The Tourism Partner Newsletter, called “So, Here’s The Thing,” is a regular e-newsletter that is sent out to those working in the industry. In this twice-monthly correspondence, find information that we think will be beneficial to anyone working in the tourism industry, including changes in the industry, networking opportunities, tips for managing social media, updates on things going on around the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, interesting tourism stories and articles, podcasts we’re listening to and so much more. Sign up below to receive the newsletter in your inbox on approximately the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month. We also occasionally send 1-off emails specific to your business type or upcoming programs we are offering, but this is less common.

Accommodation partners will also automatically be signed up to receive our weekly calendar in their inbox every Monday morning — ready to be printed out and shared with your accommodation guests each week!

See recent copies of the newsletter below.

Past Editions

This edition shared a report of actual visitation in late spring/early summer, included info on a number of marketing opportunities for partners, a few local updates, shared some recent Hendersonville Media coverage, and included a short list of recent business changes.

This edition primarily focused on the Grand Re-Opening of the Hendersonville Welcome Center. It also included a few local updates, shared some recent Hendersonville Media coverage, and included a short list of recent business changes.

This edition announced the release of the state Economic Impact Numbers, released by Visit NC and the NC Economic Department, offered content creation strategy tips, shared info on a few different contests Hendersonville and local businesses are in the running for, included updates on local events and construction projects, offered some training tools, shared some recent Hendersonville Media coverage, and more.

This edition shared a list of Summer 2024 Travel Trends, included a complete guide to using TikTok for Business, listed updates on local events and construction projects, offered some training tools, shared some recent Hendersonville Media coverage, and more.

This edition included an article that discussed what travel planning looks like for the different generations, included updates on local events and construction projects, offered some training tools, shared some recent Hendersonville Media coverage, and more.

This edition goes into what visitation looked like last summer in order to help partners in planning for the rest of this summer, informed about updates and new partner programs, included an upcoming event looking for venue and lodging RFPs, included some great things to vote for and attend in person, included some national tourism trends that are emerging, included TONs of sweet ice cream-related media coverage, and more.

This edition proudly announces Hendersonville’s Ice Cream Trail making the COVER of Our State Magazine, and Our State’s Hendersonville Ice Cream Trail Celebration Event, which takes place on 6/29 at McConnell Farms. It also takes a closer look at where actual spending is coming from and how much those folks are spending, shares local news and accomplishments of some Henderson County tourism businesses, invites you to join in the next FAM tour, includes details on multiple training events, provides updates on business changes, and much more.

This edition dove into where last year’s fall visitors came from in order to determine where to market for visitation this fall, invited you to join a Partner FAM Tour, shared about new brochures in the Welcome Center, offered an RFP for hotels for an upcoming event, announced some local news and national trends, and much more.

This edition included a closer look at visitor spending on food and what that means, provided an update on the status of TikTok, highlighted some great grant funding and conference opportunities for partners, looked at some other local news, and much more.

This edition included a closer look at where Hendersonville’s actual visitorship came from in Q1, discussed “Lifestyle Marketing” content, announced that the annual Debi Smith Heart For Hospitality Award is accepting nominations for 2025, shared info on Blue Ghost Firefly Tours, promoted DuPont’s Master Plan reveal, investigated the idea of travel subscriptions, and much more.

This edition included a closer look at where Hendersonville visitors came from during Spring Break (spoiler alert: Charlotte was our top market), discussed the power of storytelling for your business, highlighted Partner FAM Tours and the TDA Partner Photography Program, promoted Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, shared about other local events, and much more.

This edition included an article that suggests 2024 will be a big year for travel, examined SEO and PPC strategies, shared info on a number of upcoming events and programs for partners, listed upcoming prescribed burns at DuPont, featured the Curb Market, and much more.

This edition featured the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO and its superstar round ray, Charlotte, offered a guide for email marketing newbies, shared some great grant opportunities, provided info about the Veteran’s Healing Farm, announced that Barbara Hughes of Narnia Studios was the recipient of the annual Debi Smith Heart For Hospitality Award, named some great online training tools, and much more.