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October 20, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
Congratulations to Virginia MOCA as they kick off the 67th Annual Boardwalk Art Show. Presented by PNC, this three-day show starts today and will highlight the work of nearly 200 artists from around the country - featuring fine art across several mediums including painting, sculpture, jewelry, wood, photography, and more. Ranked as a top 15 Fine Art Show of the Decade by Sunshine Artist magazine, the Boardwalk Art Show is one of the only outdoor art shows produced by an accredited museum and offers a unique experience against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. The event is free, open to the public and runs through Sunday, October 22 at 4 p.m. on the Boardwalk from 24th to 35th Streets.
New this year, the ViBe Creative District will bring local artists to the boardwalk to paint original live murals on the spot. Interspersed with artists’ booths, the murals will provide engaging complements to the fine art on display along the boardwalk. In another example of the art show’s support of working artists, the Boardwalk Art Show 2023 Commemorative T-Shirt, designed by Virginia Beach artist Corinna Sayward, and Commemorative Poster, created specially for the show by exhibiting artist LJ Eidolon, will be available for purchase at the 24th and 35th Street merchandise tents.
Bring the entire family to 24th Street Park for free interactive art experiences and activities provided by local non-profit organizations, as well as rotating performances from local youth and performance groups. Mobile creative spaces and studios such as Studio Shift, Lil Truck of Tools, and for the first time, Virginia MOCA’s ARTlab LIVE, will offer hands-on artmaking opportunities for the whole family. For more information, click here
Registration is now open for the 2023 VB Summit set for Wednesday, November 15 at the Convention Center. Use the link here to register for free admission to this business event which includes a trade show and breakfast. As previously shared, the program will feature Economics President Adam Sacks who will review the Virginia Beach 2022 tourism economic impact data. The trade show component of the program offers all partners an opportunity to have a presence. 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. Deadline for vendor tables is November 1.
CVB Sales Activity and News: The M&C Services Team is preparing to welcome and service the transportation needs for the Christian Counseling Education Foundation this week. Originally anticipating 1200 attendees, the group had to cap registration at 2500 delegates - a record breaker for them! Also this week a contingent from the CVB, including Chef Desiree from the Convention Center, took an agricultural Producers Tour with representatives of the Virginia Farm Bureau. The team met with local providers of culinary ingredients that will be sources for the association’s annual convention in late November.
Virginia Beach is the ultimate playground for sports enthusiasts this week, hosting not one, but two exciting tournaments and welcoming over 1,500 athletes and their families to our vibrant city! First up, the Princess Anne Athletic Complex becomes a battlefield of talent and teamwork with the 2023 Legendary Softball Showcase Showdown. Teams will unleash their full potential, making diving catches and hitting home runs, all in a quest for softball supremacy. Not to be outdone, the state-of-the-art Virginia Beach Sports Center is buzzing with the electricity of the 2023 Ladies Ball Basketball Championship. The hardwood will be exciting as aspiring basketball athletes battle it out on the court, vying for the ultimate title. As Virginia Beach fills with the adrenaline of these spectacular events, the city offers its warmest welcome to athletes and fans alike to Virginia Beach!
The VBCC is excited to welcome the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation Annual Conference this week. Next week’s schedule includes hosting two state conferences, Election Official Training, and VBCPS College Night.
Tax Free Weekend - Virginia’s annual three-day sales tax holiday resumes today, Friday, October 20, and is in effect through Sunday, October 22. During this time, shoppers will have the opportunity to save on school supplies, clothing, footwear, emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star and WaterSense products without paying sales tax. Stock up on the many supplies needed for protecting your home and business during an emergency. Assembling an emergency kit with essential supplies for you and your family is important before a hurricane or emergency. Some of the items recommended in the kit are eligible for tax exemption including batteries, flashlights, portable radios, two-way radios, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, first aid kits and more. Find out how to assemble this important kit and more here.
VBPD Mounted Patrol Trunk or Treat Includes Sensory Friendly Hour - Got kids who love horses? Bring them to the Trunk or Treat event presented by the Virginia Beach Police Mounted Patrol on Saturday, October 21. This family-friendly event will take place at the horse barn for the mounted patrol officers. The grounds and horse barn will be decorated for Halloween. Even the horses will be wearing costumes, so dress up the kids and get ready to collect all the candy you can carry back to your car. A sensory-friendly hour will run from 3 - 4 p.m. and will have no flashing lights, fewer noises and a smaller crowd. The regular event will run from 4 - 8 p.m. Find out more here.
VRLTA Offers Free Staffing Solutions Webinar - Staffing struggles continue to be one of the biggest issues for lodging properties throughout Virginia and across the country. Join VRLTA and their partner, Seasonal Connect, to learn how utilizing seasonal Americans and international workers can make the dream of being fully staffed become a reality. This informative virtual opportunity (via Zoom) is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24 from 10 - 11 a.m. Interested? Register here.
Get Ready For A Wicked Weekend October 27 - 29 - Come experience Coastal Virginia’s largest Halloween race and party. The Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K Weekend presented by Bon Secours shows off Virginia Beach’s wicked side. Do you love Halloween? Do you love running by the ocean? Are you looking for a few tricks and treats? The Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K Weekend is the perfect place to celebrate Halloween and enjoy wicked good times. Get the full event schedule by clicking here.
To add to the race weekend festivities, don’t miss the free family-friendly Pumpkins and Pirates Fest at 17th Street Park beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 28.
Town and Treat at Town Center - Town Center invites the community to come dressed in their best costume! Enjoy free family-friendly activities at this annual Halloween event, Town and Treat, on Saturday, October 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by for trick or treating at Town Center businesses, activity stations, roaming characters, games, music, cotton candy, costume contests, and more. Dress in your finest Halloween costume to win a special prize! For all the details, click here.
Make Plans to Attend VB Parks & Recreation’s New Autumn in the Air Fall Festival at Mount Trashmore - Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation will celebrate the season’s bounty with banjos, brews and bites at a new, free fall festival called Autumn in the Air, from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 4. Visit Mount Trashmore Park for an immersive family-friendly experience featuring food trucks, interactive exhibits, a beer garden and four-band musical lineup including Grammy Award winner, Chance McCoy. Read more about this new event in the official City news release found here.
Navigating Our Future: Comprehensive Plan 2040 - What is the future of Virginia Beach? The City is tasked with making decisions now that will guide development and transportation across the City for the next 20 years and beyond. Your voice is an important part of that conversation. Where should we focus development in the City? What roadways need improvement? What are we missing? Let City Planners know what you think at one of the four upcoming public meetings:
- Saturday, November 4: 2 – 4 p.m., College Park Elementary, 1110 Bennington Road
- Monday, November 6: 6 – 8 p.m., Kellam High School, 2665 West Neck Road
- Wednesday, November 8: 6 – 8 p.m., Bayside Recreation Center, 4500 First Court Road
- Thursday, November 9: 6 – 8 p.m.: Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 3, 1000 19th Street
For questions or additional information, email CompPlan@vbgov.com or visit the Comprehensive Plan website at https://planning.virginiabeach.gov/comp-plan.
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 easy access to all of Town Center’s events and activities, including free movie nights, 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 October 8 - 14: Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of October 8 – October 14 was down -3.3% at 59.3% occupancy but up 0.7% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was down -0.3% at $122.47 for the week but up 3.6% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was also down -3.6% at $72.57 but up 4.4% for the running 28-day trend. In comparison to October 2019, we have a decrease in occupancy of -7.63% but counter this with an increase in ADR and RevPAR of 18.79% and 9.72% respectively.
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