New service comes as NAPA AUTO PARTS Road Trip survey[1] finds most theme park goers will travel by car this year, despite rising gas prices
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NAPA AUTO PARTS will serve as the official automotive parts, maintenance and repair partner of Dollywood, one of the nation’s premier family vacation destinations. NAPA also will sponsor the Dollywood parking lot vehicle assistance program, a concierge service to help guests who may experience minor automotive misfortunes during their time at the Pigeon Forge park.
The partnership comes at an opportune time as inflation and rising gas prices begin to affect summer travel. In the recent NAPA AUTO PARTS Road Trip survey commissioned by NAPA AUTO PARTS, nearly half (45%) of Americans who said their summer plans have been impacted by rising gas prices plan to stay closer to home rather than go further away. Sixty-five percent of Americans planning to visit a theme or amusement park in the next 12 months anticipate their travel plans will keep them closer to home, with trips of three hours or less.
Additionally, the survey found that about one-third (32%) of Americans plan to visit a theme park within the next 12 months, and 72% of those visitors expect to travel by an automobile. With automobiles serving as the primary mode of travel for guests, the NAPA AUTO PARTS parking lot service at Dollywood is perfect for anyone who faces a minor auto issue when they return from a day of fun in the park.
“As our first foray into the theme parks and entertainment space, NAPA AUTO PARTS could not be more excited to bring the parking lot vehicle assistance program to life at Dollywood,” said Marti Walsh, vice president, marketing, NAPA AUTO PARTS. “In a year when families need more help than ever on the road, we’re thrilled to make their summer vacations easier and more enjoyable.”
Dollywood guests can find solace knowing the NAPA AUTO PARTS parking lot concierge is ready to help them get back on the road quickly. Should a guest return to their car and find a minor automotive issue—such as flat tires, dead batteries, or lost keys—they can simply wave down a member of the parking team who will dispatch the concierge service to the scene.
“After a day full of making memories with family, the most frustrating thing is returning to the parking lot to find your car won’t start or that you have a flat tire. That’s a memory no one wants,” said Carol Agee, Dollywood Senior Manager for Marketing Partnerships. “NAPA AUTO PARTS is helping us solve these minor inconveniences—although they feel major in the moment—thanks to the parking lot service designed to assist guests with automotive issues they may face.”
NAPA AUTO PARTS, which has a long history of sports sponsorships, enters into the theme park industry for the first time thanks to the brand alliance with Dollywood and its operating partner Herschend Family Entertainment. The sponsorship also includes activations at additional Herschend properties including Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri; Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia; Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia; and Pink Jeep Adventure Tours, with various locations across the U.S.
For more information about Dollywood, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood mobile app.
[1] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from a YouGov omnibus survey conducted on behalf of NAPA AUTO PARTS. The survey was conducted online and fielded by YouGov on May 4 and May 5 with a total sample size of 2,568 Americans age 18 and older, 786 of which are likely to visit a theme or amusement park in the next 12 months. The margin of sampling error was +/-1.92 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
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About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 160-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. Currently under construction, Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort is scheduled for completion in 2023. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 45 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and has been named a top-three U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions and a top-10 world theme park by TripAdvisor. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and TripAdvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, a favorite of USA Today voters and TripAdvisor reviewers, provides guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
About NAPA AUTO PARTS: There are nearly 6,000 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores in the U.S. supported by a nationwide network of distribution centers and more than 560,000 available parts, accessories and supplies. The NAPA network extends to more than 17,000 NAPA AutoCare and AutoCare Collision Centers across the U.S. With a reputation for quality parts, rapid availability and knowledgeable people, NAPA AUTO PARTS stores serve automotive service professionals, do-it-yourselfers and everyday drivers with quality parts, accessories and supplies to keep cars, trucks and equipment performing safely and efficiently. For more information, visit www.napaonline.com.
Contacts
Media Contacts:
Pete Owens: Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, (865) 428-9486, (865) 755-7972 or powens@dollywood.com
Wes Ramey: Public Relations Director, (865) 428-9484, (865) 640-3805 or wramey@dollywood.com
Ellen Liston: Public Relations Manager, (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or eliston@dollywood.com
Amber Davis: Digital Publicist, (865) 428-9601, (865) 591-1002 or aldavis@dollywood.com
Jennifer Webb: Publicist, (865) 428-9602, (865) 323-7584 or jwebb@dollywood.com
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room
Marissa Driscoll, Senior Public Relations Manager on behalf of NAPA AUTO PARTS: mdriscoll@golin.com
