Click here to view this message in a browser window.
Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Dear Valued Tourism Industry Partners,

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had an amazing holiday and is ready to hit the ground running. You can bet Team CVB is ready!  Looking ahead, I hope you’re as excited as we are for 2023. Our Calendar of Events through June 2023 is now available on the Partner Pipeline and at this link for your convenience. Take a look and make some plans; 2023 is going to be epic!

Recent Media - As we continue to pitch stories and fulfill inquiries, writers remain interested in our destination and what we have to offer. Here are several examples of recent media hits:

VRLTA Offers Savings on ServSafe Manager Training - Make sure your food service staff has training they need to be successful in the new year. The ServSafe Manager course is required by the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, Travel Association (VRLTA) is available to help with free or discounted opportunities for members. This  course is designed for owners, operators, managers, and supervisors of food service facilities, including caterers. The class is available online or in a classroom through the VRLTA network of preferred training partners. Upon successful completion, a participant becomes ServSafe Certified as a Food Safety Manager and earns a nationally accredited food safety certification from the National Restaurant Association. Classes are currently scheduled in January - March in various cities across Virginia, including Virginia Beach. There are additional opportunities for professional development in a variety of ServeSafe categories. Learn more about ServSafe here.

Hampton Roads International Auto Show Returns January 13 - 15: This premier international auto show, where car and truck enthusiasts of all ages gather to see the latest in foreign and domestic car manufacturing, returns Jan. 13 - 15. Check out a unique collection of vehicles of all types including exotics, classics and the latest in electric transportation. Attendees have the chance to participate in a drawing for a $500 gas card. Find out more about this event at this link.

New Exhibit Coming to the Virginia Aquarium - An exhibition fusing art, history, and technology will be on display from January 23 to May 14, 2023 at the Virginia Aquarium. Discover Steampunk features interactive exhibits inspired by innovators and historical figures of the late 1800s, such as writers like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Created by Imagine Exhibitions and in partnership with The Franklin Institute, the gallery will feature intricate machines that replicate the past and will teach about innovation and the disciplines of STEAM: science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Find out more here

ViBe Creative District Call for Digital Artwork Submissions - The ViBe Creative District is seeking artists to submit digital artworks for a Spring 2023 installation at the Virginia Beach Convention Center and Virginia Beach Sports Center parking lots on the tall wayfinding identifiers (white metal structures). Approximately 20 artworks will be selected pending final review of artwork submissions. Artists may submit up to 3 digital images for review by the Virginia Beach Public Art Committee. Check out the details here and please share with your networks. 

NASSC Registration Now Open - It's that time of year again! The 2023 Ferguson North American Sand Soccer Championships registration is officially open. This year’s tournament dates are June 9 – 11 and will feature age groups from U8 to 050 and everything in between! Early registration is encouraged as the tournament divisions fill up quickly. Don’t miss being a part of the largest sand soccer tournament in the world! Find all you need to know here including a proposed field map.

Visitor Information Center Winter Hours of Operation - The Main Visitor Center will be open Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm; Saturdays – 10am to 4pm and Closed on Sundays. The Chesapeake Bay Visitor Center at First Landing State Park will be closed Sunday to Thursday and open Friday – 8am to 430pm and open Saturday 8am to 4pm.  First Landing State Park will still be open daily from 8am to 4pm.

My team and I remain committed to you and our industry, and are here to help. Please let me know how we can assist. 

 

Sincerely,

Nancy Helman 
CVB Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel Performance for the week of December 18 - 24:  According to STR, Virginia Beach was within the top 25 performing DMO’s for the week of Dec. 18 – 24. Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for this week was slightly down -12.7% at 41.6% occupancy and down -6.4% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 0.8% to $93.02 for the week and up 5.5% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was slightly down -12% at $28.34 and also down -1.3% for the running 28-day trend. In comparison to 2019, we are down in regard to occupancy with a slight decrease of -7.0% but counter this with an increase in ADR and RevPAR of 8.9% and 1.3% respectively.

To view previous Friday updates, log in to the Partner Pipeline.

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Our address is 600 22nd Street, 2nd Floor, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
 
If you do not wish to receive future email, click here.
(You can also send your request to Customer Care at the street address above.)