Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) is pursuing a Department of Transportation Small City Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant aimed at recruiting United Airlines to provide direct service from Dulles Airport (IAD).  “We plan to ask for $1 million over two-years as a revenue guarantee for this new service,” said Eric Litchfield, EWN business manager. “EWN’s ask is time sensitive as we must apply for the Grant by the 1st of March 2021.” Litchfield provided a collection of FAQs related to the effort. How can I help?  There are several ways: 1).  Write a letter of support.  You may write a simple note that expresses your personalRead More →

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In: Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN), Tourism, Transportation
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New Bern Post LLC, the New Bern-based parent company of New Bern Post, has acquired North Carolina Travels (link), a statewide travel website established in 2010 by Matt Barrett, respected around the world for his travel writing. The handoff occurred several weeks ago and went live a week ago in a soft launch. New Bern Post Editor & Publisher Randy Foster has reimagined North Carolina Travels while at the same time retaining and updating all the content and qualities of the original site. What is new is how North Carolina Travels will be approaching tourism and travel moving forward. While Barrett will continue to contributeRead More →

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In: New Bern, New Bern Post, North Carolina Travels, Tourism
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Tryon Palace is canceling its Holiday Cheer event, originally scheduled for Dec. 12 and 19, due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in North Carolina.   Tryon Palace will welcome the holiday season and the coming New Year with a black-powder fireworks display from the South Lawn, on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.   All are welcome to come view the fireworks from the safety of your car. Parking is available at the Eden Street and North Carolina History Center parking lots, or from the streets surrounding the Palace. The street just South of the Palace (Palace Point Commons) will be closed for the show. TheRead More →

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Craven County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) voted today to name Melissa Riggle as its new Executive Director.  Riggle, a New Bern native, is a graduate of East Carolina University, with a degree in Communications. She had been the Marketing Manager for Aramark at East Carolina University for the past 3 years.  After accepting the offer from the TDA Board of Directors, Riggle said, “I’m looking forward to returning to work in New Bern and being a part of the tourism community once again.”  Riggle’s tourism background includes positions as the Tourism Sales Service Manager of New Bern Riverfront Convention Center and Director of Sales atRead More →

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Domestic visitors to and within Craven County spent $155 million in 2019, an increase of 4.3 percent from 2018. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. “Tourism has an enormous effect on New Bern and Craven County and we are thrilled with the continued growth in our area.” Judy Avery, marketing director, New Bern-Craven County Convention and Visitor Center. Tourism impact highlights for 2019:• The travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 1,180 in Craven County. • Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Craven County was $31.16Read More →

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In: Craven County, Downtown New Bern, Economy, Economy and Employment, New Bern, Tourism
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Thinking of taking a trip to New Bern, but don’t know where to stay? No problem, ask Ellie. Want more information on retirement options? No problem, Ellie can be your guide. So, who is Ellie? Ellie is the first automated intelligence guide utilized by a destination marketing organization to navigate tourists through a town and it can be found on New Bern’s official tourism website. Seconds after arriving on New Bern’s website, Ellie is set to greet web users. “We have spent over 300 years preparing for your visit. Are you considering a visit to North Carolina’s first capital?” Ellie says. Upon accepting the invitation,Read More →

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Swiss Bear Inc., the Main Street program administrator for the City of New Bern, announced a safely re-imagined MumFest, now appropriately renamed MumFeast! This month-long weekends-only event will be an expansion of Downtown New Bern’s very successful Friday and Saturday evenings dining in the streets. Downtown streets will close at 5 p.m. Fridays and remain closed through 9:30 p.m. Saturdays so participating restaurants can provide “Feasting in the Streets”. Stores will have sidewalk and street displays, and a handful (6-8) of artisans will be safely positioned in the streets each weekend as well. One of the most talked about components from 2019 will be hereRead More →

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In: Downtown New Bern, Entertainment, Events, New Bern, Swiss Bear, Tourism
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The New Bern Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing in which the aim is to control the proliferation of Airbnb-type operations from occurring in residential districts.  At their Oct. 22, 2019 meeting, the Board of Aldermen established the Short-Term Rental Committee to develop an ordinance regulating Short-Term Rentals. The committee conducted bi-monthly meetings between between December and March to create a draft ordinance for aldermen to consider. The issue came to a head when a homeowner on Metcalf Street attempted to turn his home into an Airbnb over the objections of neighbors. Members o f the committee were Anne Schout, who served asRead More →

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In: Aldermen, Board of Aldermen, Business, Mayor, Tourism
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BEAUFORT, N.C. — A historic boat that is literally one-of-a-kind has made a temporary return to the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center. Periauger, a historic replica of the long-lost Colonial boat of the same name, was recently brought back to Beaufort for refurbishment. Originally built at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort’s working watercraft center, Periauger sits there once again as repairs continue on the vessel, the only known boat of its kind.“The boat itself, in its historic context, was really important to North Carolina,” the museum’s maritime curator, David Bennett, said. “In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was a popular coastal transport, especiallyRead More →

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In light of Gov. Roy Cooper’s state of emergency declaration and guidance regarding canceling or postponing large gatherings in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, some upcoming special events and programs scheduled for March and April at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport and the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras have been canceled. These events include: North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort March 19           Beaufort’s Dolphins, Getting to Know Them (lecture)               25           By Hook or ByRead More →

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In: Health, History, Tourism
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