Arkansas's Tourism Ticker for 2022 by TB&P is out, and it's looking good for the travel and tourism sector.

• Big ups: Benton County had a whopping 51.8% increase in tourism tax collections, while Washington County came in at a 36.2% increase over 2021, both outsized gains compared to other counties included in the report.
• Jobs on track: The tourism sector in Northwest Arkansas saw monthly average employment of 27,010 in 2022, a 3.8% increase compared to the same period in 2021 and actually a smaller increase than other regions in the state.

Read the full Arkansas Tourism Ticker report here.

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar is reportedly coming to Rogers in late 2024, bringing with it a revival of authentic Southern dishes like honey-dusted fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and chicken and waffles.

• NC roots: Based in Asheville, Tupelo Honey has been serving up Southern favorites since 2000 and has 20 locations nationwide.
• ICYMI: Part of a mixed-use center anchored by Whole Foods Market, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will also be joining the restaurant scene at Pinnacle Springs.

Find more on this story here.

The AMP is going digital in 2023, with digital tickets as the default delivery method for all performance tickets.

• What's in your wallet? Digital tickets will be conveniently delivered to your ticket wallet, accessible on a smartphone once your purchase is made.
• Countermeasures: Utilizing a rotating QR code will help ensure that tickets aren't counterfeited while still allowing holders to prove that they have a valid ticket.

Read more about this change here.

Noon2Moon, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve’s Second Annual endurance race, returns to Bentonville on Saturday, May 6, with the 12-hr race beginning at 8a and the 6-hr race at 12p. 

• Til the sun sets: Riders can race solo or as a team, and those who complete the most laps in their category will be awarded prizes and medals. The community is invited to cheer the riders on (or heckle them), and cowbells and costumes are highly encouraged! 
• In the biking business: Join this year’s new Corporate Challenge and race with your business teammates against other local companies for bragging rights while giving back; proceeds from the event support Coler Mountain Bike Preserve’s trails and community programs. 

Register to race solo or as a team here. 

After a series of rate increases to combat inflation and subsequent increases in home-loan rates, mortgage lending has reportedly slowed down in Northwest Arkansas.

• Declining trend: Attom Data Solutions' fourth quarter mortgage report for Arkansas shows a decrease of 24.9% in the Northwest Arkansas area from the previous quarter, and a year-over-year drop of 50.1%.
• Statewide slump: The report shows a similar decrease in mortgages originated in central Arkansas and the Fort Smith metro area, each with a quarterly decline of 14.6% and 25.6% respectively, and 62.5% and 53.2% decreases year-over-year.

Read the full report here.