The North American Travel Journalists Association will hold its annual conference in Orange County next year.

Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau chair Rosemary Waldorf said in a release that “NATJA enjoyed experiencing Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough on their site tour and our success in landing the conference is because of Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle and [Hillsborough] Mayor Tom Stevens personally hosting NATJA CEO Helen Hernandez and pointing out the unique attributes of each town.”

Hernandez is quoted in the release:

“Orange County, North Carolina proudly weaves their history, culture, food and family into the very fabric of their communities. The beauty and historical significance of this area should be shared with everyone and who better than the members of a travel journalism association. NATJA looks forward to experiencing Orange County and its surrounding communities.”

The conference will also allow the community to show its hosting chops to a large number of travel journalists.

“This conference allows us to highlight Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Orange County as a top-notch visitor destination,” said Laurie Paolicelli, Orange County Director of Community Relations and Tourism. “We are thrilled the travel journalists will get a close up and personal look at Orange County and be able to experience our communities through our people, attractions, natural beauty, farms, food, music, brews, spirits and more.”

The convention is one of the first to announce it is coming to Orange County after North Carolina passed House Bill 2, which has made national news and continues to be labeled as being among the worst pieces of anti-LGBT legislation in the nation. During the WCHL Community Forum, Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens spoke about the questions that were now having to be answered by localities to assure these conventions their attendees would be welcome here.

The 2017 NATJA 15th Annual Conference & Marketplace will convene from May 15 – 19 and will bring together travel journalists from throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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