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November 17, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
Thanks to everyone who was able to come out Wednesday to share in an outstanding day for the Virginia Beach tourism community. It was my team’s privilege to host close to 300 of you at the Convention Center for VB Summit 2023, and my honor to share the good news of the tremendous impact the tourism industry has on our local economy. Here are some highlights from the 2022 economic impact study by Tourism Economics:
- Total Economic Impact: $3.7 billion
- Total Number of Visitors: 13.64 million
- Visitor Spending: $2.4 billion
- Jobs Created: 32,704
- State & Local Tax Revenue: $324 million
- Tax Savings for VB families: $1,754
Attached is an information sheet highlighting more of the key data.
My sincerest gratitude to our Summit keynote speaker, Tourism Economics President Adam Sacks, for making a special trip to Virginia Beach to deliver his firm’s findings to us in person. Thank you to the many exhibitors and the various City and community leaders who also joined us, as well as the rising hospitality students from Tidewater Community College. Finally, we thank the media outlets below for their coverage of our good news:
- 3WTKR reports on economic impact from the VB Tourism Summit
- Virginia Beach tourism’s 2022 economic impact highlighted by 13 News Now
- Coastal Virginia Business Magazine reports “A Good Year for Tourism and Hospitality in Coastal Virginia”
- “Virginia Beach welcomed more than 13 million visitors last year” as per WAVY
- Trend Radars features “‘Virginia Beach prevailed through the pandemic:’ Economic summit celebrates tourism.”
VB Sales Activity and News: It has been a very busy week for M&C Sales & Service. Our Services team has been managing the transportation and housing for the Virginia Department of General Services Administration’s annual meeting on procurement at the Convention Center. Amy Overstreet visited with many of those procurement officers from around the state, reminding them to “Bring it to the Beach.” Sally Noona was on the road earlier in the week attending the American Society of Association Executives’ Leadership Meeting in Baltimore and then headed to Providence, Rhode Island to meet with nursing groups interested in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach is set to be a vibrant epicenter of sports this week, hosting an array of diverse events that will bring together over 2,700 athletes. The 2023 26th Annual NFHL Fall Championship will take over the USA Regional Field Hockey Training Center, highlighting skill, teamwork, and strategy in competitive field hockey. Basketball fans will be drawn to the 2023 Neptune Tip-Off Classic at Catholic High School, where fast-paced action and incredible athleticism will dominate the court. Meanwhile, the 2023 Mid Atlantic Fall Player Clinic at the Virginia Beach Field House offers a fantastic opportunity for young athletes to sharpen their skills under expert guidance, nurturing the next generation of sports stars. Football enthusiasts won't want to miss the 2023 Neptune Bowl at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, where teams will engage in intense matches, each vying for the coveted title. The week culminates with the 2023 Maximum Cheer & Dance at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, a dazzling event combining athleticism, rhythm, and artistic expression in cheer and dance. This week in Virginia Beach promises to be an unforgettable showcase of talent, passion, and the competitive spirit across various sports.
We are pleased to share the following out of market destination news:
- Virginia Beach’s holiday lights are featured in Conde Nast Traveler’s “21 Drive-Through Christmas Lights Displays That Are Worth a Road Trip”
- Journalist Alex Sumuel features “Your Virginia Beach Holiday Event Carolyn Desalu lists Virginia Beach in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution round-up titled, “Snuggle up: Nine getaways for romancing the winter”
- Guide Has Arrived!” in Newsbreak
- Journalist Gregory D. McCluney wrote a Virginia Beach destination piece for The Global Traveler titled “Beyond the Boardwalk: Virginia Beach Emerges as A Year-Round Events and Entertainment Destination”
- FOX Business lists Virginia Beach in “For Thanksgiving travel, here are the top 10 cities to visit this year, according to WalletHub”
- Eater DC features a 24-hour getaway in Virginia Beach
Help Improve Internet Affordability and Access in VB - Did you know Virginia is eligible for $1.48 billion in federal funding to help increase the affordability of and access to internet services? The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has launched a statewide survey to better understand the lack of broadband access, affordability and adoption in Virginia. Take the two-minute survey and speed test before Nov. 30 to help ensure that Virginia Beach is eligible for funding to assist in providing affordable and reliable internet throughout the city.
Coastal Virginia Auto Show Returns This Weekend, November 17 - 19 - It’s here! The Coastal Virginia Auto Show rolls back into town this weekend as the largest car show of its kind with all the makes, models, clubs, and cultures gathered under one roof. Elite, classics, customs, antique, trucks, motorcycles, after-market, and even bicycles will be on display at this incredible indoor show. For the car enthusiasts who can’t display their vehicle for the entire weekend, there will be a special one-day show tomorrow, Saturday, November 18 in front of the Convention Center on 19th Street from 10 am to 4 pm. The weekend includes celebrity appearances, demos and displays, live entertainment, giveaways, prizes, a children’s area, and much more. This family-friendly event has something for everyone! Find all the details here.
Please note there will be a Road Closure on 19th Street on Saturday from 8 am to 5:30 p.m. in conjunction with the outdoor car show.
The BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach, presented by Food Lion - This beloved holiday tradition returns in 2023 with new displays, two additional blocks of lights, and a new 600 ft. LED tunnel. Jumping fish, musical crabs, and jolly elves dance in lights against the backdrop of the moonlit Atlantic Ocean. Highlighted by a Surfing Santa, color-changing archways, light fixtures that pay tribute to the region’s Armed Forces community, and a 40-foot dancing-light Christmas tree, the 2023 BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach, presented by Food Lion, offers wondrous fun for the entire family nightly through January 1, 2024. Find ticket information and learn what to know before you go here.
Celebrate The Holidays At Town Center - Plan your holiday visit to Town Center and join in the fun during the most wonderful time of the year. Beginning November 24, come out to celebrate the very best of the season and join in festivities including the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the first-ever illumination of the Town Center holiday tree on December 1st. Back this year to everyone’s delight is the Town Center Snowglobe Spectacular, a collection of more than 15 magical life-size snow globes each filled with unique and creative holiday scenes. Also, on tap are roving musicians, dancing elves and more! Check out the complete list of Town Center holiday events here and be sure to get in on all the fun!
Shop Small Business Saturday in the ViBe District - Saturday, November 25 is Small Business Saturday 2023, a national movement created to promote shopping at small, local businesses for the holidays. The ViBe Creative District is made up (almost exclusively) by small, locally-owned-and-operated businesses. Come support your neighbors and friends! This is the 8th Annual Small Business Saturday celebration in the District and it is the largest local celebration of participating small businesses in Hampton Roads with approximately 75 businesses located within 1.5 miles in the district. The event will also include live music by Big Juicy Entertainment honoring small local musicians as small businesses. Hours are 10 am to 4 pm. Find out more here.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
The CVB Events Calendar through 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, 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 29 - November 4: Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of October 29 – November 4 was down -6% at 48% occupancy and down -2% for the running 28-day trend. ADR had no change year-over-year at $110.58 for the week but up 2.3% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was down -6% at $53.04 but up 0.2% for the running 28-day trend.
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