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July 7, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners:
The Independence Day holiday is the perfect way to start summer with a bang, and boy did we ever earlier this week! Between the dazzling fireworks shows and entertainment offered at various points across the City, residents and guests had many options to take part in the celebration. Thanks to our partners and all the dedicated city staff from many departments who helped coordinate an exciting evening. Whether you were in or near the Resort area or Inland at Mount Trashmore near Town Center, I hope you were able to take in some of the magnificent shows we had. It was truly a special evening.
Press Coverage: We are pleased to share this great story which recently ran in The Boston Globe: It’s hard not to be happy in Pharrell Williams’s hometown, Virginia Beach - The Boston Globe. Here's an excerpt: “Thirty-five miles long, the “world’s longest pleasure beach” is a broad, tawny strand that functions as the city’s backyard, lined with playgrounds, music stands, an outdoor fitness area, and a 3-mile boardwalk. Beach bicycles and surreys occupy a separate bike lane. High-rise hotels face the Atlantic, and include all the brand names, plus a few 1960s-era throwbacks. A block behind the beach, Atlantic Avenue is lined with restaurants, beach-y shops selling tees, towels, and (of all things) hermit crabs, a mix that reminded us of Main Street in Hyannis”
Utopia Feni Presents First Fridays @ ViBe Park - Don’t miss the fun tonight! Head toward the ViBe District for their First Friday event presented by Utopia Feni, a non-profit built to sustain a creative community in the 757 and Feni, Bangladesh. In addition to live music, food and spirits, this week features the VB Flea Nite Market beginning at 6 p.m. While there, enjoy the opportunity to support local 757 artists and/or take a walking tour to see what’s new! Find more about all that is happening in this vibrant district here.
Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Now Open - If you haven’t purchased your tickets, you won’t want to wait much longer! A sell-out in many cities, our Convention Center is the venue for this immersive experience of more than 300 of the greatest works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. In this show, the art has been 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. Produced by Paquin Entertainment Group, Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience has sold over 5 million tickets globally making it one of the most popular current traveling exhibitions. The sensory extravaganza will be set up in Exhibit Hall D of the Convention Center. Cinematic Van Gogh exhibitions have crossed the ocean from European cities to North America in recent years and met with great critical acclaim, with sold-out audiences in every market. Don't miss this! Click here for tickets and more information.
CVB Sales Activity & News Meetings & Conventions Sales & Services - The M&C Team would like to share the good news about Dee Mittman’s recent wins from GA’s MPI Annual Phoenix Awards recently. Not only did she win “Supplier of the Year” (which is awarded to “a Supplier member who has impacted their chapter through their unwavering volunteer service and commitment”), but she also won in another category where her DEI Committee won for ‘Committee of the Year! The entire team has been working hard to close out FY 23 and prepare for the coming year and travel. Amy Overstreeet departs this weekend for Franklin, TN where she will be attending an appointment show for a new boutique meetings program by Northstar. A full week of sporting excitement is set to unfold with the Sports Tourism team hosting three great events. Over 4,700 athletes from various locations across the country are expected to converge on the City, showcasing their skills and passion for their respective sports. At the US Field Hockey Training Center, the 2023 Nexus Field Hockey Championship takes center stage. Simultaneously, the Virginia Beach Sports Center becomes a battleground for the 2023 Big Shots Virginia Beach Live 1 & 2 Basketball Tournament. At the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex, the 2023 Soccer Youth All-American Series unfolds. Virginia Beach proudly embraces its role as a host city, providing top-notch facilities and a warm welcome to athletes from near and far. In partnership with the Virginia Arts Festival, the VBCC is excited to have opened Beyond Van Gogh – The Immersive Experience yesterday. The show runs through September 2nd. In addition, this coming week the VBCC welcomes both the annual StarQuest dance competition and the Coastal Multi-Family Housing Council Showcase & Awards. Looking further down the month, the VBCC will host Rock & Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive on July 20th. There is currently a critical need for blood donors. If you are willing and able, please support this life saving endeavor. For more information on the blood drive, click here and search Virginia Beach opportunities for July 20th.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
To view the Resort area nightly entertainment schedule, click here. For Town Center events and activities, please click here.
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 Occupancy for the week of June 11-17: According to Smith Travel Research, Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of June 11 – June 17 was down -1.2% year-over-year at 77.8% occupancy and -4.6% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was down -0.6% at $206.14 for the week and down -0.6% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was down -1.9% at $160.35 and down -5.2% for the running 28-day trend. In comparison to the month of June 2019, we have a decrease in occupancy of -5.12% but counter this with an increase in ADR and RevPAR of 19.51% and 13.71% respectively.
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