Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC Partners - February 29, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE: * Visit NC Tourism Conference's Xpress Keynote: Tourism Advertising in 2024
* Visit NC March webinar features America 250 NC Grant Program for the local level
* N.C. popular at travel, retirement shows
Xpress Keynote: Tourism Advertising in 2024
Big data has changed the way advertisers can reach more specific audiences across all industries, along with the way that they can measure return. But what does this mean for tourism? And what key things does your organization/agency need to keep in mind during the next 12 - 18 months? During the Visit NC Tourism Conference,
March 17-19 in Greenville, and its “Ch-ch-ch-changes: Tourism Advertising in 2024” session, let’s discuss what to expect as technology continues to iterate and the ability to measure performance and adjust campaigns becomes more real time. What performance metrics will we be held accountable for in the future? What will change in how we develop and strategize our marketing plans? Datafy’s Kelly Smith shares her take on the current state of tourism advertising, and where it’s going.
Hotel rooms are still available at the Holiday Inn, however, the room blockcloses next Monday (March 4). Click here for hotel information.
Visit NC’s monthly webinar for March will feature the America 250 NC Local Grant Program, which is now taking applications. Join guests with the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources to learn about two grants – one of $10,000 for counties, once they've established a commemorative committee, and one of $30,000 for non-profits – to fund local activities related to the upcoming America 250 commemoration. The deadline for applications is May 3 this fiscal year. DNCR is leading the statewide effort to plan for the commemoration. Its goal is to energize broad, robust and comprehensive programs across all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. The March webinar will be at 10 a.m. on March 14. Click here to register.
Visit NC booth at travel show in D.C. proves popular
This past weekend, Visit NC's Kathy Prickett attended the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington, D.C., partnering Crystal Coast TDA, Explore Boone, Franklin and Nantahala TDC, Visit Greenville, and Onslow County Tourism, plus Nantahala Outdoor Center and N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. The booth had solid traffic throughout the consumer travel show, which saw an attendance of more than 10,000. Visit Currituck and Visit New Bern also attended the show. Visit NC will be developing a schedule for the 2025 Travel & Adventure Shows in the coming months. These shows offer additional opportunities for Visit NC – and its interested partners – to promote travel to North Carolina to potential visitors who are actively looking for travel suggestions and information. Partners interested in participating in any of the 2024 shows should contact André Nabors at (919) 447-7771.
North Carolina promoted at D.C. region retire expo
Visit NC's André Nabors, along with partners from Edenton, Lumberton and Johnston County, promoted North Carolina as a retirement destination at the Ideal-Living Resort & Retirement Expo in Tysons Corner, Va., this past weekend. The Expo drew nearly 950 potential retirees 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 Carteret County, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Jamestown/High Point, Johnston County, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lumberton, Marion, Mount Airy, New Bern, Reidsville, Roanoke Rapids, Salisbury, Tarboro, Vance County, 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.
Kamau new executive director for Visit Elizabeth City
Nosakhere Kamau is the new executive director for Visit Elizabeth City/Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County TDA. He may be contacted at (252) 335-5330 or via nkamau@visitelizabethcity.com.
Vote for two N.C. events among ‘Best of Races’ nominations
North Carolina has two events, in different categories, among the nominations for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories for “Best of Races.” Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends at noon on March 25.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains among top national park visitation; Carl Sandburg Home breaks visitation record
The National Park Service (NPS) has announced Annual Visitation Highlights for 2023, noting 400 national parks reported a total of 325.5 million recreation visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022. In addition to the continued growth in overall numbers, NPS data shows that visitation is increasing in the more traditional off-seasons at many parks, with more visits in the spring and fall than seen in years past. Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock was among 20 parks that broke visitation records in 2023.
The Blue Ridge Parkway took the #1 spot, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was #3 with Cape Hatteras National Seashore #35 in the top 50 Most Visited Parks of the National Park System, which includes national parks as well as historic sites, lakeshores, seashores and more for recreation visits.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park was #1 among the most visited national parks. The Blue Ridge Parkway was #1 among national parkways. Cape Hatteras National Seashore was #3 in the most visited national seashores, with Cape Lookout NS at #8. Moores Creek NB was #9 among National Battlefields. Fort Raleigh NHS was #8 and Carl Sandburg Home NHS among the top 15 National Historic Sites. Wright Brothers NM was #12 among the top 15 National Memorials. Guilford Courthouse NMP was #4 among the National Military Parks. To view the complete annual rankings, including a breakdown by categories of park types, start here.
Asheville’s Black Heritage Trail in the spotlight
Travel + Leisure shone the spotlight on Asheville in its “This Southern U.S. City Recently Unveiled a 1-mile Black Heritage Trail That Passes Through 3 Historic Neighborhoods.” The article explained, in part, “The new walking trail, which opened in December 2023, passes through three historic neighborhoods, sharing information on Asheville’s Black history, significant sites, and stories that have never been shared publicly. The trail is the first of its kind in Western North Carolina and one of just a few Black heritage trails in the Appalachian region.”
March brings the ‘Ancestry Issue’
March brings the “Ancestry Issue” for Our State magazine. “Restaurant” highlights Walkertown Seafood Shack in Walkertown; “Cheers” toasts Mars Theatre Brewing Company in Mars Hill; and “Festival” highlights Carolina Fiberfest in Raleigh. The March issue is available now.
For the week of Feb. 29, "North Carolina Weekend” repeats the episode "NC Art & Soul,” that originally aired Nov. 30. Featured segments include Lorraine’s Coffee House in Garner; the Brooklyn Collective in Charlotte; the Mitford Museum in Hudson; Studio 32 in Sunbury; and Blue Note Grill in Durham.
(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 the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
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