|
February 23, 2024
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday for the second meeting in our CVB Business Meeting series. We heard from Suzzanne Ravitz of 2 Synergize, LLC who provided the year-end 2023 Simpleview Sales Quarterly Report, updates on our FuturePace partnership with Tourism Economics and the FuturePace Year-end Goal Forecast for 2023 - 2026. Lisa Bleakley, Bill Kelly and Wendell Phillips from our Resort Management Office also provided an update. As we continue to build out the series topics and speakers, please save the following dates for the remaining opportunities in our 2024 CVB Business Meetings series:
Monday, May 13
Thursday, August 22
Wednesday, October 30
All meetings are scheduled in the CVB Offices at 600 22nd Street, Second Floor, in the Atlantic Boardroom from 3:30 – 5 pm.
It’s hard to believe we are just about two short weeks away from turning our clocks forward and the start of yet another busy spring season. March gives us the opportunity to usher in an event which is a hometown favorite that also draws athletes and fans from across the country. The 52nd running of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon will take place March 15 - 17, 2024. This St. Paddy’s Day tradition has a race distance for every goal: Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K, and challenges. No matter the distance, participants will experience the best of Coastal Virginia on the flat, scenic course before crossing the finish line overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The party continues after the race at the post-race celebration on the beach with Yuengling Beer and live music. For more information and to register, click here. Traffic will be temporarily impacted during these events. Please see this Road Closure Notification and share with guests who may be affected.
Nominations are open through Friday, March 1 for the 2024 National Travel & Tourism (NTTW) awards. Honors in more than a dozen categories will be awarded during our 2024 NTTW Awards Luncheon at the Convention Center on May 2. Industry partners are encouraged to take advantage of this prime, free opportunity to shine a light on those on your staff whose hard work and dedication help make Virginia Beach the destination of choice for more than 13 million guests annually. Nominate a hospitality hero today! Go to www.visitvirginiabeach.com/nttw for more information and to submit nominations.
CVB Sales Activity and News: The CVB team supports the bureau’s strategic pillars of Engagement, Growth, Brand Development, Culture, and Accountability.
The M&C Sales and Services Team continues to engage and is working hard to secure new and repeat meeting and convention business. Late last week, Jamie Rawls conducted a site visit with the International Technology & Engineering Educators Association for their March 2026 annual meeting at the Convention Center. This past weekend, Dee Mittman hosted a mini site visit for a HelmsBriscoe contact.
Tourism’s Kelli Norman and Jim Coggin are in Canada this week. While there, among other engagement opportunities, the team hosted an event at the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Montreal where dozens of tour operators and travel media participated in a hands-on arts experience. Mural Artist Rick Ricketts from the ViBe Creative District spent time with the guests teaching them the art of mural creation, inspired by our Virginia Beach ViBe district. Kelli and Jim are also making sales calls to various Canadian Automotive Association (CAA) offices during their stay.
This past week, Virginia Beach Sports Tourism was thrilled to host the 2024 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, where the Howard University Women's team and the Norfolk State University Men's team emerged victorious, showcasing exceptional talent and sportsmanship. As we celebrate their achievements, we eagerly anticipate the continuation of more premier athletic events in our city! This weekend, the Virginia Beach Sports Center takes center stage as it hosts the 2024 A10 Indoor Track & Field Championships for the first time. This milestone event will unite more than 600 athletes from 15 distinguished Atlantic 10 institutions, featuring both in-state universities such as Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, and the University of Richmond, as well as out-of-state schools like Rhode Island University, La Salle University, Saint Louis University, among others. Our community looks forward to welcoming these talented individuals and their supporters to our city, marking a significant moment in Virginia Beach's sporting calendar. Following closely on the heels of the A10 Championships, Virginia Beach will have the honor of hosting the 2024 VHSL Indoor Track & Field Championships for classes 5&6. This event will see more than 1,800 high school athletes from across the Commonwealth of Virginia converge on our city for two days of intense competition, all vying for state titles. It's a testament to the vibrant sports culture and the high-quality facilities that Virginia Beach offers to athletes of all levels. As we move through these exciting events, Virginia Beach Sports Tourism remains committed to providing a top-notch experience for participants and spectators alike, reinforcing our city's reputation as a premier destination for sporting events.
This week the Convention Center was delighted to welcome back the Virginia Fire & Rescue Conference (VFRC) for its 26th year in Virginia Beach. Next week the facility will host the SAME Hampton Roads Small Business Outreach & Industry Day as well as the annual meeting of Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) which brings more than 5,000 high schoolers to Virginia Beach to enhance their leadership skills and showcase their business prowess. As we look forward to spring, we are already planning for Virginia Beach’s State of the City on March 13th followed closely by Shamrock weekend and multiple cheer and dance events.
For partners with a group in need of overnight bus parking, the Visitor Information Center (VIC) can accommodate up to five motorcoaches on a first-come, first served basis. To check availability, call the office at 757-385-7873 and a VIC staff will be glad to assist you. Please be prepared to provide dates, number of nights needed, name of group and name of hotel where group is booked. Once confirmed, a parking pass (to be displayed in the windshield) and a map of where to park at the Center will be sent. Note that the bus driver will need to take an Uber or Freebee to get to and from the hotel and the Visitor Center. If your group cancels, please call the center to release the space.
News from U.S. Travel Association - The following was shared online recently by U.S. Travel Association President & CEO Geoff Freeman:
- Measuring the Super Bowl’s Impact: The NFL championship event in Las Vegas was estimated to bring in at least $500 million in spending—with some estimates reaching as high as $1.1 billion. The combination of the Super Bowl with Taylor Swift’s attendance contributed to the event’s record-breaking numbers—including an average daily room rate of $573, the highest on record for a Super Bowl weekend. Major sporting and entertainment events, such as the Super Bowl, demonstrate the economic potential at the intersection of sports and travel—strengthening communities, businesses, and economies across the country.
- Gearing up for a Record-Breaking IPW: U.S. Travel’s IPW, U.S. Travel’s largest trade show which drives $5.5 billion in future travel, is tracking ahead on international buyer and media attendance from key markets, like the UK, Brazil, and Canada. This year’s event, May 4-7 in Los Angeles, is also seeing tremendous interest from Asian markets—specifically China, which is in the top five countries in terms of registered delegates.
Taste of Town Center Tour - Experience all of the unique flavors of Town Center of Virginia Beach and join in the fun tomorrow night, Saturday, Feb. 24, for the first-ever Taste of Town Center Tour. It’s part of Fooduary, a February celebration of food including prix fixe menus, dining specials, cooking demonstrations and more. Find all the details about this event and other Town Center happenings in this edition of Town Talk.
Monsters on the Beach Celebrates Milestone Anniversary - For 25 years, Pungo Offroad Monsters on the Beach, presented by Eastern Truck & Accessories, has brought high-octane excitement to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. From May 17 - 19, 2024, Monster Trucks will compete in edge-of-your-seat battles for sand supremacy in the largest monster truck event in the mid-Atlantic. Bring the entire family to experience Monster Trucks action as drivers compete for individual race honors and partake in a weekend-long point series, with the ultimate victor claiming the prestigious George Carpenter Cup as the “King of The Beach.” The beach track also hosts amateur Tough 4X4 competitions, offering cash prizes and bragging rights for participants.
Spectators and ticket holders can sign up for monster truck rides, a one-of-a-kind opportunity to feel what it’s like to be a monster truck driver and ride over bumps, dips, and jumps. Secure your spot with General Admission bleacher tickets or elevate your event with the Monster Experience ticket upgrade, which includes a driver meet-and-greet, Monsters on The Beach t-shirt, Monsters on The Beach poster, race credentials, and premium general admission seating.
In addition to the main events, enjoy free activities throughout the weekend. The Virginia Beach boardwalk comes alive with the Show and Shine truck show and exhibitor displays showcasing some of the most exciting new accessories on the market today. Get ready for an action-packed weekend of monstrous fun, excitement and supremacy in the largest monster truck event in the mid-Atlantic For more information, click here.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
Click here to view the 2024 CVB Events Calendar. To view the Resort area entertainment schedule, click here and 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 February 4 - February 10: Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of February 4 – February 10 was down -2% at 43.1% occupancy but up 3.7% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was up 1.1% at $104.24 but down -0.2% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was down -0.9% at $44.94 but up 3.4% for the running 28-day trend.
| 
