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Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

May 12, 2023

Dear Valued Tourism Partners,

Happy National Travel and Tourism Week! Thanks to all who came out to the Convention Center yesterday; we had a fantastic turnout for our annual NTTW Hospitality Awards luncheon yesterday as close to 375 attendees gathered to celebrate the best of the best in the local tourism industry. Congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients - and thank you, partners, for all YOU do to make Virginia Beach the destination of choice for millions of visitors each year.

Here is a special NTTW message from the Governor’s Office and some great news for partner follows:

Governor Youngkin Announces 236 Local Tourism Programs to Receive Public-Private Marketing Funds to Drive Visitation Through 2024 - In conjunction with National Travel & Tourism Week, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that more than $3.2 million in matching grant and sponsorship funds will be awarded to 236 Virginia tourism programs as part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Regional Marketing, Marketing Leverage, and VA250 Marketing Leverage programs. These programs will generate more than $18 million in marketing initiatives and support more than 1,100 partners in the tourism economic ecosystem. For the list of the recent funding recipients, click here. To learn more about VTC’s Grant and Funding Sources, click here.  

It was an honor to be included in VTC’s roundup article on vibrant communities, an element of their broader NTTW messaging this year. Congrats to the ViBe District for a feature in the blog post “Vibrant Virginia Cities and Towns You’ll Want To Visit Again and Again.” by Patricia Keppel Anderson.

We’re excited to share that the Virginia Beach Oceanfront has elevated to  the top ten list as USA TODAY continues their 2023 10Bests’s Readers’ Choice Awards contests. The Virginia Beach Oceanfront has been nominated in the category of “Best Beach in the SouthVote for us today! Voting is open until May 22, 2023.

Norfolk Airport Authority Issues RFP for the Design, Construction and Operation of an On-Site Airport Hotel at Norfolk International Airport - The Norfolk Airport Authority has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design, construction, and operation of an on-site hotel at Norfolk International Airport.The Authority is seeking proposals from qualified hotel operators, developers, or teams interested in designing, financing, constructing, maintaining, and operating an Airport Hotel at Norfolk International Airport (ORF) in Norfolk, VA. The Airport Hotel will be located on a site north-east, and within walking distance, of the current Departures Terminal building. The objectives of the Authority are to enhance ORF with an internationally branded, full-service, three star or higher rated airport hotel, which may ideally include meeting spaces with conferencing technology, a restaurant, as well as conveniences expected by airport patrons (such as room service or 24-hour food and beverage access, a fitness center, a sundries store, and laundry facilities). A full version of the Request for Proposals can be obtained from the Business Opportunities section of the Authority’s website at  https://www.norfolkairport.com/about-us/business-opportunities/.

Visitor Information Center -The HRT Wave shuttle will begin service on Sunday, May 14, 2023, for all four trolley routes – Route 30 (Atlantic Ave), Route 31 (Aquarium & Campground), Route 34 (Oceanfront Connector – Saturday & Sunday service only. Includes a stop in front of Visitor Center) and Route 35 (Bayfront).  Tickets can be purchased through the mobile app, at select retail locations, or cash payments (exact change only) accepted onboard the trolley.  Route 34 has a stop in front of the Visitor Center for visitors who need information. The Visitor Center has limited HRT Wave shuttle brochures or check the link for 2023 summer schedule and fares.  https://gohrt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/vbwave-brochure-2023-proof.pdf

EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

Our current Calendar of Events is available here. Take a look and see more of what’s on the horizon. 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to STR, Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of April 23 – April 29 was up 1.8% year-over-year at 64.6% occupancy and up 1.5% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 28.5% at $187.32 for the week and up 8.8% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was up 30.8% at $121.08 and up 10.4% for the running 28-day trend. In comparison to the month of April 2019, we have a decrease in occupancy of -8.1% but counter this with an increase in ADR and RevPAR of 59.82% and 47.26% respectively. 

 

 

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

Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

600 22nd Street, 2nd Floor, Virginia Beach, VA 23451


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