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March 24, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
Thank you for all the support and hard work everyone in the industry put into making Shamrock memorable. I have heard nothing but great things about the weekend and the surrounding festivities and applaud J&A and the City for another great event.
Partners, I am thrilled to share that our joint efforts to get the word out about the gem of a destination we know and love - our favorite city, Virginia Beach, is getting noticed! Just take a look at some recent press:
- JACKALOPE pickup: Sports Travel Magazine and Shop Eat Surf
- Cape Henry Lighthouse is featured in Love Exploring’s “The Most Beautiful Lighthouses in the US, Ranked” round-up story
- Virginia Beach and First Landing State Park are listed in “10 Must Visit Destinations for Black Travelers This Spring and Summer” in NewsOne
- Something In The Water is featured in Travel Noire’s, “Travel Around the World to These Black Music Festivals” round-up story
- Something In the Water lineup coverage:
- Linda “Peaches” Tavani and Something in the Water festival are featured in Ebony
- Parasailing in Virginia Beach is featured as one of the “Top 10 Best Destinations in United States for Parasailing and Paragliding” on The Travel
- The Travel reports “Luxury Within Reach: 10 Affordable Yet Lavish Hotels in Virginia Beach for Your Next Escape”
- The Travel highlights Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotels in “Experience Oceanfront Bliss: The 10 Best Virginia Beach Boardwalk Hotels”
- Ocean Breeze Waterpark and Motor World are named in “9 Must-Visit Virginia Theme Parks for Thrill-seekers and Families” by Wealth of Geeks
- Travel Off Path highlights Virginia Beach as a “Top 10 Trending Destinations in the U.S. This Spring”
- Pleasure House Oyster Tour is featured in The Infatuation’s “21 Unique Dining Experiences Across America” round-up story
- The Historic Cavalier Hotel is featured as an “Unrivaled Luxury Stay” in Hotel Scoop
Keep up all the good work and please keep spreading the word!
VA Green Travel Star Awards Conference - Congratulations to CVB Sustainability Coordinator Kimberlee Dobbins for her win this week at the 10th Annual Virginia Green Travel Conference. Kimberlee was one of only three winners selected this year to receive a 2023 Green Team All-Star Award. Congratulations also go out to our partners at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and to the Convention Center’s Green Event Incentives Initiative, each a 2023 Virginia Green Travel Star Award recipient. Additional local partners who took home awards include:
Green Caterer of the Year: Centerplate-SodexoLive!
Green Eco Tour of the Year: The Nature Bus
Geen Supplier of the Year: Eco Maniac Company
Great job, everyone! For more information on Virginia Green, including how to become a certified Virginia Green program member, visit www.VirginiaGreen.net
19th St. Parking Lots Close Next Friday - Last week we shared that update that the city had received the the antcipated two week notice that the parking lots at 19th Street will officially go offline on March 31, 2023 (one week from today). Please be sure to pass this information along to the members of your team that need to know.
Virginia Beach Events Announces 2023 Concert Series Lineup - There is a lot of exciting news coming from Virginia Beach Events about this year’s entertainment schedule, the most recent announcement being that of the free Oceanfront summer concert series. From old school legends to local favorites, click here to see the 2023 Virginia Beach Events Oceanfront Concert Series schedule and find out more information about all the fun in store for residents and guests this season.
VBRA Announces “Something on the Menu” - There’s no ticket needed to enjoy “Something on the Menu.” Locals and visitors are encouraged to enjoy daily menu specials highlighting food and beverage items exclusively created for the week of April 23 - 30, 2023. Participating restaurants are spreading the spirit of the Something in the Water Festival with a casual groove, cool vibes, and great eats all week. Find out all the details here including participating venues.
Beyond Van Gogh, The Immersive Experience – One of the hottest tickets of the summer, “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" comes to Virginia Beach in partnership with Virginia Arts Festival July 6th through Sept. 2nd. Imagine being completely immersed in more than 300 of the greatest works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. Now imagine experiencing all of this art liberated from its two-dimensional limitations into a three-dimensional experience that exhilarates every sense and brings to life one of the most influential artists the world has known. Find out more information and get tickets here.
Spring In To Town Center - Looking for a special gift, an elegant dinner or an amazing photo opportunity? How about all those and more, all in one place? Look no further than the beautiful Town Center of Virginia Beach! Find out more about everything this uptown mecca has to offer and see the latest entertainment and happenings schedule in their Calendar of Events found here.
CVB Sales Activity - This week, Jamie Mitchell has two major site visits and traveled to Staunton, VA for the Virginia Society of Association Executives’ Meeting Planner Summit. Scott Warren is gearing up for appointments at ConferenceDirect’s Annual Partner meeting in Louisville, KY next week. Dee Mittman is preparing for Diversity Connect Marketplace in Las Vegas. Sally Noona will be conducting several site visits in the next two weeks and has travel plans to DC for a strategy meeting with the American Society of Association Executives’ Meetings & Events Committee.
Convention Center Activity - An estimated 8,000 patrons will come through the doors of our Convention Center this weekend to enjoy events such as the Treasures of the Earth show, the World Class Talent Dance Experience, and the World Culture Festival.
Sports Tourism Activity - Good luck to the more than 5,000 wrestlers in town to tackle the mats during the 2023 National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Senior National Championship.
Events & Happenings
Our current Calendar of Events is available here. Take a look and see more of what’s on the horizon for the first half of 2023.
My team and I are 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 March 5 - 11- According to Smith Travel Research, Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of March 5 – March 11 was up 3.0% at 55.5% occupancy and was up 2.2% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 7.6% at $127.99 for the week and up 6.4% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was up 10.8% at $71.10 and up 8.7% for the running 28-day trend. In comparison to the month of February 2019, we have an increase in occupancy of 11% and an increase in ADR and RevPAR of 53.94% and 70.95% respectively.
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