LRTMP
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Agenda | Presentation | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee held its first meeting on February 7, 2024. Meeting highlights included:
- Nonprofit organization partnerships - Discussion topics included the creation of a non-profit directory on OuterBanks.org, monthly nonprofit organization/community newsletter communication, the 2nd Annual NPO Mission Mixer (April 2024), a future NPO Knowledge Series workshop (September 2024) and proactive nonprofit/voluntourism marketing and PR efforts by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.
- Resident engagement program – Discussion topics included examples of how the Outer Banks community was engaged in the creation of the LRTMP, the impact of transparent two-way communication with residents, the importance of communicating tourism’s value to residents, a review of existing/upcoming resident communications tactics, the creation of a more robust LRTMP website presence and exploring various community engagement tactics such as the creation of an ambassador program.
- Outer Banks Pledge – The committee discussed the rationale behind why destinations have created tourism pledges in recent years, explored other tourism pledges from around the world and reviewed a preliminary draft of an Outer Banks Pledge.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee held its second meeting on March 13, 2024. Meeting highlights included:
- Prioritizing LRTMP strategies and tactics that the group can lead and look to accomplish in 2024
- Identifying the local organizations, commissions and committees who are already working on projects and initiatives that overlap with the strategies within the LRTMP
- Gathering data from these various groups to better inform and educate the Special Committee on aspects that apply directly to the strategic goals in the LRTMP
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Agenda | Minutes | Video Recap
After a few brief community engagement updates and gaining consensus among the group to present the latest draft of the Outer Banks Promise with the Dare County Tourism Board at their meeting on April 18, the committee divided into two smaller work groups to explore LRTMP Goal #2 (Adopt an integrated approach to improve environmental stewardship) and LRTMP Goal #3 (Support infrastructure development that benefits the vitality of the community for residents and visitors). From those discussions, the following action items emerged:
- Collect sustainability plans from municipalities, agencies and non-profit organizations, as well as LRTMP survey information, to identify and prioritize the environmental challenges we are trying to address and help solve
- Help to establish and promote environmental stewardship communications (based on the priority issues that are identified) through local recreation outfitters and into events through the various organizers
- Define the structural and human aspects of "infrastructure" (i.e. - roads, sidewalks, high-speed internet, schools, transportation, emergency services, beach nourishment, child care, etc.)
- Continue creating an inventory of local infrastructure partners and collaborate with these groups to offer a tourism perspective on the areas that overlap with the goals and strategies of the LRTMP
- Collaborate with local stakeholders to gain a better understanding of accessibility efforts and related inventory in Dare County and enhance the awareness and communication of that access
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee held its fourth meeting on May 8. The committee opened with a discussion on the Outer Banks Promise, a destination pledge that is designed to inspire responsible and safe behavior. The Dare County Tourism Board approved the Promise at its April meeting and work is underway to introduce it to the community and to visitors in advance of the 2024 summer season.
In addition to a community campaign to generate awareness and understanding of the Outer Banks Promise with local residents, visitors will also have the opportunity to engage with these seven core messages via Outer Banks Visitors Bureau (OBVB) digital channels (website, social, email), as well as at the four Welcome Centers. Similar pledges have been adopted by other tourism-driven destinations around the world, including Aspen, CO; Big Sur, CA; Finland, Iceland, Hawaii, and Sedona, AZ.
The committee then picked up where it left off in the April meeting by breaking into smaller groups to continue their discussions on environmental stewardship and infrastructure development. Several action items have been prioritized, such as:
- Reviewing resident feedback on environmental concerns to see how the committee can align with and prioritize addressing those challenges.
- Collecting sustainability plans from other local organizations to also help identify and prioritize what to focus on.
- Identifying environmental, infrastructure and accessibility experts to educate the committee, industry partners and the community on these issues and opportunities.
- Continuing to identify local councils, commissions and organizations whose work overlaps with the LRTMP and invite collaboration and support of those efforts.
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
Following a two month hiatus, the Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Long-Range Tourism Management Plan gathered at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island. Updates included:
- A North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) presentation from Win Bridgers (Division 1 Engineer) with updates on road resurfacing projects, bridge construction and repairs, transportation studies, ADA ramp installations, pedestrian safety initiatives and funding. The updates were very informative and allowed the committee to better understand NCDOT priorities, how they overlap with the Long-Range Tourism Management Plan and how such initiatives can be supported.
- A recap of a recent meeting of local sports teams and recreation leaders, convened by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and Dare County Parks and Recreation, to gain a better understanding of athletic facility needs and to share various state and local grant opportunities.
- The Outer Banks Promise marketing, communications and activation plan.
- Recent progress of the Dare Community Housing Task Force.
2023 North Carolina Visitor Spending report.
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse restoration and multi-use pathway projects.
- Retrofitting of Wildlife Friendly Lighting at Jennette’s Pier.
- The Blue Zones Ignite Outer Banks initiative, led by Outer Banks Health and Dare County Health and Human Services, focused on the long-term health and well-being of all county residents.
The next Special Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 18 at 9:00am at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on September 18 and divided up into working groups for a majority of the 90 minute session to further prioritize goals and strategies as outlined in the plan. In addition to the Environmental Stewardship and Infrastructure Development groups that were created at past meetings, a Resident & Visitor Engagement group was also formed. A few highlights from these discussions include:
- Discussing next steps to engage with the local community to share tourism updates, as well as solicit feedback from residents on the LRTMP. While we’ve made progress in several areas since the plan was published last year, we need to find ways for the community to provide input as we move forward. This is a top priority and we look forward to sharing next steps with you soon.
- Identifying opportunities to work with local partners and to leverage technology to continue to educate our community on The Outer Banks Promise – our destination pledge to inspire more responsible behavior and better stewardship.
- Exploring ways for local events to have a more sustainable footprint.
- Outreach to local municipalities and businesses to explore various sustainability and stewardship plans and best practices
- Digging deeper into accessibility and mobility issues and opportunities within the community.
A few Outer Banks Visitors Bureau updates were also covered at the end of the meeting. The 2nd Annual Non-Profit Knowledge Series, presented in partnership with the Outer Banks Community Foundation, is coming up on Friday, September 27 (9:30am-4:30pm) at College of the Albemarle’s Dare Campus in Manteo. This FREE workshop is open to non-profit professionals, board members and community fundraisers. Attendees will learn more about the importance of strategic planning, as well as fundraising fundamentals. Response has been great, but a few spots still remain.
In addition, the 10th Annual OBX Tourism Summit is quickly approaching on Thursday, November 7 from 8am-3pm at the Pioneer Theater in Manteo. Learn about the state of tourism in Dare County, key bureau updates, a sneak peek at the new Outer Banks Visitor Profile Study and much more. Register by October 14 for early bird pricing.
The next Special Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 9 at 9:00am at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Dare Community Housing Task Force Presentation | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on October 9 at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
The committee welcomed Donna Creef and Malcolm Fearing – Chair and Vice Chair, respectively – of the Dare Community Housing Task Force, who provided updates about the activity, progress and challenges that the Task Force faces. The Housing Task Force has been meeting monthly since February and continues to take positive action towards providing recommendations on next steps to address some of the key housing issues that we’re facing as a community. Click here to view the presentation slides. Advocating for an increase in residential housing diversity is one of the four strategic goals in our Long-Range Tourism Management Plan and our Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee is committed to supporting the work of the Housing Task Force however it can.
The Special Committee then spent some time discussing a resident engagement plan that includes Tourism Town Halls that are intended to share key updates as well as give community members the opportunity to provide feedback and ideas on a variety of topics related to the LRTMP. More details will follow after the next Committee meeting on November 20, including on the dates and locations of these Town Halls and how you can participate.
The committee also learned about efforts that some local businesses – including Outer Banks Blue, Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk and Outer Banks Health – are taking to make The Outer Banks Promise as an organization. If your group or company is interested in taking this step and showing support for our destination pledge and stewardship initiatives, please reach out to Jeff Schwartzenberg, Community Engagement Manager, at community@outerbanks.org.
The next Special Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 20 at 9:00am at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
LRTMP Special Committee Meeting Update | October 9, 2024
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on November 20 at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
The committee discussed hosting several Tourism Town Halls in Q1 2025. These events will be held at various locations in Dare County and will provide an opportunity to share various tourism updates, as well as give residents an opportunity to provide input on the implementation of the LRTMP. More details will be available soon on the dates, times and locations.
The community engagement report included updates on The Outer Banks Promise and introduced the 2024-25 State of Dare County Tourism Report, which provides a year-in-review snapshot of tourism’s impact on Dare County.
Committee member updates included the preparation of an end-of-year report by the Dare Community Housing Task Force, the need for proactive discussions to address environmental challenges as we implement the LRTMP, a recap of our recent OBX Tourism Summit and a preview of a voluntourism video series that highlights several area nonprofits.
The next Special Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 9:00am at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island. The committee will be focusing on the topic of environmental sustainability and stewardship during this meeting as it relates to Strategic Goal #2 of the LRTMP (Adopt an integrated approach to improving environmental stewardship).
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on January 8 at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
This was the first meeting of 2025 and the committee reflected on past accomplishments before spending a majority of its time focused on establishing priorities and goals for the upcoming year, including:
- Expanding our community outreach and engagement efforts, especially on Hatteras Island
- Growing our Voluntourism initiative
- Supporting and promoting existing local environmental stewardship efforts
- Continuing to identify subject-matter experts related to the LRTMP to educate the committee on some of the key issues and opportunities outlined in the plan
Another item for 2025 is the planning of the TourismNext: OBX Student Summit, scheduled for March 5 at Jennette’s Pier. In partnership with Dare County Schools, the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau looks forward to connecting with 100 high school students from First Flight, Manteo and Cape Hatteras Secondary School. Students will discover how tourism shapes the local economy, unlock the power of social media marketing and storytelling, meet industry professionals and explore career opportunities, learn about the Bureau's responsible tourism initiatives and provide unique perspectives on the LRTMP.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on April 9 at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
The Committee welcomed Coastal Studies Institute Executive Director Dr. Reide Corbett and National Park Service Eastern NC Superintendent Dave Hallac, who led the group through a discussion on our changing Outer Banks coastline, the impacts of sea level rise and coastal erosion in our region. Both Dr. Corbett and Superintendent Hallac serve on the LRTMP Special Committee and we are fortunate to be able to pull from their expertise as we navigate this long-range tourism plan. Their data-driven insights and practical knowledge will continue to inform the group, and our community, of the many issues impacting our fragile barrier islands as we look to the future. Sharing this type of information, with the goal of educating and informing our community, is one of the ways the LRTMP committee can make an impact.
Explore April LRTMP Presentation >
Additional meeting updates included:
- Takeaways from the 2025 Visit NC Tourism Conference in Hickory, NC
- A recap of our recent 3rd Annual Nonprofit Mission Mixer, in partnership with the Outer Banks Community Foundation. on April 3, more than 75 local nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers representing over 40 local organizations attended the event and enjoyed a chance to connect and learn how podcasting can help to inspire deeper storytelling and community connection. Stay tuned for an announcement soon regarding the 3rd Annual Nonprofit Knowledge Series workshop this fall (also in partnership with the Outer Banks Community Foundation), where we’ll continue the discussion of how nonprofits can leverage new media to tell their stories.
- The Dare County Tourism Board recently voted in its March meeting to approve $252,200 in event grants to 35 area nonprofits and local municipalities … bringing the 2024-25 fiscal year event grant total to $400,000. These events are designed to drive overnight visitation to Dare County during non-peak months.
The next LRTMP Special Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 9:00am at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on June 11 at the Visitors Bureau administrative offices in Manteo.
After a few Bureau updates, the committee discussed future community engagement initiatives such as local meet-ups, the continuation of LRTMP ‘Road Show’ presentations to various stakeholder groups, participation in local events, and a possible “on-location” video podcast featuring discussions on various community, tourism and LRTMP topics. The group then discussed some ways to continue to grow and bolster nonprofit partnerships and the Voluntourism initiative, including exploring an online platform to help manage and aggregate community volunteer opportunities, as well as the creation of a ‘Tourism for Good’ Volunteer Week in October. The committee also discussed conducting Visitor and Resident Sentiment surveys in the coming months to continue to gather input and feedback on a variety of topics related to the future of tourism in Dare County and the LRTMP, and to establish a baseline for the tracking of such sentiment as we move forward.
The next LRTMP Special Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 9:00 a.m..
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes | Video Recap
On September 10, the Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan met at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island. Highlights from the meeting include:
- A presentation from Spencer Gregory, Dare County Public Services Director and Parks & Recreation Director, on the Dare County Parks & Recreation Recommendations & Implementation Plan. The plan outlines priorities and strategies for addressing current and future recreational needs throughout the county.
- An update from Lee Nettles, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Executive Director, on several tourism-related items, including June occupancy and meals tax collections, The Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties study (exploring visitor expenditures for all 100 counties and its impact), plans for the Boardwalk project at the Soundside Event Site in Nags Head, the filming of Season 2 of The Outer Edge Video Series and plans for the OBX Tourism Summit on November 6 at the Hatteras Marlin Club.
- An update from Jeff Schwartzenberg, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Community Engagement Manager, on Outer Banks Volunteer Week, upcoming plans to introduce the Volunteer OBX online community volunteer portal and the 3rd Annual Nonprofit Knowledge Series Workshop on September 26 (in collaboration with the Outer Banks Community Foundation).
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Agenda | Community Engagement Report | Minutes |
On November 12, the Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island. Highlights from the meeting include:
- A presentation from Dr. Sheila Davies (Dare County Director of Health and Human Services), Amy Montgomery (Outer Banks Health Executive Director of Operations) and Jennifer Schwartzenberg (Outer Banks Health Director of Community Outreach and Development) on ThriveOBX, a collaborative initiative between Dare County, Outer Banks Health and the community that focuses on promoting wellness and well-being across the Outer Banks.
- An update from Outer Banks Community Foundation President & CEO Chris Sawin on OBCF's Trusted Partner Program, designed to help our community be ready before, during and especially after the next major storm or event.
- OBVB updates on several items, including occupancy and meals tax collections, highlights from the 11th Annual OBX Tourism Summit, the new OBVB website that will launch in early December and Season 2 of The Outer Edge video series, which will be unveiled in January.
- Additional LRTMP updates included the soft launch of the Volunteer OBX online portal, a recap of the inaugural Outer Banks Volunteer Week, the recent Outer Banks Promise pledge made by Brindley Beach Vacations & Sales, OBVB participation in a recent NC Northeast Regional Trail Organization Workshop and upcoming community outreach and engagement opportunities.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
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Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on February 11 and continued discussing key opportunities to advance the implementation of the plan in 2026. Action items to be prioritized include:
- Expanded nonprofit collaborations with Outer Banks Community Foundation, Coastal Studies Institute, Coastal Environmental Educators Network, Outer Banks Health and others
- Continued growth, communication and awareness of the Volunteer OBX portal
- Hosting the 2nd Annual Outer Banks Volunteer Week (October 10, 2026 – October 17, 2026)
- Finding creative ways to better engage with local students and our younger workforce population, including a Tourism workshop in May with students from First Flight High School, Manteo High School, Cape Hatteras Secondary School and the Dare Early College
- Hosting a series of Community Open Houses at the OBVB Welcome Centers in Kitty Hawk, Roanoke Island and Hatteras Village to celebrate tourism and local partners
- Exploring the creation of a Tourism Ambassador/Training Program to tools/resources to enhance visitor experiences, while helping to educate the community about the local impact of tourism
- Finding ways to establish better lines of communication with second homeowners
- Exploring opportunities to enhance engagement with the Hatteras Island community, while also developing a better understanding of the natural challenges and threats that are facing the Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Gaining a better understanding of how current business practices are shaping capacity management, including alternative check-in day options for visitors, and how OBVB communications assets can be leveraged to help plan and manage responsible growth
2026 Special Committee Members
| Richard Hess (Chair), Sun Realty | David Hallac, National Parks of Eastern North Carolina |
| Karen Brown, Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce | Natalie Kavanagh, Frisco Rod & Gun |
| Tim Cafferty, Outer Banks Blue Realty Services | Amy Montgomery, Outer Banks Health |
| Dr. Shannon Castillo, Dare County Schools | Elizabeth Morey, Town of Southern Shores |
| Jamie Chisholm, Hilton Garden Inn - Kitty Hawk | Lee Nettles, Outer Banks Visitors Bureau |
| Dr. Reide Corbett, Coastal Studies Institute | Bobby Outten, Dare County |
| Donna Creef, Outer Banks Assoc. of REALTORS® | Mike Remige, Jennette's Pier |
| Fay Edwards, College of the Albemarle - Dare | Susan Rice, Outer Banks Homeowners Alliance |
| Augusta Feldmann, KPMG | Chris Sawin, Outer Banks Community Foundation |
| Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy, The Coastland Times | Bobbie Stager, Waveriders Coffee + Deli + Market |
| Nick Graham, Standard Insurance & Realty |
Special Committee members not pictured:
Karen Brown, Jamie Chisholm, Augusta Feldman, Elizabeth Morey and Bobby Outten
Special thanks to the following Special Committee members who served from 2023-2025:
Mark Ballog - Lucky 12 Tavern; Ronnie Sloan - Outer Banks Health; Tim Sweeney - College of the Albemarle; Chris Vlahos - Barefoot Bernie's Tropical Grill & Bar