From Wobx.com Driven, in part, by price increases caused by inflation, occupancy and meals collections in Dare County both grew by almost four percent in August and retail sales in July were up nearly three percent. That follows new all-time monthly highs set in July for gross collections at hotels/motels and vacation rentals and restaurants. “We continue […]
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JAM Media Solutions, owner of four Outer Banks radio stations, moved to Chapter 7 bankruptcy
October 23, 2023 | Local News | By: Sam Walker
From Wobx.com Four Outer Banks radio stations are now up for liquidation, after the assets of a New Jersey-based company that had filed for bankruptcy were transferred to a trustee on Friday. JAM Media Solutions had been seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by reorganization since October 2022. The company owned Beach 104 (WCXL-FM); 99.1 The Sound […]
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Higher prices help set new monthly record in July for Dare County occupancy, meals collections
October 5, 2023 | Real Estate | By: Sam Walker | From The: WOBX | 1
While July was another high water month on the Outer Banks for visitor spending, the latest data indicates the amount of visitors coming to Dare County this summer has declined to a more balanced level and that the record revenues were driven more by higher prices. Total retail sales in June also set a new […]
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Dare County occupancy collections hold steady, meals up in June; retail sales dropped in May
September 11, 2023 | Local News | By: Sam Walker
From wobx.com It was another strong month in June for occupancy and meals collections in Dare County, but the amount of retail sales in May was off by almost double digits from the previous year. According to reports presented to the Dare County Tourism Board at their August 17 meeting, gross collections on hotel rooms and […]
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Nearly 400 students from around the world keep Food Lion stores on Outer Banks roaring
September 4, 2023 | Island Features | By: Sam Walker | From The: WOBX | 2
Almost 400 college students from more than a dozen countries spent their summer vacation on the Outer Banks working in a variety of roles with the region’s largest grocery store chain. Food Lion operates six stores on the Outer Banks in Corolla, Southern Shores, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Avon, with over 300 full […]
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Hearing set for April 2024 on request to raise North Carolina rental house insurance rates
September 3, 2023 | Real Estate | By: Sam Walker
From Wobx.com N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has set a hearing date for a request to raise insurance rates for rental properties that could lead to an increase of more than 75 percent on new and renewing wind and hail policies for vacation and full time rental houses on the Outer Banks. Causey said the […]
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Public comment closes Friday on another insurance rate hike for rental houses in North Carolina
August 24, 2023 | Real Estate | By: Sam Walker | 1
From Wobx.com The public comment period ends Friday on a proposed hike in policies that cover rental properties, and could lead to an increase of more than 75 percent on new and renewing wind and hail policies for vacation homes on the Outer Banks. Only nine months ago, the North Carolina Rate Bureau was granted […]
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North Carolina leisure and hospitality sector employment now tops pre-pandemic levels
August 23, 2023 | Local News | By: Sam Walker
From Wobx.com While the leisure and hospitality industry across the country continues to struggle to fill available jobs, especially in rural counties, the number of people the industry employs in North Carolina has topped pre-pandemic levels. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 553,000 workers in the state’s leisure and hospitality field […]
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Four tropical storms form since Sunday, still nothing expected to threaten Greater Outer Banks
August 22, 2023 | Local News | By: Sam Walker
From Wobx.com The peak period of hurricane season activity has arrived in full force, with the formation of four tropical storms between the tropical Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico since Sunday. None of the current activity is forecast to threaten eastern North Carolina, although there could be some increased long-period swells early next week […]
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Visitors spent a record $33.3 billion in N.C. in 2022; Dare County fourth highest at $1.9 billion
August 19, 2023 | Local News | By: Sam Walker
From Wobx.com Buoyed by a rebound in the state’s urban centers, and supported by continued high numbers along the coast and the mountains, visitors to North Carolina spent a record $33.3 billion in 2022 according to data released Friday. The preliminary findings from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina reflecting the economic impact […]
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