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March 22, 2024
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
It’s springtime in Virginia Beach and if you’re like me, you’re ready to hang up your winter coat once and for all! With comfortable temperatures and plenty of sunshine, it’s one of my favorite times of the year to be outside. There’s no shortage of things to do in spring in Virginia Beach, and some fun ways to celebrate the start of this vibrant season can be found here. With something for everyone, please share these great ideas with your guests.
Thanks to all those who answered the call for nominations for our 2024 hospitality heroes. Because of you, we have a full slate of nominees for our judging panel which convenes next week. Planning is full speed ahead for our annual industry celebration on Thursday, May 2. Registration will open soon, so stay tuned!
CVB Sales Activity and News:
The CVB team supports the bureau’s strategic pillars of Engagement, Growth, Brand Development, Culture, and Accountability.
Here are some examples of recent media coverage and other mentions we recently received:
- Jeff Bogle featured Virginia Beach and Sandbridge in the Readers’ Digest article titled “The Best Beach in Every State”
- Virginia Beach is featured in Travel Noire’s “10 Warm Places in the USA to Visit in May and Avoid Summer Crowds” round-up story
- Nerd Wallet spotlights Virginia Beach in “Check Out One of These 5 Cheap Beach Vacations for Your Next Trip”
- The Travel featured Virginia Beach in “10 Sunny US Beach Destinations for Less Than $1,000 A Week”
- Yelp readers choose Virginia Beach’s Blue Seafood & Spirits as best seafood restaurant in the U.S.
Spring is off to a roaring start this weekend as the Convention Center welcomes Treasures of the Earth Gem & Jewelry Show and 2,200 people for a corporate group’s awards dinner. In addition, set up begins for the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment which will be in house most of next week.
Sales, engagement, and brand awareness activities continued this week with many opportunities for the M&C Sales and Services Team. Earlier this week, Amy Overstreet conducted an exciting site visit for a spring citywide event on tap for next year. Dee Mittman traveled to Atlanta for Meeting Planner International’s Georgia chapter’s Spring Summit. Jamie Rawls and the Delta Marriott Waterfront team welcomed more than 40 meeting planners for their annual Virginia Society of Association Executives’ Meeting Planner Summit.
We're thrilled to host two great sports events this weekend, promising a blend of precision, skill, and athletic prowess. First up is the 37th annual edition of the Virginia Beach Dart Classic, set to take place at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel. This year, we're expecting around 700 athletes to showcase their accuracy and composure in what promises to be a fiercely competitive event. Concurrently, the Virginia Beach Sports Center will play host to the 2024 TVA Virginia Beach Spring Fling Volleyball Tournament. With 36 courts in action, this event will feature 1,000 athletes, filling the venue with exhilarating volleyball matches and an unbeatable atmosphere of enthusiasm. Both events highlight Virginia Beach as a premier destination for sports tourism, offering unforgettable experiences for athletes and spectators alike. Join us for these incredible showcases of talent and sportsmanship.
Jim Coggin is in Buffalo, NY for the Select Travel Conference where he engaged in 38 deskside appointments with travel club directors from across the U.S.
Oceanfront Special Event Advisory for Saturday, March 23 - There will be a benefit motorcycle ride at the Oceanfront on Atlantic Ave. tomorrow, rain or shine, from 12:30 - 2 pm. This event will not include any road closures. Please see the Special Event Advisory Notice here for details. For any questions, contact the CVB’s Resort Management Office at 757-385-4800.
ViBe Creative District Walking Tours & Neighborhood Markets - Did you know there are more than 70 small, locally owned businesses in the ViBe Creative District? A hub for artists and spirits, roasters and restaurants, workouts and wares, museums and more, the ViBe is where our creative businesses have set up shop to share their passion and inspire a sense of discovery in locals and visitors alike. Weekly and monthly events like the Old Beach Farmers Market and Second Saturdays give a taste of the town and bring entertainment and community art projects everyone can be a part of. Free public walking tours occur on the 1st Friday at 6 pm and 2nd Saturday at 10 am. Open to all, participants meet at the LOVE sign at 18th St. & Cypress Ave. Free parking on 18th St. For more information, visit www.ViBeCreativeDistrict.org
Are You Networking Effectively? The Virginia Beach Hotel Association, in partnership with Troy University and Family Fun Xperience Theater, is offering a professional development opportunity titled, “Are You Networking Effectively?” on Thursday, March 28, from 3:30 - 5:00 pm at Family Fun Xperience Theatre, 206 16th St. in Virginia Beach. Troy University’s Enrollment Coordinator Michael Camden will offer an informal learning session providing helpful strategies needed to grow your professional network. This complimentary session will help you identify everyday activities and interactions that can become an opportunity to brand yourself. Discover new ways of engaging with others to maximize your potential and enhance your networking skills. For more information and to register for this limited seating opportunity, click here.
VRLTA Offers Innovative Workforce Solutions - The Virginia Restaurant Lodging Travel Association (VRLTA) is proud to partner with organizations that provide solutions to your workforce needs. According to VRLTA, restaurant and foodservice jobs in Virginia are expected to grow 10% by 2029, to over 416,000 jobs. As the industry continues to grow, businesses are in need of knowledgeable and well-trained professionals. VRLTA identifies and supports educational and job training opportunities that can help satisfy the need for these employees. For resources and more details, click here or contact Jim Wilson at jim@vrlta.org.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
Click here to view the 2024 CVB Events Calendar. To view the Resort area entertainment schedule, click here and for easy access the Town Center of Virginia Beach events and activities listing, 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 March 3 - March 9: Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of March 3 - March 9 was down -5.2% at 52.7% occupancy and down -0.2% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was down -3.3% at $123.33 but up 0.6% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was down -8.4% at $65.05 but up 0.4% for the running 28-day trend.
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