As recovery efforts from Hurricane Florence continue, several area attractions remain damaged in her wake. Last month’s unwelcome visitor not only left physical marks – from demolished roofs to downed trees – but economic ones as well. Costly repairs, debris cleanup and ongoing construction are among the financial hits plaguing some tourism draws. Then th ...

More Wilmington hotel rooms could be open for area residents who were displaced by Hurricane Florence. The city of Wilmington recently notified four Market Street hotels, which have been placed under a court order, that it would not seek legal action related to a provision prohibiting the hotels from renting to locals if they take in residents displaced by the storm, ac ...

As the city deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, the good news for the Wilmington Convention Center is that staff members were back in their offices earlier this week, preparing for an event scheduled for Friday.  The bad news is that the center lost more than $370,000 in gross event revenue as a result of the storm, said Fredia Brady, the convention cen ...

Blockade Runner Beach Resort, a Wrightsville Beach landmark for 55 years, announced today it will remain closed at least until the spring of next year because of damages sustained from Hurricane Florence.  “We made the decision following several weeks of analysis and assessments with engineers and experts,” said Mary Baggett, co-owner and operator of th ...

Rooms for those displaced by Hurricane Florence have been in short supply at Wilmington area hotels and short-term lodgings. More space, however, could open up this month, said Connie Nelson, spokeswoman with the Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Overall, the availability has been limited as rooms filled pre-storm with evacuees and relief ...

Visitor spending increased in Pender County for 2017, with a growth rate that outpaced Brunswick and New Hanover counties, and even the state. The statistics released recently by Visit North Carolina revealed the 5.14 percent increase over 2016.   So how did that spending soar? Pender County officials point to a number of prominent factors including the area’s ...

Officials in Pender County announced the hiring of a director for the county’s new parks and recreation department.   According to a news release, Doug Shipley of Wilmington will helm the position.   “This is a new director position in Pender County,” said Pender County Manager Randell Woodruff, in the statement. “Mr. Shipley has the s ...

Theme travel is trending in 2018, and its rise is apparent in the Wilmington area. That’s largely due to the region’s vast offerings as a destination, along with strategic travel-marketing efforts.   “Demographics are blending, so it’s no longer just about targeting age demographics but more about presenting experiences that are available in ...

The 43rd annual N.C. Shell Show will return to Wilmington in September, this time in a new location.   For the first time in 10 years, the event will not take place at the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science, relocating to the Coastline Conference and Event Center, 501 Nutt St.   The N.C. Shell Club’s top public outreach event, according to club off ...

The Wilmington area booked more visitor spending in 2017, according to state numbers released Thursday. Pender County showed the most visitor spending growth in the tri-county region, outpacing the state. In the study of the economic impact of travel on the state's counties, Visit North Carolina reported Thursday that domestic visitors to and within Pender County sp ...