Press Releases and Media Highlights

Visit Winston-Salem In the News

Looking for the latest news from Visit Winston-Salem? Here's a round-up of recent news releases and media coverage focused on Visit Winston-Salem initiatives.

 

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VWS Recap: New Brand, Major Events, Record Growth

A panoramic view of the downtown Winston-Salem skyline at sunset, shot from Innovation Quarter.

Visit Winston-Salem hit new records this fiscal year (July 2024June 2025), soaring to new heights thanks to a new brand launch, higher hotel revenue, record website visitation and increased booked group events.

“Our goal this year was to grow by leaps and bounds,” said Stephanie Pace Brown, President and CEO of Visit Winston-Salem. “The dramatic increase in tourism-related revenue tells us our strategies are working hard to enhance the reputation of Winston-Salem as a great place to visit.”

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Winston-Salem Celebrates National Travel & Tourism Week After Seeing Record-Breaking Results

National Travel & Tourism Week logo

National Travel and Tourism Week is May 4–10, 2025, and Visit Winston-Salem is marking the occasion by celebrating major milestones and unprecedented tourism growth. Since July 2024, the city has seen an 11% rise in hotel revenue—topping the list of Southeast destinations. This momentum is fueled, in part, by the launch of a new ad campaign, “Twice as nice,” that showcases Winston-Salem as a fun and appealing place to visit. Combined with strategic efforts to attract meetings, groups, and sporting events, the campaign is delivering extraordinary results, inlcuding...

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Related Coverage: 

6AM City / WS Today: Celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week in Winston-Salem

WSJS Radio / Triad Today: Visit Winston-Salem's Stephanie Pace Brown chats live about tourism's major impact

 


 

NASCAR Clash Weekend Kicks Off Friday in Winston-Salem

The Cook Out Clash NASCAR race logo.

Jan. 29, 2025 

To kick off the NASCAR Clash weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium, the much-anticipated arrival of the "haulers"- or the transporters hauling the cars to the stadium- rolled through Winston-Salem ahead of the event. Visit Winston-Salem released this information to the public and held media interviews to promote the hauler parade and the NASCAR weekend of events.

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Related Coverage: 

WGHP-TV (FOX8): NASCAR hauler parade cruises through Winston-Salem

WXII-TV (NBC): NASCAR haulers en route to Bowman Gray Stadium

New York Times: The Clash at Bowman Gray Jumpstarts NASCAR's 2025 Season

 


 

Holiday Wonders in Winston-Salem: Unique Seasonal Angles

A christmas celebration at Old Salem Museum and Gardens.

Nov. 20, 2024

When it comes to the holidays, no town in America shines quite like Winston-Salem. You’ll find a mix of traditions, decorations, and flavors unlike anywhere else in America, from the cobblestone streets in Old Salem to the brightly lit displays at Tanglewood. Here are a few things that make the holiday season one-of-a-kind in Winston-Salem.

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Related Coverage

WJZY-TV (FOX): Take a one-tank holiday trip to Winston-Salem


 

VWS Community Partners Score Major Sporting Events

Nov. 5, 2024

A team effort between Visit Winston-Salem and a host of partners leads to big results, including two NCAA Regionals expected to generate over $700,000 in visitor spending. Ivey M. Redmond Sports Complex in Kernersville was awarded the 2026 NCAA Division II Cross Country Regional, with Winston-Salem State University serving as the host institution. Meanwhile, Bermuda Run Country Club was awarded the 2028 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Regional.

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Related Coverage

Winston-Salem Journal:  Three Triad athletic facilities chosen for NCAA events (October 4, 2024)

 


 

Visit Winston-Salem Launches Innovative New Ad Campaign Aimed at Boosting Local Tourism

The new Visit Winston-Salem logo, featuring the new "Twice as nice... come on in" tagline.

Sept. 26, 2024
Visit Winston-Salem unveiled its dynamic new advertising campaign at a Brand Launch Party at the Benton Convention Center. The new advertising aims to attract leisure visitors by showcasing Winston-Salem as a vibrant, welcoming southern city. The campaign presents pairings of experiences that make Winston-Salem “Twice as Nice” and invites visitors to “Come on In.”

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Related Coverage
Winston-Salem Journal: Visit WS turns to "Twice as Nice" as new tourism theme (Sept 28, 2024)

Winston-Salem Today: Visit WS unveils new campaign to attract more visitors (Sept 27, 2024)


 

Winston-Salem Partners Launch Comprehensive Events Calendar

Sept. 10, 2024

Embracing the spirit of collaboration, Visit Winston-Salem spearheaded a joint effort to provide a centralized, citywide events calendar. Developed by award-winning Cruncho Events, the calendar is the result of a unique partnership between four leading local organizations — Visit Winston-Salem, Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County, Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, and Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.

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Related Coverage

Winston-Salem Journal: Winston-Salem nonprofits debut citywide events calendar (Sept 11, 2024)


 

Visitor Spending Tops the Billion Dollar Mark in Forsyth County

Skyline shot of downtown Winston-Salem with Main Street Old Salem in view.

Aug. 13, 2024

Tourism pumped $1.05 billion into the Forsyth County economy in 2023, up 6.9% from 2022. Visitor spending also generated $72.6 million in state and local taxes and supported 6,753 jobs locally.  The data comes from an annual study commissioned by VisitNC, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

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Related Coverage

Winston-Salem Journal: Visitors spend $1.06 billion in Forsyth County

Winston-Salem Today: The Numbers are in: visitor spending tops $1 BILLION

YES Weekly: Visitor Spending Tops Billion Dollar Mark in Forsyth

ABC 45: Tourism dollars on the rise in the Triad and the State


 

Brandy Evans Joins Visit Winston-Salem as Chief Marketing Officer

Headshot of Brandy Evans, Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Winston-Salem.

April 10, 2024

Tourism industry veteran Brandy Evans, MBA, CDME, joined Visit Winston-Salem as its new chief marketing officer. In her role, Evans will oversee the strategic planning, development, and implementation of Visit Winston-Salem’s marketing and advertising initiatives. “We’re thrilled to welcome Brandy to our team and to this vibrant destination,” said Stephanie Pace Brown, Visit Winston-Salem President.

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VWS Hires Madden Media as New Advertising Agency of Record

Madden Media logo

April 1, 2024

Visit Winston-Salem is thrilled to announce that it’s chosen Madden Media as its new Agency of Record. Madden prides itself on a dynamic approach to destination marketing, blending imagination and curiosity with data-driven insights to kindle meaningful connections between people and communities.

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