The state's Realtors association, NC Realtors, plans to hold its 2018 Conference & Expo in Wilmington, according to a news release.

More than 1,000 Realtors, vendors, partners, staff and affiliates from across the state are expected to attend the event, to be held at the Wilmington Convention Center, because this is the first time the annual event is being held in the Port City, the release said. 

Early estimates predict more than 1,500 room nights will be needed from local hotels, according to the release.

“NC Realtors is thrilled to bring the annual Conference & Expo to Wilmington in 2018,” said NC Realtors CEO Andrea Bushnell in the announcement. “We have thousands of Realtors in the coastal areas of North Carolina, and it will be great to bring the event closer to them, while attracting hundreds of other members from around the state to the beautiful eastern North Carolina coast. We aspire to reach and serve members where they are based, and the Conference is just one of many tools NC Realtors uses to do so.”

The Wilmington location was selected after seeking member input, and overwhelmingly, the membership base wanted an in-state resort location, the release said.

This year's conference is being held in September at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, according to the NC Realtors website, while next year's is planned for Asheville.

The state group has been hosting an annual conference for more than 50 years. The event features membership committee and board meetings, educational sessions and networking opportunities.