|
January 19, 2024
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
It was incredibly exciting to see our Sports Tourism efforts highlighted last weekend by a wide variety of media outlets during the Virginia Showcase track and field event at the Sports Center. Thanks to all of you for your hard work and effort to make the Virginia Beach experience a memorable one for local and visiting athletes, their families, and guests. Examples of some of the extensive news coverage we received can be found later in this newsletter.
There is still ample opportunity to take a bite of local flavor during Virginia Beach Restaurant Week 2024. Through this Sunday, Jan. 21, join in this celebration of the Virginia Beach culinary scene highlighted by specially designed menus and offers. To view menus and days/hours of operation, and to make reservations where available, click here.
The 2024 CVB Event Calendar is now available on the Partner Pipeline. Please take note that while we have made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information in this calendar, the CVB assumes no responsibility for changes, cancellations, or additions after publishing. Everyone is encouraged to also visit www.visitvirginiabeach.com/events to view events taking place today, this week, this weekend, or this month. Filters are available to show 16 different categories of event types. Republication of this document will occur mid-year.
Earlier this week, our partners at Beach Events announced a packed line-up of concerts, festivals, and entertainment for 2024. From art and cultural experiences to unique family shows and activities, the schedule includes something for everyone! The season officially kicks off with the second annual Bulls and Barrels Beach Rodeo on April 13-14, 2024. View the announcement and see all the 2024 Beach Events happenings here.
CVB Sales Activity and News: The CVB team supports the bureau’s strategic pillars of Engagement, Growth, Brand Development, Culture, and Accountability.
This week marks an exciting time for sports in our city as we host five spectacular events, drawing in over 4,000 athletes from various locations. The spotlight shines on the 2024 VWU Marlin Invitational and the 2024 VWU D3 Pre-Nationals, two premier track events set to display some of the finest track and field talent in the region. Meanwhile, the energy is buzzing at the sports center with the 2024 Blizzard Blast Volleyball Tournament in full swing. At Ocean Lakes High School, the mats are set for intense competition as wrestlers grapple for supremacy in the 2024 John Kelly Ocean Lakes Wrestling Invitational. Not to be missed, the Virginia Beach Tennis Center buzzes with activity during the Tri-Level Tennis Tournament, showcasing skill and sportsmanship. Each of these events not only celebrates athletic prowess but also brings together our community in a shared spirit of sportsmanship and excitement!
The M&C Sales & Services team is back in town after a very busy week on the road engaging with their various networks and supporting market growth. Our Services team is gearing up for the Groundworks conference of approximately 2,400 attendees.
As part of the CVB culture, our teams enjoy many opportunities to participate in social responsibility programs created by our industry partners. Recently while in San Diego, Dee Mittman, Amy Overstreet, and Sally Noona of our M&C Sales Team helped brighten the grounds of Perkins Elementary School and its community of children in need. At the recent Religious Conference Management Association EMERGE meeting, Scott Warren was part of a backpack stuffing program which supported children in need in the San Antonio area.
This week Jim Coggin is in Nashville attending the American Bus Association 2024 Marketplace, the premier event in the Group Tour Market. Several of our industry partners joined Jim in Nashville, and the Virginia Beach team had over 226 combined desk-side appointments.
The VBCC welcomed a record crowd for the Urban League’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast this past Monday. More than 1,100 individuals came to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. This weekend we welcome the Tidewater RV Show, the Mid-Atlantic Home & Outdoor Living Show, and the Uniquely Yours Bridal Show.
City of Virginia Beach Development Authority Announces Return of Façade Improvement Grants - The City of Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) is pleased to announce the return of the Façade Improvement Grant (FIG) program. For three years in a row, this popular program has provided financial assistance to businesses and property owners seeking to enhance the attractiveness of their properties. The results speak volumes. Since the program’s inception, VBDA has awarded $273,680 in grants to 39 small businesses, who in turn have invested $1.4 million in properties throughout the City. The program, which is administered by the Department of Economic Development, provides matching grants of up to $10,000 to eligible businesses and property owners who are looking to make improvements to the exterior of their buildings or properties. These improvements can include paint, fencing, parking upgrades, signage, accent or security lighting, and other enhancements that will help to improve the overall appearance and attractiveness of a property. The program is available for new exterior improvements made by businesses and property owners, who meet the following criteria:
- Businesses must be new or existing small businesses licensed in Virginia Beach with fewer than 50 employees;
- Businesses and property owners must be current on all taxes and fees owed to the City; and
- Properties must be zoned for commercial or industrial uses.
The application portal and guidelines for the FIG program can be found at www.yesvirginiabeach.com/fig. Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a competitive, first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be scored based on the evaluation criteria, posted online. The exterior improvement project must be completed within six months of receipt of the grant and must not have commenced prior to submission of the application.
Virginia Tourism Corporation Grant Openings and Webinars -The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Grants Division will be opening THREE grants on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 9 a.m. These programs will close on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 5 p.m. There are some changes to the programs. VTC is offering multiple webinars and invites you to join them to learn about the programs. Most changes are summarized on www.vatc.org/grants Significant changes not listed on vatc.org/grants are:
- All applications now require a lodging partner and letter of support from a lodging partner. Lodging partners can be local/regional and can be B&B, campground, state or national park, hotel, motel, AirBnb operator, VRBO operator, etc. Reason: We need to focus on overnight visitation and making sure applicants incorporate overnight stay motivations in their marketing even if they are a day trip location.
- All applications will require a letter of support from local/regional DMO and if no local/regional DMO then a letter of support from the locality. Reason: This will spur more partnerships and keep DMOs/localities in the loop on new initiatives in their area.
- Special Events & Festivals will now require uploading proof of prior attendance. This can be a ticketing report, written attestation, Facebook RSVP screenshot, etc. We need to hold folks more accountable on their attendance tracking, but I recognize some events don’t have ticketing so we will allow the written attestation. Reason: This will also fortify our economic impact tracking.
Below is the link to sign up for the webinars. You only need to sign up for one—they should be nearly identical each time. If these dates don’t work for you, please reach out to VTC directly to find an alternate date or do a one-on-one Zoom call. https://vatc.org/partnershipmarketing/virginia-tourism-grant-webinars
Please note VTC will not be using the new Foundant software platform for this round of grants and will roll out that platform in June 2024. This round of grants that opens in February will be in the normal portal hosted on vatc.org/grants like prior rounds.
CVB Loonie Savers Program Accepting Partner Offers for 2024 - The CVB invites all partners to participate in our 2024 special offers program designed exclusively for our Canadian guests. The Loonie Savers digital pass program will further support the CVB’s efforts to be recognized as a year-round destination and will give our industry partners the opportunity to receive free exposure for your businesses products and services. Once your offers are loaded and approved, someone from our team will contact you to confirm any details. Click here to sign up.
Virginia MOCA Spring Exhibition to Include Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey To Nature’s Underworld - The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (Virginia MOCA) is proud to announce Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld, a major new traveling exhibition of the internationally renowned and closely linked artists. Featuring approximately 30 large-scale paintings and sculptures created by Dion and Rockman between 1990 and 2022, the exhibition surveys three decades of avid exploration and engagement with the natural world. Journey to Nature’s Underworld offers a timely examination and cautionary vision of our present ecological moment, inviting viewers to voyage with the artists to the threatened yet alluring depths of our environmental terrain. On view February 9 through June 9, 2024, the exhibition is organized by the American Federation of Arts and guest curated by Suzanne Ramljak along with Virginia MOCA site curator Heather Hakimzadeh. Find out more information about this exhibition here.
Provide Input on the Future of Transportation in Virginia Beach - Help City leaders in determining future transportation plans by completing a five-minute, 19-question survey online at SpeakUpVB.com/TransportationPlan through March 8, 2024. The Planning Department is currently working on updating the City’s Master Transportation Plan as a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. These plans look forward 20 to 25 years into the future and are designed to guide capital improvement projects for roadways, bike paths and other means of getting around town. The Master Transportation plan will help guide transportation policy by evaluating existing conditions around the city and considering future transportation needs. Public feedback via the survey will be used to inform discussions about important transportation issues that impact quality of life (i.e. congestion, equity, etc.). Results of the survey will be shared with City leaders, who will use it along with other information to develop policy and make decisions. Residents are encouraged to learn more at SpeakUpVB.com. As an alternative to completing the survey online, residents may complete a paper version of the survey at any Virginia Beach Public Library. They also may request to receive a paper version of the survey by postal mail to be completed and returned, either by mail or to a Virginia Beach Public Library. To request the paper survey, please call 757-323-6219. Questions concerning the survey or information on the project page can be directed to Nancy Bloom of the Communications Department at 757-385-6279 or NBloom@VBgov.com.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
To view the 2024 CVB Events Calendar, click 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 December 31 - January 6: Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of December 31 – January 6 was up 4.7% at 34.8% occupancy but down -0.8% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 12.4% at $107.55 and up 1.2% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was up 17.7% at $37.42 and up 0.3% for the running 28-day trend.
| 
