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 ...

The 66th annual N.C. Healthcare Engineers Association meeting takes place in Wilmington this week, bringing with it a sizable economic impact, according to a news release from Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau. Based on registration information provided by event organizers, it's estimated that the event could generate direct spending of about $1. ...

Surf’s up this August as three renowned surf events return to Wrightsville Beach. Among them, the second-largest surf contest on the East Coast, according to event officials.   The 13th annual O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest is slated for Aug. 17-19. The competition features top professionals and amateurs from around the globe and nearby.   &l ...

While renovations to the Coastline Conference and Event Center are expected to begin soon, it seems that it will be business as usual at the property. Despite the beginning stages of construction of a seven-story Aloft Hotel on the site at 501 Nutt St. in downtown Wilmington, scheduled events will continue at the conference and event center.   According to the cente ...

The 20th anniversary of Wilmington Sharks baseball in 2017 came with somewhat of a reboot, led by new owners and a renewed focus on improving fan experience and increasing community involvement to strengthen the team’s foothold in the Cape Fear region.   A year later, during the team’s May through August season, results are trending upward.   &ldq ...

The new short-term rental regulations recently approved in the city of Wilmington are welcomed by those who want to preserve residential areas; however, some property owners and Realtors believe the rules will have a negative impact on the city. David Billitto, co-owner of hospitality company NachoMammas NC, said the regulations, adopted June 19 by the Wilmington City C ...

Another of the area’s historic attractions that recently underwent renovations was Pender County’s Moores Creek National Battlefield.   The attraction recently reopened its visitor center and Patriots Hall Community Center after several months of repairs.   Construction updates to the visitor center, housed in a 1950s facility, included a new meta ...

One of downtown Wilmington’s few remaining Colonial-era homes – and the only one that operates as a museum – has been largely restored to its original splendor, following an estimated $250,000 renovation. Crews painstakingly refurbished the Burgwin-Wright House over 18 months, returning much of the home’s interior to how it originally looked in the ...