HIGH POINT CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU IS “WELCOMING THE WORLD” WITH LAUNCH OF NEW CAMPAIGN

"HIGH POINT, N.C., June 7, 2016 — The High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (HPCVB) has announced plans for a new communications campaign, “Welcoming the World,” designed to convey the message that a warm welcome awaits everyone who visits High Point. 

            “We want to communicate to the world that the High Point community maintains an attitude of hospitality,” says Tim Mabe, HPCVB president and CEO. “If you are considering High Point as a destination, we want you to know that our number one priority is to ensure that every visitor has a positive and pleasant experience in our city.”

The message of the “Welcoming the World” campaign is simple: It expresses High Point’s reach internationally via the High Point Market, High Point University and the global nature of our local corporations as an open-minded and forward-thinking community. "We have long practiced a community-wide culture as a great place to visit, to do business or to live. That's why High Point is well qualified to call ourselves 'North Carolina's International City,'" Mabe says.

            Welcoming the World branding features a globe encircled by bright colors. "It is a symbol that will be applied to a variety of marketing initiatives and it touches on the very real international reach of the home furnishings market and diverse corporate community.” he says. "The branding will be featured on flags, banners, websites, social media platforms, wristbands, and window decals for local businesses, among other materials."

As the Home Furnishings Capital of the World™, High Point has decades of experience welcoming large numbers of international visitors: The city hosts more than 75,000 people from all over the world for the bi-annual High Point Market. Between markets the city entertains more than 250,000 visitors each year, whether they are visiting High Point University, attending High Point’s Semi-Annual Fabric Market, participating in meetings, conferences, and sporting events; or shopping for furniture at retail locations.

As part of its dedication to maximizing the visitors’ experience, HPCVB strategically provides ongoing training programs for local businesses to foster customer service excellence including, Real Estate Family Certification Program, ServSafe Certification, Preferred Member Program, Furnish Your World, Interior Design Services, Arts and Tourism Grants and so much more. “We think of the businesses in our community as brand ambassadors for High Point,” says Mabe. “Our organization has an unwavering commitment to our mission of economic development through attracting tourism, meetings and conventions, and we can best accomplish that mission by ensuring that High Point is a city in which every visitor has a great experience.”

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About the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau:

            The High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (HPCVB) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and encourage economic development in High Point through travel and tourism. The HPCVB works closely with meeting planners to bring events to High Point and to enhance their experience here, providing white glove assistance with event planning tasks including registration, transportation, and coordination among various venues. These services ensure that every group event will be successful down to the last detail because we want each visitor to make yourself at home. Established by state legislation in 1984, the HPCVB is an independent 501(c) 6 nonprofit organization funded by a self-imposed three percent room occupancy tax on local hotels. No taxpayer funds – city, county or state – are used to fund the HPCVB. The Regional Visitors Center is located at 1634 N. Main St., Suite 102, High Point, N.C. For more information, visit www.highpoint.org."

- A Press Release

PIEDMONT TRIAD FILM COMMISSION OPENS NEW OFFICE IN HIGH POINT AT THE REGIONAL VISITORS CENTER

           

"HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 24, 2015 — The Piedmont Triad Film Commission (PTFC) has opened a satellite office at the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (HPCVB) Regional Visitors Center, located at 1634 N. Main St.  Headquartered in Winston-Salem, the High Point office enables the PTFC to research and compile new inventory, while working closely with the HPCVB sales and marketing team when scouting locations for upcoming film productions.

            “This arrangement is instrumental in bringing movie productions to the Triad, and more specifically, to High Point,” says Tim Mabe, CEO of the HPCVB. “It’s important to show our partnership and support of the film industry so they can experience everything that the greater High Point area has to offer.  It’s a natural fit because the PTFC already works closely with several High Point organizations located here at the Regional Visitors Center.”  

            Most recently, the PTFC brought the filming of The Longest Ride to the Piedmont Triad, generating an economic impact of $23.3 million for North Carolina, with the film crew booking 1,800 local hotel rooms.

           

            “Partnerships like this are the reason the Regional Visitors Center exists,” says Nancy Bowman, HPCVB director of sales and marketing. “We serve the needs of the community and surrounding areas to promote High Point as a comprehensive resource, allowing us to build year-round tourism and generate even more traffic.”

            The HPCVB has supported PTFC efforts in greater High Point with more than $80,000 in grants from the Arts & Tourism Grants Program since 2000.

About the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau:

            The High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (HPCVB) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and encourage economic development in High Point through travel and tourism. The HPCVB works closely with meeting planners to bring events to High Point and to enhance their experience here, providing white glove assistance with event planning tasks including registration, transportation, and coordination among various venues. These services ensure that every group event will be successful down to the last detail because we want each visitor to make yourself at home. Established by state legislation in 1984, the HPCVB is an independent 501(c) 6 nonprofit organization funded by a self-imposed three percent room occupancy tax on local hotels. No taxpayer funds – city, county or state – are used to fund the HPCVB. The Regional Visitors Center is located at 1634 N. Main St., High Point, N.C. For more information, visit www.highpoint.org."

- A Press Release

HPCVB GRANT AWARDS ANNOUNCED Area Non-Profits Awarded $256,560 in Arts and Tourism-Related Projects.

"HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 1, 2015 — The High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (HPCVB) has announced the recipients of the 32nd annual Arts & Tourism Grants Program. Twenty-five area non-profits will receive $256,560 from June 2015 to June 2016. The program has awarded over $4.7 million to 643 projects in its history.

Non-profit organizations may apply for financial assistance for arts or tourism-related projects or events that benefit the High Point area. The program starts in May and applicants are notified of their award amounts by June 30. Interested applicants can access the guidelines and application at www.highpoint.org/arts-tourism-program or call (336) 884-5255 for additional information.

The purpose of the Arts & Tourism Grants Program is for specific tourist-related events or activities, such as arts or cultural events. Organizations should use Arts & Tourism Grant funding for promoting, improving, constructing, financing, or acquiring facilities or attractions that enhance the development of tourism in High Point. The program encourages High Point non-profit agencies to contribute to HPCVB’s mission of promoting and encouraging economic development in High Point through travel and tourism. HPCVB allocated grant money to several new projects this year including:

“Celebrate the Old North State” submitted by the Alexander Martin Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, received $10,600 to hold a six day event, May 9 to 15 showcasing High Point’s history and art during Historic Preservation Month.

The Piedmont Triad International Airport submitted three new projects including a collaboration with local sculpturist, Chuck Foster for $1,500; a partnership with Theatre Art Galleries for an art exhibit for $2,900, and $11,667 for their Fly Easy High Point Marketing Campaign.

The City Project submitted two projects for the return of the Ignite Whistle Stop Concert Series in the amount of $9,417 and the Designer Shop N Stay Event for $2,133.

Southwest Renewal Foundation will receive funding for four projects including the WONDER sculpture for $500; the High Point Garden Tour for $1,500; the High Point by Design Trolley and Antiques Tour $6,000; and the second year of the High Point Core City Public Art Project for $2,600.

Other 2015-2016 grant recipients include: Macedonia Family Resource Center, High Point Area Arts Council, Bienenstock Furniture Library, High Point Community Chorus, Piedmont Artists, Piedmont Soccer Alliance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Piedmont, High Point Parks and Recreation, High Point Historical Society, Friends of John Coltrane, Kilby of Hope, Historic Jamestown Society, Theatre Art Galleries, High Point Ballet, High Point Theatre, Veteran’s Memorial of High Point, High Point Community Theatre, Carl Chavis YMCA, Washington Street Business Association-Hayden Harman Foundation, High Point Community Concert Association and High Point Swim Club.

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About the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau

The High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (HPCVB) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and encourage economic development in High Point through travel and tourism. The CVB works closely with meeting planners to bring events to High Point and to enhance their experience here, providing white glove assistance with event planning tasks including registration, transportation, and coordination among various venues. These services ensure that every group event will be successful down to the last detail because we want each visitor to make yourself at home. Established by state legislation in 1984, the HPCVB is an independent 501(c) 6 nonprofit organization funded by a self-imposed three percent room occupancy tax on local hotels. No taxpayer funds — city, county or state—are used to fund the HPCVB. For more information, visit www.highpoint.org."

- A Press Release

HIGH POINT EXPERIENCES ECONOMIC GAINS FROM TOURISM IN 2014 OVER 2013 WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SO MUCH MORE

County Spending by Domestic Visitors

Increases according to State Records

           

            "HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 12, 2015 –   High Point was a big winner in the state’s announcement of economic development generated by tourism last year.  Groups across the city agreed that they experienced similar increases but added that a strong core city would even more dramatically impact those numbers.

            According to Visit North Carolina, domestic visitors to and within Guilford County spent more than $1.263 billion in 2014, a 4.71% increase from 2013.  This generated employment for 12,760 people totaling $306,870,000 in payroll, $63,240,000 in state tax receipts and $28,260,000 in county tax receipts.

            “In a local survey of High Point organizations engaged in tourism, verified there were increases across the board, and not all of the credit goes to the few weeks of Furniture Market” says Tim Mabe, CEO of the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “Much of the increase is due to the year-round visitors coming to High Point as a destination such as High Point University, the bi-annual ITMA fabric show "Showtime", and an increasing number of furniture showrooms open to the public.

            “However, many of those visitors, are staying overnight and eating in restaurants in Greensboro due to a lack of infrastructure in the core city that appeals to them. These events, like Furniture Market are all, of course, a great benefit to our entire region and state,” he says.  “Think of the possibilities of how much more of a direct benefit these events could be to High Point if we could capture the visitor’s entire experience. Further, if we developed our core city area with restaurants, retail shops, entertainment and meeting facilities, High Point would be poised to become established as a great destination for all kinds of activities year-round that attract tourists, amateur and youth sporting attractions and meeting groups.  To take full economic benefit of our location, we need the infrastructure in the core city to capture more than our fair share of the economic benefit associated with visitors and tourists.”

            Last year, the HPCVB worked with 78 groups totaling 147,646 people who came to High Point for meetings and other events, thereby generating a tourism impact of $40.9 million.  An estimated 30,000 consumers shopping for home furnishings come to the Home Furnishings Capital of the World™ every year.  In addition, the High Point Market attracts roughly 75,000 marketgoers each April and October. High Point University attracts more than 80,000 visitors annually. 

            “Hotels like the Marriott Courtyard regularly tell us they have a waiting list.  Occupancy at the Radisson High Point grew modestly in the last year but could be so much more if we populated the area in the core city with more amenities and things to do, for both our visitors as well as for our citizens, “ he says. “We have the backbone for what it takes to capture our fair share of the tourism dollars in the Piedmont Triad area.  Now we just need to make this revitalization our top priority for economic development.”

Tourism impact highlights for 2014:

•      The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 12,760 people in Guilford County. 

•      The travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 12.76 million people in Guilford County. 

•      Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Guilford County was $306,870,000.

•      State tax revenue generated in Guilford County totaled $63,240,000 through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $28,260,000 in county taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

            Gov. Pat McCrory announced in May that visitors to North Carolina spent a record $21.3 billion in 2014, an increase of 5.5 percent from 2013. These statistics are from the “2014 Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties.” The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.

            “All eight regions of the state had spending growth of 4 percent or more and 90 percent of the state’s counties saw direct tourism employment growth from 2013 to 2014,” says Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit North Carolina. “As the sixth most visited state in the country, tourism continues to be major driver of economic development across North Carolina.”

Statewide highlights include:

•      State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending neared the $1.1 billion mark in 2014. The figure represents 4 percent in growth over 2013’s $1.0 billion.

•      Visitors spend more than $58 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds more than $4.6 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $2.9 million in state taxes and $1.7 million in local taxes).

•      The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 200,000 North Carolinians. 

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About the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau:

         The High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau (HPCVB) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and encourage economic development in High Point through travel and tourism. The CVB works closely with meeting planners to bring events to High Point and to enhance their experience here, providing white glove assistance with event planning tasks including registration, transportation, and coordination among various venues. These services ensure that every group event will be successful down to the last detail because we want each visitor to make yourself at home. Established by state legislation in 1984, the HPCVB is an independent 501(c) 6 nonprofit organization funded by a self-imposed three percent room occupancy tax on local hotels. No taxpayer funds - city, county or state-are used to fund the HPCVB. The new Visitors Information and Welcome Center is located at 1634 N. Main St., High Point, N.C. For more information, visit www.highpoint.org."

- A Press Release