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January 5, 2024
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
Happy New Year! The CVB team and I are looking forward to strengthening our existing partnerships and building new ones across the industry as we forge together to bring record numbers of visitors to Virginia Beach. We have a lot on tap to be excited about in 2024! From a dynamic and diverse entertainment lineup, including debut and returning festivals, to new meetings and convention business and a wide range of sports events, there are endless ways to enjoy what Virginia Beach has to offer and the options continue to grow. Here’s to a prosperous 2024!
CVB Sales Activity and News: The CVB team supports the bureau’s strategic pillars of Engagement, Growth, Brand Development, Culture, and Accountability.
Our Meetings & Conventions Sales Team is starting off the new year with plenty of engagement while promoting the brand and selling the destination. Amy Overstreet was a panelist at the January meeting for the Society of Government Meeting Professionals’ Old Dominion Chapter. There she shared how partnerships between meeting professionals and destination marketing organizations, like the CVB, create successful events. Jamie Rawls and Sally Noona were in Richmond for the Virginia Society of Association Executives’ monthly luncheon where the new year kicked off with Dr. Bob Holsworth sharing his analysis of the recent statewide elections and his outlook for 2024. Our Services Team is gearing up for Groundworks at the end of January - more than 2000 attendees are expected to attend this citywide event.
This weekend Virginia Beach is set to become a bustling hub of athletic activity, hosting five exciting events across multiple venues. The action begins at the Virginia Beach Tennis Center with the USTA L5 Closed Boys and Girls 14's & Under tennis match, where over 65 young athletes will showcase their skills on the court. Meanwhile, the Virginia Beach Sports Center is gearing up for a trio of events: the Virginia Beach Brawl volleyball tournament, the Virginia Beach High School Relays track & field event, and the Ram Invite Opener VCU track event. These events are expected to bring a combined total of over 3,000 athletes, turning the Sports Center into a dynamic arena of competition. Additionally, the VB Field House will host the USFHA Indoor Field Hockey Qualifier, further adding to the weekend's athletic fervor. Together, these events underscore Virginia Beach's role as a premier destination for sports tourism, highlighting the city's capacity to host diverse and large-scale sporting events.
The Virginia Beach CVB has invited Virginia African American Cultural Center Executive Director Tamar Smithers to participate in a Black History Month webinar on Wednesday, Jan. 17 with members of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). The webinar is a “pass the mic” virtual group marketplace where Ms. Smithers will share story ideas about Virginia Beach that elevate and celebrate Black heritage, history, or travel experiences and discuss the importance of cultural centers that preserve and celebrate the vast contributions African Americans have made to this country. We thank Ms. Smithers for participating and representing Virginia Beach. We are also pleased to share that Virginia Beach Restaurant Week is featured in the TravelPulse article: Every State's Best Events in January 2024
“The Recipe” – A Photographic Journey Through the Virginia Beach Restaurant Scene - The Virginia Beach Restaurant Association (VBRA) is proud to announce its partnership with Mr. Nathan W. Beck of Beck Image in the creation of “The Recipe” – a photographic journey through the Virginia Beach Restaurant scene. The exhibit consists of 60 photographs, taking the viewer behind the scenes of members of the VBRA. Your visual journey commences with:
- The Beginning of a Culinary Career
- Ingredients’ Origins Highlighting Local Farms, Seafood, and Food Distributors
- The Guests that Grace our Doorsteps
- The Kitchen Ballet
- The Stars of the Menu: Food and Beverages
- “Last Call”
The exhibit will open to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at the Sandler Center for Performing Arts in Town Center. Admission is free and exhibit access is available during box office hours and scheduled events. After the closing at Sandler Center, the exhibit will move to other locations across Virginia Beach and beyond. For more information, click here.
Virginia Beach Restaurant Week Returns January 15 - 21, 2024 - Virginia Beach Restaurant Week 2024 marks the 19th year of a weeklong celebration of the Virginia Beach culinary scene highlighted by specially designed menus with pre-fixe pricing, discount hotel options, and the pineapple. Restaurants will incorporate the pineapple in their décor, beverage, or menu options. Members of the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association are the only restaurants permitted to participate during this weeklong celebration. Patrons are encouraged to check menus and days/hours of operation and to make reservations where available. Click here for more details and a current list of participating restaurants.
VRLTA Webinar: Dominion Energy's Energy Conservation Programs - New Year, New Energy Savings! Jumpstart your 2024 savings with programs created to help you save energy and money. Dominion Energy’s Energy Conservation programs are designed to support the goals of businesses just like yours. Join VRLTA for this virtual opportunity on Tuesday, Jan. 16 to learn how to start saving energy—and boosting your bottom line. For more details and registration information, click here.
Virginia Aquarium to Hold E-Cycling Event - Dispose of old electronics responsibly at the Virginia Aquarium’s free E-Cycling event on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, from 9 am to 12 pm, presented by PRA Group. Rain or shine, participants can recycle old, broken, or expired child safety seats, used vehicle batteries, personal electronic items and more. The event will be a drive-through in the Aquarium’s East Parking Lot with participating vendors including AAA Tidewater Virginia, Goodwill Industries, and TFC Recycling. For a full list of accepted items, visit VirginiaAquarium.com.
2024 Coastal Virginia Hospitality Expo - Dig out your neon, puffed sleeves and leg warmers because it’s back to the 80’s! SAVE THE DATE of Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, for this prime opportunity which brings together vendors, industry experts and the hospitality community in an exchange of products, services, and ideas. To learn about partnership opportunities and more, contact Teri Wiley at teri.wiley@vbha.net. You won’t want to miss this Expo!
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
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 December 17 - December 23 - Hotel occupancy for the week of December 17 - 23, 2023, was down -0.4% at 30.9% occupancy and down -2.1% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 3.5% at $94.96 and up 2.4% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was up 3.1% at $29.33 and up 0.2% for the running 28-day trend.
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