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October 6, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
September was a busy month across the City and it looks like the remainder of 2023 is going to be just as active. We are excited for the lineup of events happening over the next several months including MOCA’s 67th Annual Boardwalk Art Show, the Wicked 10K, the second annual Jeepfest and the Holiday Lights at the Beach show which includes 27 new light displays this year. It’s going to be a great season!
Our marketing and brand development efforts keep writers interested in covering our coastal City. Below are the links to four great articles:
Mark your calendars for the 2023 VB Summit Set for Wednesday, November 15. An authority on measuring the economic impact of visitor activity, Tourism Economics President Adam Sacks will be the keynote speaker. Adam will present our 2022 tourism economic impact data to City Council on the evening of Tuesday, November 14 and again the next morning to the industry and the public during the Summit. In addition to the presentation, there will be a trade show exhibition component to the event which offers our valued partners the opportunity to have a presence at the tradeshow. CVB will be providing tables and we invite everyone to sign up to join us. Email Teresa Diaz at tdiaz@visitvirginiabeach.com for more information and to secure your space today.
CVB Sales Activity and News: The M&C Sales & Services Team is gearing up for a very busy week. Our Services team is working on housings for several fall groups and one spring group. They are also preparing for the transportation needs of our next citywide event coming to Virginia Beach, the National Safe Association. Our Sales team is planting many seeds with site visits, trade shows and sales missions. Late last week, Scott Warren conducted a sales mission to Richmond and several of us had site visits. This week, Amy Overstreet is on her way to Williamsburg for SGMP and Dee Mittman and Scott Warren have site visits. Sally Noona and Jamie Rawls are in Richmond for VSAE’s Annual Trade Show and Education Conference where they will be hosting a client event the evening before and partnering with eight hoteliers and hosting 11 meeting planners.
This week, Virginia Beach is again an epicenter of athletic excitement, boasting an unparalleled line-up of sporting events and welcoming 5,000 athletes from across the region as well as the country. The energy kicks off at the Princess Anne Family YMCA with the 2023 TIDE vs. TAC Dual Swim Meet, where swimmers will plunge into action. Down the road, the US Field Hockey Training Center sets the stage for the 2023 RTC Ring of Honor field hockey showdown, promising high adrenaline matches. Tennis prodigies will give their all at the Virginia Beach Tennis Center for the 2023 USTA L4 Open Boys & Girls 16 & under, serving up a storm of skill and finesse. Wrestling enthusiasts will make their way to the Virginia Beach Field House for the gripping 2023 Interstate 64 Final 4 Fall and Interstate 64 Fall Duals, where strength and strategy collide. Soccer lovers have a treat awaiting them at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex with the 2023 Columbus Day Soccer matches, offering a celebration of teamwork and agility. Rounding out the week, the Virginia Beach Sports Center is the arena for the 2023 Hooptober Classic basketball tournament, where hoops will be sunk, rebounds grabbed, and champions crowned.
The VBCC is busy this weekend as the staff plans to host an estimated 3,500 people expected for the Virginia Beach Coin Show, Treasures of the Earth Gem & Jewelry Show, and an anniversary celebration for the First Baptist Church of South Hill. The facility then moves directly into hosting the 61st Annual Symposium of the SAFE Association.
October is National Arts & Humanities Month - The ViBe Creative District and the Virginia Beach Department of Cultural Affairs encourages residents and guests to share in “good vibes'' with their many partners during this month’s celebration. For a list of those partners and more information about National Arts & Humanities Month, click here.
Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development Receives Award from International Economic Development Council - Congratulations to our Economic Development partners for their 2023 Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council, specifically for their work in the following categories:
- Category 23: Partnerships with Educational Institutions
- Partnerships with Virginia Wesleyan University and Tidewater Community College for Talent Innovation – Silver Award
- Category 14: Entrepreneurship
- The HIVE: Virginia Beach Business Resource Center – Bronze Award
- Category 6: Magazine & Newsletter
- The HIVE Monthly Newsletter – Bronze Award
Read the full news release here.
Virginia Beach Recycling Survey Now Open - Virginia Beach residents can assist City leadership in determining the future of the City’s curbside recycling program by completing a survey. The 17-question recycling survey is available now through Friday, November 17 at SpeakUpVB.com/Recycling. Before completing the survey, residents can review the information tabs on the project page, including a brief overview of the current state of recycling, the current recycling contract, educational information about what can be recycled in Virginia Beach and the options available for a recycling program moving forward. For more information and to read the City’s full news release about the survey, click here.
Last Chance to Attend VRLTA Ordinary Awards - The 2023 Ordinary Awards Dinner is fast approaching, and it's almost your last chance to lock in tickets! Make sure you've secured your seat for the ultimate celebration of the best and brightest Virginia's hospitality and tourism industries have to offer. Join the VRLTA for a special evening on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at the Richmond Marriott Downtown, where they will recognize the achievements of the awards finalists, find out who wins, and network with friends and colleagues from around the Commonwealth. Click here to register. Best of luck to all the nominees!
Calling All Animators: The ViBe Creative District is partnering with Beach Events on the 2023 Holiday Lights animation projection within the Holiday Lights footprint at the Oceanfront. The ViBe Creative District has invested in the exterior equipment and construction mount to house the projection station for the animation. The artist will only need to supply the animation video which can be between 15 to 20 seconds long and must include the ViBe logo, the words “Happy Holidays from Virginia Beach” and content inspired by the holidays. Interested in submitting your work? Find out more here including the artist stipend details and deadline information.
Fall In Love with Town Center - With over 65 shopping, dining, and entertainment venues, the options are endless at the beautiful Town Center of Virginia Beach. For access to all of Town Center’s events and activities, including free movie nights, click 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.
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 Development|Culture|Accountability
Hotel Occupancy Data for the Week of September 24 - 30 Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of September 24 - 30 was up 7% at 58.3% occupancy but slightly down -1.3% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 11.2% at $147.03 for the week and up 2.7% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was also up 19.1% at $85.71 and up 1.4% for the running 28-day trend. In comparison to September 2019, we have a decrease in occupancy of -8.04% but counter this with an increase in ADR and RevPAR of 39.70% and 28.42% respectively.
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