Building on successful campaigns in previous years, the Division is again offering partners with limited broadcast budgets the opportunity to cost-effectively extend their reach and frequency on national cable networks and in targeted spot markets.

The Division has negotiated favorable rates for this program where participants pay for leads generated rather than each commercial that airs. The Division and partner share in the costs equally, effectively doubling the impact of each party’s investment.

Other Information:

• Schedules will run until the predetermined inquiry goal is reached. 
• Flight dates will be customized for each partner.
  • September 2008–June 2009
• Division’s preference is for Fall and Spring activity.
  • Cap of $75,000 net per partner
    • Funding beyond the $75,000 cap may become available if the Division’s allocated PITV budget is not fully committed by the October 1, 2008 deadline.

Cost Per Partner:

• Cost per lead varies based on creative execution and strength as a direct response spot. Please contact program manager for more information.

Networks/Markets:

• National cable networks and select local spot markets.

Specifications:

• One BETA SP and one VHS of your commercial should be sent to LKM upon program confirmation for marrying of spots.
• Production and set-up costs will be confirmed for partner in advance of buy.
• :60 co-op spot (:30 Division + :30 participant spot).

Use this link to download the printable  2008-2009 PITV Partner Opportunities Advertising Agreement .

For questions, contact:

Elaine Cheedle, Media Director, LKM
echeedle@lkmideas.com
704-364-8969

For the first time, the state has negotiated multi-media packages for partners to take advantage of. Developed to surround the North Carolina consumer, these packages offer efficient exposure across multiple publications and websites, as well as additional exposure, for example, through in-book reader service listings, e-mail newsletters, and radio presence – bundled into a single media buy. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

•   Southern Progress Corporation
•  Meredith Corporation
•  Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

The Division provides opportunities for industry partners to participate in co-op insertion in a variety of targeted markets by negotiating favorable rates with leading travel publications.

To participate, dowload and submit the  print-only advertising agreement.  Deadline for space reservations is October 1, 2008.

For questions, contact:

Tammy Kazmierczak, LKM
tkaz@lkmideas.com
(704) 367-4109.

VisitNC.com had a record-breaking year in 2007, hosting over 6.8 million visitors, a more than 40% increase over 2006. With over 4 million inquiries and nearly 20 million page views, VisitNC.com has proven to be the most trusted source for travelers planning their North Carolina vacation.

In addition to providing the most accurate and relevant statewide travel information, VisitNC.com offers a variety of online, cooperative programs allowing in-state travel partners cost-effective exposure to millions of travelers.

VisitNC.com partner programs will continue to be available for North Carolina industry partners in 2009. Partner features on the new VisitNC.com site scheduled to launch late 2008 include:

• New, larger size “display” ads in place of banner ads
• The introduction of “collections” of content with display ad positions available
• Additional opportunity for display ads within premium “inquiry” pages

Inquiry Section
The inquiry section will offer exclusive opportunities rotating through high profile, highly trafficked pages. These pages reflect clear “intent to visit” by our site visitors: 

This grouping will be supported via the Division’s aggressive search engine marketing and interactive media programs in addition to high visibility and cross-promotions on the new site.

Collections
New to the VisitNC.com site, the collections pages are designed to offer specific information to visitors based on theme, activity or geographical place. These “Collections of NC Favorites” will be supported via the Division's aggressive search engine marketing and interactive media programs.

In addition to the programs outlined below, more online opportunities will be introduced in September 2008 at the Division’s Mid-Year Marketing Update and throughout the year as the new VisitNC.com continues to unfold. 

Display Advertising
Participation in the VisitNC.com display advertising program will be available on an annual, semi-annual and quarterly basis. In addition to offering three distinct time frames, partners can choose the sections appropriate to their properties.

To maintain the value of the VisitNC.com partner programs, a limited number of display advertising positions will be available to partners on a first-come, first-served basis.  Partners will receive monthly reports detailing the activity of their display advertising program.

Virtual Brochure Program
The VisitNC.com virtual brochure program gives industry partners the ability to expand the distribution of their printed brochures beyond traditional boundaries. Brochures will be offered via the Virtual Brochure Download page and, as added value, will be positioned strategically within “Collections of NC Favorites”, offering multiple opportunities to instantly download North Carolina travel information.

Additional discounts may be offered to partners who purchase multiple brochure download pages throughout the site.

Feature Event Listing Program
On VisitNC.com, featured listings for upcoming events and festivals are available to tourism industry partners for paid advertising placement. Offering site visitors timely event information in prominent positions has made this program one of the most popular and effective for partners. Listings are available for a one-month time frame prior to and through the event. 

Events $150 each

To take part in any of these exciting opportunities on VisitNC.com, please contact:

Suzanne Errera, LKM
serrera@lkmads.com
(704) 364-8969

eSpecials Program
VisitNC.com eSpecials is a cooperative email promotion that provides special offers, discounts, and packages to consumers who register on www.VisitNC.com.

The North Carolina travel industry is provided an opportunity to market to these consumers, although the consumer's personal information is not released to the advertiser. VisitNC.com eSpecials are delivered on the second Wednesday of every month as a single email containing several promotions, along with a link to each advertiser’s website.

To sign up for the program, view sample promotions or obtain additional information, including schedule and distribution details, visit eSpecials Program.   

Additional partner programs will be offered throughout the year. New programs will be communicated via the weekly Newslink and at Mid-Year Marketing Update in September.

All advertising requests subject to approval by the Division of Tourism.

Golf travel has always been a significant component in the Division’s marketing programs and will continue to be marketed using a broad range of tools including public relations, familiarization tours for domestic and international golf tour operators and golf travel writers, paid advertising, consumer shows and more.

As golf travelers increasingly use the Internet for planning purposes, the Division's efforts are evolving to take greater advantage of the interactive medium. Replacing the annual Golf Guide, the Division has developed Golf.VisitNC.com,an exciting new comprehensive golf web site inclusive of the more than 430 public courses across the state.

Recently launched, Golf.VisitNC.com is structured around a backbone of comprehensive, comparative golf course information,incorporating compelling content for site visitors and multiple advertising opportunities for courses, associations, CVBs and accommodations. The site has multiple primary navigation paths to better accommodate the goals of the particular user offering information via a course finder, distinctive golf experiences and enhanced maps to assist avid golf travelers in planning their trip to North Carolina. Among the benefits of Golf.VisitNC.com is the ability to refresh site content and offers to reflect seasonal messages in a timely manner.

As the Division’s primary marketing tool for golf across the state, Golf.VisitNC.com features the following opportunities for partners desiring an expanded presence within the site.

Premier Partners

Destinations, regional golf associations, destination golf resorts and other cooperative groups promoting multiple courses have the opportunity to buy into a highly integrated program including a rotating presence on the homepage with editorial and imagery, enhanced listings and offers for all their co-op participating golf courses or properties,a landing page specifically about their association/region with links to their site, and logo on all of their partner courses. This is the most comprehensive advertising package available on the site and offered only to a limited number of participants.

Premier Partner Opportunities include:

• Identified sponsorship of a collection containing up to 10 co-op partners
• 500-words editorial about the collection
• Up to 10 enhanced course listings with URL link
  Up to 10 offers for courses within the collection with URL link
• Locator map pinpointing the collection’s courses
• Collection links to related material, such as brochures or online tours

Additional enhanced course profiles and offers may be purchased separately at a prorated cost by Premier Partners. Cost for the Premier program is $10,000 annually.

Display Advertising

Similar to VisitNC.com, select display advertising opportunities are available on Golf.VisitNC.com. Rotating throughout the site,these larger format ads offer great exposure for golf marketing partners. For advertisers such as a CVB,this provides access to a relevant audience without the requirement of an offer or specific course information. Cost for the Display Advertising on Golf.VisitNC.com is $1,995 annually.

Enhanced Course Profiles

All public access courses in the Division’s database receive a basic listing including one photo. Courses upgrading their listings will have an opportunity for an enhanced image gallery along with options to include links for download brochures and rich media.

Enhanced Course Profiles offer partners:

• 50-word golf course description, URL link and phone number
• A photo gallery of up to 8 images
• Square logo
• Course links to related material, such as brochures or online tours.

Cost for the Enhanced Course Profiles on Golf.VisitNC.com is $795 annually.

Formatted Offers

Offers are packages, coupons or special rates in a standard formatted layout promoted on the site in 90-day increments. Each offer can be revised one time within the 90-day posting at no additional expense to the partner.

Benefits include:  

• Square property or course image
• Square logo
• 40-word copy about the offer, URL link and phone number
• A distinct price point (e.g. packages from $250 per person per night)
• Valid start and end dates
• Any applicable promo codes or disclaimer information

Cost for the Formatted Offers on Golf.VisitNC.com is $295 for a 90-day posting.

For details, please contact

Suzanne Errera,  LKM
serrera@lkmideas.com
704-364-8969.

Media Mission

With the success of the New York Partner Media Mission in January 2008, the Division will again offer a partner media mission. Partners can:

• Be part of a reception and presentation to media from key travel and lifestyle publications.
• Include information in press kits and gift bags that will be distributed to all attendees.
• Present their destination or attraction to the group.
• Have a table display with their materials.

Please download, complete and submit the  2008-2009 Public Relations Co-op Opportunity Partner Agreement indicating interest by June 1, 2008. Reservations were made on a first-come, first-served space available basis.

For questions contact:

Wit Tuttell, Director of Public Relationsof LKM.
wtuttell@nccommerce.com
(919) 733-7420

Agreement forms, materials and payment are due 6 weeks prior to an event. All programs are subject to change or cancellation based upon partner interest or changes to the Division's budget. Division reserves the right to decline any partner ad or listing. All costs are net unless otherwise noted.

The Division of Tourism publishes 700,000 Travel Guides annually featuring statewide attraction and accommodation listings, along with contact information for various organizations and state and national brands. Travel Guides are available at the State’s nine Welcome Centers, Visitor Centers, the Division’s Call Center, VisitNC.com and also distributed at targeted travel-related shows.

Download a complete list of  advertising rates for the 2009 Travel Guide.

Travel Guide Upgrade Opportunities

In addition to the VisitNC.com partner program opportunities, Travel Guide advertisers can also take advantage of three additional select partner opportunities including collections, video sponsorship and the Division’s new interactive golf program, Golf.VisitNC.com.

Collections – Advertisers who wish to deliver strategic messaging within the new “Collections of NC Favorites”can take advantage of special cost savings throughout the year.

Videos – Placed strategically throughout the collections pages and within the Online Travel Guide, Travel Guide advertisers have the exclusive opportunity to sponsor select and possibly custom videos. Designed to highlight all there is to do in North Carolina, these exclusive videos will be housed within the content rich collections pages and supported with additional articles, images and strategic SEM programs.A video sponsorship is the only exclusive sponsorship opportunity on VisitNC.com, delivering 100% Share of Voice for your branding message. New for 2009! Extend your video sponsorship to partner exclusively with the Division in their video ad units on sites such as weather.com.

Golf.VisitNC.com – This comprehensive, interactive golf program takes place of the Division’s traditional Golf Guide, and is aimed at offering real-time North Carolina golf information to avid golf travelers. With the site launching in Spring 2008, Travel Guide advertisers who commit to an ad in the 2009 by July 30, 2008 can take advantage of a special 10% discount on any golf program though December 31, 2009.

To learn more about any Travel Guide-related offers, contact Journal Communications at 1-800-333-8842.

Trade Shows and Sales Missions

UK Sales Mission
London, Manchester & Dublin
April 7-10, 2008
Costs:1,500 plus travel expenses (transatlantic flights, hotel, international airport transfers and food)
The Division of Tourism in conjunction with South Carolina Tourism hold a sales mission under the ‘Carolinas’ banner. In each city tour operator workshops will be scheduled in order to meet up to 25 key tour operator product managers while the evenings will up to 200 target travel agents, through an interactive training seminar. The mission is scheduled to take 4 working days. If you are interested in participating, contact Heidi Walters at hwalters@nccommerce.com.

TIA’s International Pow Wow
Las Vegas, NV
June 1-5, 2008
Costs: $1,500 plus expenses
TIA’s International Pow Wow is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and is the largest generator of the Visit USA travel.  In just three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments, more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations from every region of the USA, and representing all industry category components, and more than 1,500 international and domestic buyers from more than 70 countries, conduct business negotiations that result in the of over $3 billion in future Visit USA travel.  For more information on the show go to www.tia.org.  If you are interested in participating in the North Carolina booth, contact Heidi Walters at hwalters@nccommerce.com.

German Sales Mission
Various cities in Germany and Switzerland
July 2008
Costs:  $1,500 plus expenses
In each city, tour operator workshops will be scheduled in order to meet key tour operator product managers while the evenings will target travel agents through an interactive training seminar. The mission is scheduled to take 4 working days. If you are interested in participating, contact Heidi Walters at hwalters@nccommerce.com.

World Travel Market (WTM)
London, England
November 10-13, 2008
Costs:  TBD
WTM is the second largest travel trade show in the world, attracting more than 45,000 travel professionals from over 170 countries, however the show is very much used to target the UK travel trade and media. North Carolina will have a booth at this show and scheduled appointments will be made with key tour operators, travel agents, and media professionals. If you are interested in participating in the North Carolina booth, contact Heidi Walters at hwalters@nccommerce.com.

Canadian Media Mission
Toronto Area
February 2009
Costs:  TBD
Calls will be set up with trade media in the Toronto area. If you are interested in participating in the North Carolina booth, contact Heidi Walters at hwalters@nccommerce.com.

TIA’s International Pow Wow
Miami, FL
May 16-20, 2009
Costs: $1,500 plus expenses
TIA’s International Pow Wow is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and is the largest generator of the Visit USA travel. In just three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments,more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations from every region of the USA, and representing all industry category components, and more than 1,500 international and domestic buyers from more than 70countries, conduct business negotiations that result in the of over $3 billion in future Visit USA travel. For