Greetings VWS Partners,

We're just a few weeks away from our Brand Launch Party on September 26 at the Benton Convention Center. This is your chance to be among the first to see our new brand campaign, presented by our agency of record, Madden Media. We are excited to unveil this fresh, new strategy that will attract visitors to our community. We'll also share highlights from the past year. Look for the RSVP link below. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Speaking of news worth celebrating, Forsyth County tourism just set a new record. Visitors spent a whopping $1.05 billion with businesses and organizations in Forsyth County in 2023 – a 6.9% increase from the year before. That spending supported 6,700 local jobs and generated $72 million in state and local taxes.

I’d like to offer my personal congratulations to County Commissioner and TDA Board Member Gloria Whisenhunt, who was recently inducted into the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Hall of Fame. We appreciate the many years of accomplished service she has contributed to Forsyth County and our efforts at Visit Winston-Salem.

By working together, we can continue to attract more visitors to this community and increase the benefits of tourism for the people who live here.

Thursday, September 26, 3-5 p.m.
Benton Convention Center – Salem Meeting Room

Just a reminder – all partners are invited to attend the launch of Visit Winston-Salem’s new advertising campaign. Madden Media, our advertising agency of record, will present the new campaign that will attract visitors to our community, and Visit Winston-Salem will share a year-in-review report of highlights of the past year. Join us for some fun surprises and light refreshments following the presentation. We hope to see you there.

Visit North Carolina recently released economic impact results for tourism across the state. Visitor spending hit a new record in Forsyth County in 2023, reaching nearly $1.06 billion. That's a 6.9% increase over 2022 and exceeded the past high-water mark set in 2019. Visitor spending also fueled 6,753 jobs and pumped $72.6 million into state and local taxes.

Stephanie Pace Brown, president of Visit Winston-Salem, explains how tourism promotion benefits the local community.

“Visit Winston-Salem implements sales and marketing strategies that motivate meetings, groups, sporting events, and leisure travelers to choose Forsyth County. These efforts create economic vitality by increasing the customer base for local businesses, supporting jobs, and generating taxes — all for the benefit of the people who live here.”'

Forsyth County ranked 9th in visitor spending across North Carolina's 100 counties, with all 14 counties in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina seeing an increase in visitor spending. Statewide tourism spending for 2023 totaled a record $35.63 billion, up 6.9% from 2022.

For more coverage on local visitor spending, check out these local media links:

Yahoo.com and MSN both ran an article highlighting "30 of the Oldest Roadside Attractions" in America. Included in the article was our iconic Shell Station at the corner of Sprague and Peachtree streets. Nearly a century old, the site is "still worth a fun photo opp," per the article. 

Clever, a national real estate firm, just named Winston-Salem one of "The Best Places to Live in the U.S." In a recent ranking of 300 qualified midsized cities, we came in at No. 6 on the list, with variables such as cost of living, amenities, and weather factored in. 

Laura Long, a lifestyle blogger and influencer from Charlotte, recently posted a Winston-Salem Travel Guide on her website, Smart Southern Style. Visit Winston-Salem hosted Long in August and helped build her weekend-long itinerary. She shared clips from her trip on her IG page.

Visit Winston-Salem launched a new website a year ago. The inviting new design was built on significantly improved technology and backed up with an investment in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and digital advertising. These investments resulted in nearly 900,000 website sessions in the past fiscal year – an increase of 442%.

In mid-August, VWS Chief Marketing Officer Brandy Evans attended the U.S. Travel Association’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) in Columbus, Ohio. While there, she led a forum on Marketing & Advertising for DMOs/CVBs with CMO Timothy Bush of Visit Lake Charles. More than 100 marketing professionals nationwide and internationally attended this ESTO session.

The sales team generated 25 new leads and had 13 definite bookings representing 10,429 room nights.  The team spent much of August on the road, traveling across the country and meeting with planners and decision-makers. Here are a few highlights from the past month:

September brings a number of conferences, tournaments, and festivals to Winston-Salem. Below are some large conventions/events to highlight.

Updates and accolades from across the community.

The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Winston-Salem when The Clash unfolds at Bowman Gray Stadium next year. The exhibition will be on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, and broadcast live on FOX. The Clash had been held the last three seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on a temporary quarter-mile track based on the design of Bowman Gray. Earlier this year, NASCAR took over management of Bowman Gray, starting a new chapter for NASCAR’s longest-running weekly track. To celebrate the return, NASCAR is making a documentary titled "The Madhouse" that will premiere on FS1.

Congratulations to Graylyn Estate for being named one of the country's best boutique hotels. USA Today recently ranked Graylyn No. 4 on its list of Top 10 Boutique Hotels in America. The ranking combined reader feedback, visitor comments, and insight from USA Today’s team of travel experts. Built in 1932 for the family of Bowman Gray, the castle-like estate now features 85 guest rooms across 55 acres.

Wandering Sun Meadery has opened at 505 N. Cherry St, giving downtown its first meadery. Sometimes called honey wine, mead is said to be the oldest alcoholic beverage in history. Wandering Sun is leaning into the drink's rich history by outfitting its tasting room with a cozy Medieval theme. They offer nearly a dozen mead varieties, from dry to sweet to traditional, all made at their nearby Madison, NC, production facility.

September means festival season in Winston-Salem with block parties, food festivals, big-time sports, and more filling the calendar. Highlights include the Hispanic League Fiesta (9/14) and Bookmarks Festival (9/28). Both events will be held around Milton Rhodes Center and shut off several blocks between Poplar and Marshall Streets. Other big events include the WS Food Truck Festival (Sept. 15) and Bethabara's annual Apple Festival (9/28). For more happenings, check out our September Events Guide.

College football is back in full this month, with Wake Forest and Winston-Salem State playing multiple home games. The Rams kick off their 2024 season at Bowman Gray Stadium with a 6 p.m. matchup against Ohio Dominican University on Sept. 15. Meanwhile, Wake hosts ACC rival Virginia on Sept. 7, followed by a homecoming matchup against Ole Miss on Sept 14. They'll also host Louisiana on Sept. 28 during WFU Family Weekend. Check out our 2024 College Football page for more on both teams’ schedules.

Lastly, we'd like to congratulate Visit Winston-Salem board member and Forsyth County Commissioner Gloria Whisenhunt for her recent induction into the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Hall of Fame. Whisenhunt was recognized on Aug. 11 during the NCACC conference at the Benton Convention Center. To qualify, individuals must have served as a member of the NCACC Board of Directors and also made significant contributions to county government at either state or national levels. The NCACC’s Executive Committee chooses honorees. Whisenhunt has been a Forsyth County Commissioner since 1996 and has served as both vice chair and chair of the board. 

Have news to share? We're all ears. If your business or organization has reached a milestone, launched a new service, or simply has something to share, let us know. Email updates to info@visitwinstonsalem.com for use in the “Partner News & Notes” section. 

WE'RE HIRING: Visit Winston-Salem has two job openings in its sales department.

Click the link below for more details on the positions. 

Were you forwarded this newsletter? You can sign up to receive future editions by emailing Amy da Luz, VWS Communications & Visitor Services Manager, at amy@visitwinstonsalem.com, and we'll add you to our monthly subscriber list.