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August 11, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners:
Mother Nature has been very good to us this week. I can see by the number of smiling faces all around the City that the summer of 2023 is a good one for those lucky enough to be in Virginia Beach. Thank you for all your hard work.
Reminder: Traffic Changes Continue - Work occurring at Cypress Avenue & 15th Street and Baltic Avenue.
Cypress Avenue & 15th Street: Beginning Monday, Aug. 7, Virginia Beach Public Works will close the intersection of Cypress Avenue and 15th Street due to stormwater improvements as part of the North Lake Holly Watershed Improvements project. Detours will be set to reroute traffic to adjacent streets until work is complete and will reopen immediately upon completion. Advanced warning signs will be posted advising motorists of the detours and closures. Weather permitting, the intersection is scheduled to reopen Aug. 11 (today). For more information, contact Shannon Bruce with Tidewater Utility Construction Inc., 757-944-0795.
Baltic Avenue: Due to construction, a lane shift for Baltic Avenue from Laskin Road to 30th Street will occur beginning Monday, Aug. 7. Two-way traffic will still be maintained. Weather permitting, work is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 7-10 and Aug. 14-17. Advanced warning signs will be posted advising motorists of the work ahead. The road will be open fully by 4 p.m. each day. For additional information, contact Nate Nickel with Bissette Construction Corporation, 757-545-8500.
CVB Sales Activity and News: This week will be action-packed as Virginia Beach plays host to the prestigious USLA National Lifeguard Championships! This eagerly anticipated sporting event is set to welcome 1,000 skilled athletes, along with their families, to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Organized with precision and passion, the USLA National Lifeguard Championships showcases the extraordinary talents of lifeguards from across the nation. As these dedicated guardians of the sea gather at our sandy shores, they will compete in a series of challenges that demonstrate their lifesaving prowess, speed, and agility. The picturesque Virginia Beach Oceanfront will provide the perfect backdrop for this aquatic spectacle, as lifeguards push their limits in thrilling events such as beach flags, surf swims, paddleboard races, and rescue relays. For those lucky enough to witness the USLA National Lifeguard Championships, it will be a week to remember—a true showcase of athleticism, bravery, and teamwork. As we open our arms to welcome participants and guests, Virginia Beach proudly reinforces its position as a premier destination for world-class sporting events.
Also, this week Kelli Norman met with Rachael Lett, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham, and Lexy Deford, Pashm Sales, to discuss International business growth. Jim Coggin has been busy traveling the U.S. this summer and is now working on his Carolinian market segment by visiting with Tour Operators in both North & South Carolina. During his visits, Tour Operators have been excitedly reporting business surpassing 2019 levels. This type of feedback and engagement from our excited partners is music to our ears!
The M&C Sales & Service team has had a busy week hitting several pillars in our strategic plan: Growth, Engagement and Brand Awareness! Amy Overstreet and Sally Noona, along with their partner, Casey Burnett of the Hilton Oceanfront Virginia Beach, have been very busy in Atlanta showcasing our new brand on the tradeshow floor while also generating potential growth and buzz of bringing new meetings and events to Virginia Beach. While exhibiting, the team was Crush’n it by promoting the back covers of the show daily’s, hosting two Orange Crush receptions, one on the tradeshow floor and one after the seminar. The team also hosted several clients prior to the annual Classic event at the American Society of Association Executives. Close to 5,000 attendees were in Atlanta for this annual event! Sally serves on the Meetings & Exposition Committee and actively participated in several seminars during the event.
6th Annual ViBe Creative District Mural Fest - Mark your calendars! Now in its sixth year, the ViBe Mural Festival will be held August 18-27, 2023. A total of 10 new murals will be painted by 10 different national and local artists at properties throughout the arts district. The project allows the artists a 10-day timeframe to paint their artwork designs to completion providing the public ample time to explore and engage with the artists while they work. Free public programming and events are offered during the festival. For details visit: Mural Festival - ViBe Creative District. To find all the murals in the ViBe Creative District use the online ViBe Google Mural Map at: ViBe Creative District - MURAL TOUR - Google My Maps. FREE parking on18th Street near ViBe Park and at the nearby Convention Center. Metered parking along 19th Street. Paid parking lots at 19th St and Pacific Avenue.
Funk Fest Beach Party Returns to 24th Street Beach for 13th Year - For 13 years, the Virginia Beach Funk Fest Beach Party has brought the “funk” to the Oceanfront for two days of electrifying music, great food, and unique vendors. Music is the heart and soul of the festival, to be held on the beach at 24th Street Friday- Saturday, August 25-26. This festival is rain or shine.This popular music genre draws influence from R&B, jazz, gospel, and blues. Funk artists like James Brown and George Clinton (the leader of Parliament-Funkadelic) inspired many musicians and helped spawn other genres like disco and hip hop. For ticket information, click here.
Labor Day Weekend Shoreline Showdown Cornhole Tournament - Looking for a different way to spend the Labor Day weekend? Check out a new offering from Virginia Beach Events- the Shoreline Showdown Cornhole Tournament. A limited number of spots are available. Grab a friend and register today! Find all the details here.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
The CVB Events Calendar for July 1 - December 31, 2023 may be found here. To view the Resort area entertainment schedule, click here. For Town Center events and activities, click here.
My team and I are committed to you and our industry and are here to help any way that we can. Please let me know how we can assist you.
Sincerely,
Nancy Helman
CVB Director
CVB Strategic Pillars:
Engagement|Growth|Brand|Culture|Accountability
Note: Hotel occupancy data was not available at publishing; we will resume publishing when the data is available to us.
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