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November 3, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
It’s hard to believe we are already in November and at the onset of the 2023 holiday season! We’re excited to have a full lineup of events and happenings in Virginia Beach to complement this festive time of year. Later in this newsletter, read more about what’s going on in the coming weeks.
The inaugural event kicking off our new CVB Business Meetings series was held earlier this week in the CVB offices. Kudos to guest speakers Ali Best and Suzzanne Ravitz, and many thanks to those industry partners who joined us. It was great to unite forces to learn more about the current trends in the meetings and sports planning arenas, and to review the latest FuturePace report together. We look forward to future opportunities to engage with our valued industry partners in this forum. Stay tuned for details about our next event in the CVB Business Meeting series.
 
VB Sales Activity and News: This week Sally Noona was preparing for this week’s inaugural CVB Business Meeting and Scott Warren held a site visit with Virginia’s State Council of Apostolic, Inc. The Services team is gearing up for the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of General Services’ annual event in November.
Jim Coggin hosted a jam-packed, inspiring mini-familiarization tour for a group of AAA/CAA travel agents this past weekend. Agents from Canada, Pennsylvania and New Jersey participated in over 15 site visits and enjoyed the most beautiful weather during their stay.
In Sports this week, Virginia Beach is set to become a hub of athletic activity as we host three fantastic events, attracting over 2,000 athletes from diverse disciplines. The week kicks off with the 2023 City of Lights Virginia Beach Softball Showcase at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex. Additionally, young tennis prodigies will compete in high-stakes doubles matches at the 2023 USTA L3 Closed Doubles Boys and Girls 12's & 18's 11 event at the Virginia Beach Tennis Center. The heart and soul of this week's sporting celebration will undoubtedly be the 2023 Special Olympics of Virginia Fall Championships held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
The Resort Management Office reports that free on-street parking returns to Atlantic Avenue. Effective dates are November 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024. The times are 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. On-street parking is from 5th St. to 38th Street along the outside southbound lane of Atlantic Avenue with the exception of the block(s) between:
- 10th and 11th
- 19th and 22nd
- 29th and 31st
Also, the 31st Street Park restroom will be closed for work on Monday, November 6, 2023.
Don't Miss the Last Flea of 2023 - Stop by the ViBE Creative District TONIGHT for the Last Flea of 2023. The fun starts at 6 pm. Find out more 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, the first of which is taking place tomorrow, November 4. Opportunities continue throughout this week:
- 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.
Join The “Autumn in the Air '' Fall Festival Tomorrow at Mt. 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. Join the fun at this immersive family-friendly afternoon featuring food trucks, interactive exhibits, a beer garden, and four-band musical lineup including Grammy Award winner, Chance McCoy. Read more about the event here.
Hampton Roads Transit Offering Free Fares on Election Day - On Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, HRT will not collect fares for bus, light rail, ferry, and paratransit services. Fares are being waived to give riders an opportunity to get to the polls and vote. Find out more about free fares on Election Day here.
Road Closure Notice for the Tidewater Veterans Day Parade - This annual tribute is scheduled for Saturday, November 11, and will be impacting traffic flow in areas in the Resort and along Atlantic Avenue, Pacific Avenue, and Virginia Beach Boulevard between the hours of 7:00 am & 11:00 am. In addition, 19th Street in front of the Virginia Beach Convention Center will be closed until approximately 2:00 pm. Please see the Road Closure Notice here and feel free to reach out with questions or concerns to Zach Cannon at 757.385.6636.
Virginia Beach Jeep Fest 2023 Set for November 10 - 12 - It’s almost here! Next weekend, Jeep enthusiasts unite for Virginia Beach’s Second Annual Virginia Beach Jeep Fest. Enjoy sunrise beach cruises or push the limit on the sand obstacle course. Show off your ride, check out the latest Jeep accessories, and immerse yourself in all things Jeep! Vendors, Show & Shine, Beach Cruise, Beach Sand Course and more. For additional information and registration, visit vabeachjeepfest.com.
Coastal Virginia Auto Show Returns November 17 - 19 - The Coastal Virginia Auto Show will roll back into the town in 2023 as the largest car show of its kind with all the makes, models, clubs, and cultures gathered under one roof to celebrate a shared passion, the love of these machines! Elite, classics, customs, antique, trucks, motorcycles, after-market, and even bicycles, will be on display at this indoor show. For the car enthusiasts who can’t display their vehicle for the entire weekend, there will be a special one-day show on Saturday, November 18 in front of the Convention Center on 19th Street from 10 am to 4 pm. The 2023 Coastal Virginia Auto Show will also include celebrity appearances, displays and demonstrations, live entertainment, lots of giveaways, prizes, a children’s area, and so much more. This family-friendly event has something for everyone! Get all the details here.
Please note there will be a Road Closure on 19th Street on Saturday, November 18 from 8 am to 5:30 p.m. in conjunction with the outdoor car show.
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 15 - 21: Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of October 15 – October 21 was down -7.9% at 56.7% occupancy and down -0.2% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 2.1% at $124.12 for the week and up 4.8% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was down -6.0% at $70.39 but up 4.6% for the running 28-day trend.
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