A new strategic plan could help shape the future of tourism in Leland for years to come. The Leland Tourism Development Authority (LTDA) last adopted a strategic plan in 2013, according to Barnes Sutton, the town of Leland’s economic and community development director. Since then, the area has seen major changes, including significant population growth, ongoing re ...

Serving coffee and cocktails from morning to night, the newly renovated and newly concepted Bespoke (previously Bespoke Coffee & Dry Goods) is now open in downtown Wilmington. By leaning into the overall vibe of Italian apertivo drinking culture, Bespoke’s owner, Robby Dow, has developed a new business model for the staple at the corner of Second and Princess ...

The New Hanover County Airport Authority this week approved $78 million worth of work on a project at Wilmington International Airport (ILM) and adopted the airport's $94 million budget for fiscal year 2026. The $78 million is for phase 2 of the airport’s road, curb and parking garage project, and Monteith Construction is the construction manager at risk. I ...

Breeze Airways announced Wednesday that it would begin offering four new routes from Wilmington International Airport, including a nonstop flight to Ohio. The new destinations for the airline at ILM are to Akron-Canton, Ohio; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Tampa, Florida; and Long Island-Islip, New York, starting this fall, with one-way fares starting at $39, according to a ...

The Grecian spirit will be brought to life again at the 33rd annual Wilmington Greek Festival, held at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church from May 16 to 18. “The Wilmington Greek Festival is a celebration of centuries of music, food and faith,” said Lee King, this year’s festival co-chair and senior vice president of ClinChoice. “From dancers t ...

Short- and long-term plans for hotels are set to transform the Wilmington area’s hospitality landscape in the near future. “With several new properties on the immediate and long-range horizon, developers’ feasibility studies are most likely supporting the need for more lodging in key areas of New Hanover County,” said Kim Hufham, president and CE ...

In 2023, Cameron Pappas decided to take a leap of faith and quit his full-time job at a bank to make his part-time job leading fishing trip charters a full-time gig. He had founded BlackBird Guide Services six years ago and built it from the ground up, running it entirely by himself. “My ultimate goal is just to be a respectable business owner and a modest fish ...

Avelo Airlines plans to offer nonstop service from Wilmington International Airport to Miami International Airport, according to an announcement Tuesday. The new ILM seasonal route is set to begin June 6 and will operate Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 16 using Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, the release stated. In December, Avelo announced that it would be e ...

A key destination on Wrightsville Beach since 1964 has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation and will celebrate its grand reopening on April 10. Trailborn Surf & Sound (previously called The Blockade Runner Beach Resort) “will have so much to offer – including a one-of-a-kind location with both beach and sound access, elegantly designed guest rooms ...

What gave you the idea to create the Bevvy Mart? Chris Batten: “We identified a need and want in an already existing ideal location. We saw great potential in the beach town to create a community-based ‘convenience’ store to meet the demands of both tourists and locals alike.”   Why did you choose Wrightsville Beach as a location? Chris B ...