Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC Partners - March 21, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Visit NC Tourism Conference in Greenville sees strong attendance, stellar reviews for sessions
* Winners Circle welcomes three inductees; Esse Quam Videri awarded to one
* U.S. Travel releases toolkits for NTTW, Global Meetings Industry Day
Visit NC Tourism Conference in Greenville sees strong attendance, stellar reviews for sessions
The 2024 Visit NC Tourism Conference wrapped up this past Tuesday in Greenville with enthusiastic reviews for the speakers, educational sessions and hospitality events. Nearly 520 attendees gathered to discuss timely topics, network and connect with each other while welcoming new faces to the annual conference. Visit NC would like to thank everyone involved with making the conference such a big success, including the dedicated attendees from across the state and the sponsors who, without them, this conference would not be possible. Visit NC would like to extend a special thanks to the Greenville-Pitt County CVB and the Greenville Convention Center for ensuring every attendee's experience in Greenville was
memorable.
Visit NC’s 2024-'25 partner co-op marketing program was unveiled, with a wide variety of opportunities in print, digital and social media, partnerships and pricing, including new offerings. Those interested should contact the team at Luquire via vncpartnerprograms@luquire.com. Find out more about Visit NC’s Partner Programs on Visit NC's Partners website.
The Monday program featured a pair of Media Marketplace opportunities arranged by Visit NC’s PR team. Representatives from about 60 destinations, attractions, accommodations and organizations shared their news and story ideas with 17 travel writers, editors and producers from key in-state outlets plus regional, national and Canadian publications. In addition, Visit NC’s Veda Gilbert and DCI’s Anna Rossetto collaborated with Visit Greenville on an immersive itinerary highlighting Greenville’s culinary scene, downtown vibe and outdoor adventure. The familiarization tour continued with the Washington TDA and Visit Edenton hosting a handful of the writers on overnight stays in their destinations.
To learn more about Visit NC's PR program, contact the team at media@visitnc.com.
Winners Circle welcomes three inductees; Esse Quam Videri awarded to one
Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell welcomed the newest inductees into Visit NC’s Winners Circle, joining nearly more than 60 members honored since it debuted in 20 years ago. The award recognizes significant and continuing contributions to the growth and success of North Carolina’s tourism industry.
Mike Butts’ service to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority spans nearly 25 years. Beyond his CRVA role, Butts has served as chairman of the N.C. Travel & Tourism Board and the N.C. Travel & Tourism Coalition, president of DMANC, and a board member for the DMAI International (now Destinations International) and the American Bus Association.
Allen Harper and his family are owners of Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City, having purchased the line in 1999. Today, the railroad ranks among the nation’s most popular train attractions with about 200,000 passengers a year enjoying scenic routes from Bryson City to Nantahala and Dillsboro, its former headquarters.
As a third-generation owner of Skylight Inn BBQ in Ayden and co-founder of Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville and Raleigh, Sam Jones grew up working for his legendary grandfather Pete Jones, who opened Skylight Inn in 1947. A 2018 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef Southeast, Jones also co-wrote the 2019 memory-filled cookbook “Whole Hog BBQ: The Gospel of Carolina Barbecue with Recipes from Skylight Inn and Sam Jones BBQ."
In addition, Visit NC presented its Esse Quam Videri Award to Glenn Patterson Wilson for leading a revival of her hometown of Halifax. Wilson, who traveled the world during her 32-year corporate career with Marriott International, returned to Halifax in the mid-2010s for a mission to reverse the town’s fortunes. As with her career, she found success with a series of enterprises, from The Hen & the Hog restaurant and The Bass House gift shop to her Halifax Studios art space and the new coffee-tea-dessert spot Two Doors Down.
U.S. Travel releases toolkits for NTTW, Global Meetings Industry Day U.S. Travel Association has released its toolkit for National Travel & Tourism Week, May 19-25. NTTW offers the chance to shine a spotlight on the contributions of the U.S. travel industry and showcase how travel drives economic growth. In addition, US Travel has released the toolkit for Global Meetings Industry Day, slated for April 11. The purpose of Global Meetings Industry Day is to celebrate the irreplaceable value of in-person meetings, conferences, trade shows and events. The toolkits provide helpful guidance ranging from social media guidelines to sample messaging for media use, fact sheets to how to get involved.
Vote for Raleigh’s Transfer Co. Food Hall as ‘Best food hall’
Vote for Raleigh’s Transfer Co. Food Hall as Best Food Hall, among the nominations for 10Best's Readers' Choice Awards categories for “Best epicurean excursions.” Online voting by readers is now open via USAToday.com; click on the hyperlink to vote. Voting ends at noon on April 15.
Old Fort among '23 Best Places to Travel in 2024'
Outside magazine included Old Fort in its “23 Best Places to Travel in 2024
." Old Fort was one of only three towns, as the majority of the list was regions or countries. Of the inclusion, the article noted, in part, "A former manufacturing town on the edge of Pisgah National Forest, Old Fort was down on its luck until the local community started building mountain-bike routes. The Gateway Trails were the first to open, in 2022. And thanks to a $2.5 million grant, the G5 Trail Collective will construct 42 miles of flowy singletrack in the next few years, nine of which are already done. The burgeoning system has boosted the economy; in the past two years, 13 businesses have opened, including a number of breweries."
Roxboro’s Mayo Lake in the spotlight
"Fishing University" filmed an episode last month at Mayo Lake Park in Roxboro, showcasing Mayo Lake as a prime fishing location. The episode is airing this week on the Outdoor Channel and the World Fishing Network. The Person County TDA has the air times here.
For the week of March 21, "North Carolina Weekend” repeats the episode “Exploring the Chill,” that originally aired last December. Featured segments include Wehrloom Honey in Robbinsville; Salvage Station in Asheville; Triangle Skydiving in Louisburg; Croatan National Forest, basing the segment in Carteret County; and The River House Inn & Restaurant in Grassy Creek.
(Check local listings, as 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
150 Fayetteville St., Ste 1200, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, United States