonville TDA, Johnston County VB, New Bern CVB, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB, Greater Raleigh CVB, Heart of North Carolina VB, Wilkesboro TDA, Wilmington and Beaches CVB, and Winston-Salem CVB. Partners mingled with media guests over hors d'oeuvres and beverages that included oysters sourced from Carteret County, various North Carolina craft beers, Elkin Creek wines, Defiant Whiskey, Junior Johnson's Midnight Moonshine and Cheerwine. To find out more about Visit North Carolina's public relations program, contact Eleanor Talley at (919) 447-7783.
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Next week's Coastal Mid-Year Marketing Updates postponed
Two of the regional Mid-Year Marketing Update sessions originally scheduled for next week - in Plymouth and Jacksonville - have been postponed. VisitNC recognizes that many partners across the state may still be dealing with the impact of Hurricane Florence. There are three other dates and locations still available to attend. Registration is open to all tourism-related businesses who are interested in attending any of the remaining five, free sessions, which will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sites and dates for the remaining sessions are: Sept. 20 - Chapel Hill Sept. 25 - Wilkesboro Sept. 26 - Haywood County This year's fall meeting is a return to the Mid-Year Marketing Update, showing attendees Visit NC's current marketing programs and co-op initiatives, and programmatic updates from marketing, film and partner and industry relations. Visit NC seeks to gain insight from members of the N.C. tourism industry to help fuel its strategic planning. In addition, Visit NC is interested in hearing from tourism businesses and DMOs about their initiatives, concerns and upcoming large events. |
| | | A previous TRAC in Fayetteville |
TRAC coming to Sanford/Lee County region Oct. 11 OnOct. 11, tourism-related businesses in Sanford and Lee County - plus the surrounding counties - will have an opportunity to work with Visit North Carolina staff to learn about its research, development and marketing services, and discuss best practices in reaching travelers, the media and increasing tourism visitation and spending. Visit North Carolina's Tourism Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) is a community-based training program designed to help small tourism-related businesses. TRAC will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, located at 1801 Nash St. in Sanford. 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'd-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 North Carolina'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 North Carolina and its partners. Representatives from the EDPNC's BLNC, N.C. Welcome Centers/Visitor Services, N.C. State Parks, Agritourism, and NC GreenTravel 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 André Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
| | | The RetireNC booth saw steady traffic |
RetireNC promoted in N.J. region Visit NC's André Nabors, along with partners from Winterville, Edenton and New Bern, promoted North Carolina as a retirement destination at the Ideal-Living Resort & Retirement Expo in Parsippany, N.J., this past weekend. The Expo had 987 couples registered from the region who were interested in exploring opportunities and conversing with exhibitors from across the Southeast. Attendees talked 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 Asheboro, Eden, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Jamestown/High Point, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, New Bern, Pittsboro, Reidsville, Roanoke Rapids, Sanford, Tarboro, Washington and Winterville. For more information about the Certified Retirement Community Program or Visit North Carolina's marketing initiatives for retirement relocation, contact Andre Nabors at (919) 447-7771. |
N.C. Film Office has 'sweet' week in L.A. area N.C. Film Office director Guy Gaster was in the greater Los Angeles area last week (Sept 4-7) promoting filming in North Carolina. While conducting meetings, Gaster also helped oversee the execution of a marketing effort that involved Krispy Kreme doughnuts being delivered to more than 40 studios and production companies. The doughnut promotion touted the state's 25 percent rebate program and recent changes to the legislation governing the program. |
Headwaters State Forest opens
Headwaters State Forest, North Carolina's newest state forest, opened to the public this past weekend. The forest, near Brevard, sprawls across 6,730 acres through mixed hardwood forest surrounding the French Broad River headwaters, ranging from about 2,000 to 3,600 feet in elevation. There are some 25 miles of old roads and trails, including 9 miles of the Foothills Trail. These will only be open to foot traffic, according to the forest manager, meaning hikers, hunters, anglers, bird watchers, and dog walkers - and dogs must be on leash. The forest is not open to mountain bikes or horseback riders and camping is not allowed. The N.C. Forest Service will manage Headwaters as a working forest; the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will also oversee it as a game land. |
STS Top 20 Events nominations for April-May-June deadline Oct. 12 The deadline for nominating events for Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 events for April-May-June is Oct. 12. Nominated events must have an attendance of at least 1,000 and be in the third year of existence. Nominations for STS' Top 20 Events can now be submitted electronically using a downloadable .pdf. Top 20 Events strongly encourages entrants to support their nomination by providing supporting material such as photos, posters, brochures, press releases, news clippings and/or volunteer programs. There is a $25 entry fee per event nomination and nominations are open to both STS members and non-members. |
Biltmore featured in 'Fine dining at America's biggest
CNN Travel featured Biltmore in its "Fine dining at America's biggest home." Noting Biltmore is also a working farm, the article highlighted the notable history of the estate's importance relation to the farmland, which also includes cattle, sheep, poultry and pigs. A representative with Biltmore's Field to Table program noted founder George Vanderbilt introduced agricultural practices that were cutting edge at the time, like greenhouses that produced crops in wintertime, high quality livestock and cattle barns that were open air in summer and temperature-controlled in winter. |
'Celebrate National Honey Month With Live Bees and Fresh Honey' at The Sanderling
Travel + Leisure included The Sanderling Resort in its "Celebrate National Honey Month With Live Bees and Fresh Honey at These 5 Hotels." As September is National Honey Month, hotels around the world are showcasing their honey and honeybee programs. Of The Sanderling, the article noted, "In September, The Sanderling Bees, the resident bees of the Sanderling Resort, will be on full display. During the celebration, the resort will feature all of natural goodness these bees have created." |
Duke Lemur Center is 'Helping endangered lemurs hang on'
In a KidPost section last week, The Washington Post featured the Duke Lemur Center in Durham in its "Helping endangered lemurs hang on." The article noted various species of lemurs, how they're native to Madagascar but are now among the most endangered primates in the world. It also mentioned how visitors can visit the Duke Lemur Center to see several species of lemurs. |
Hotels curb single-use water bottle usage
Sustainability-minded hotels worldwide are reducing their use of plastic water bottles. Some are doing away with plastic water bottles completely. Instead of making single-use water bottles available in guest rooms or vending machines, many hotels are providing reusable water bottles made from recycled aluminum for their guests. This encourages guests to take the bottles with them on their trip and then take them back home. Those hotels are also providing water refilling stations in various onsite locations. One hotel in Myanmar installed easily accessible water stations and stopped providing single-use water bottles. It estimates that the hotel has helped curb the use of approximately one million non-degradable bottles. If every hotel followed this example, imagine how much plastic waste could be avoided. For more information about recycling and waste reduction in the tourism industry, contact NC GreenTravel Initiative manager Tom Rhodes at (919) 707-8140. For more information about recycling, visit www.RecycleMoreNC.com. As a reminder, the NC GreenTravel Initiative is a program within the N.C. Division of Environmental Assistance & Customer Service, in partnership with Visit NC, the East Carolina University Center for Sustainability, and Waste Reduction Partners. |
| | For the week of Sept. 13 on North Carolina Weekend, the program continues its new schedule that will preview the format for the new season, which starts in October. North Carolina Weekend will run 8 episodes, one each week, and then repeat those episodes for the next 8 weeks. So this week's episode is a repeat of the one that ran the week of July 11. It will feature segments on the Eden Drive-In in Eden; Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson city, part 2; celebrating French culture in Raleigh; and the Montford Point Marine Museum in Jacksonville; plus the "House Special" segment on Montero's Restaurant in Elizabeth City. (Check local listings; segments 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 2017, Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville (18.3 percent) was the top advertising market of origin for daytrippers to the state, followed by Charlotte (18.0 percent), Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville (12.0 percent), Greensboro/High Point/Winston Salem (11.2 percent), and Greenville-New Bern-Washington (9.1 percent). For more North Carolina visitor information, visit the Visitor Profile Studies, or contact Visit NC's Marlise Taylor at (919) 447-7748. |
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Upcoming Industry Meetings & Events
Sept. 19-20 - BRPA Regional Fall Meeting, Lynchburg, Va. Sept. 20-21 - MPI-CC XChange, Charlotte Oct. 1-4 - TEAMS Conference & Expo, Louisville, Ky. Oct. 11 - Visit NC's TRAC, Sanford Oct. 18-19 - AENC Fall Conference, Durham Oct. 29-30 - NC TIA Leadership Conference, Winston-Salem Nov. 6 - Visit NC Travel & Tourism Board Meeting, TBD Nov. 8-9 - MPI-CC Meeting, Spartanburg, S.C. Nov. 15 - NC Coast Host Quarterly Meeting, Currituck |
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