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April 5, 2024
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
From a brand awareness perspective, it was a week of really good news for our coastal city. Among several impressive accolades, Virginia Beach was included in USATODAY’S 10Best: 10 Best Fun Runs for 2024 for the Surf-n-Santa 5 Miler race. An excerpt: “The Surf-n-Santa 5 Miler racecourse takes runners through a holiday wonderland as they run along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk at twilight, admiring the holiday lights. The course is flat and easy to follow, and the atmosphere is festive. Enjoy a post-race party with food, drinks, and music.”
A huge shout-out and congratulations to J&A Racing for creating this epic event which landed Virginia Beach in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest Santa run in the world in 2016– see the video here. The 2024 race, sponsored by Bayport Credit Union, is set for December 13 -14. Read more great press coverage in several stories about our destination later in this newsletter.
Of course, no achievements would be possible without you, our valued partners! A huge thanks to all of you for successfully hosting millions of guests each year with nothing less than quality customer service and the finest in hospitality for everyone. We are honored to work with you.
Speaking of the finest in hospitality, the nominations are in, the judges have met, and registration is now open for the 2024 National Travel & Tourism Week Hospitality Awards Luncheon. Scheduled for Thursday, May 2, at the Convention Center, I encourage everyone to register at this link to join in the celebration of our amazing hospitality industry. Complimentary registration is required. It’s going to be an exciting day and I look forward to seeing everyone there!
CVB Sales Activity and News:
The CVB team supports the bureau’s strategic pillars of Engagement, Growth, Brand Development, Culture, and Accountability.
Virginia Beach is setting the stage for an exceptional week of sports. The action starts this weekend with the 2024 Senior Softball Tidewater Classic at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex where an estimated 875 athletes will showcase their prowess in a competition that promises excitement and high-level softball action. This event marks the beginning of a series of tournaments highlighting the city's vibrant sports culture and its capacity to host diverse sporting events.
The excitement escalates with two major events: the 2024 National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Senior National Championship at the Virginia Beach Sports Center and the 2024 The One Cheer and Dance Final at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The NHSCA Senior National Championship, the largest wrestling tournament in the country, is expected to draw over 5,000 athletes, spotlighting Virginia Beach as a significant hub for wrestling in the United States. Concurrently, the Convention Center will buzz with the energy of more than 2,000 cheer athletes participating in The One Cheer and Dance Final. These gatherings not only showcase the athletes' immense talent and dedication but also reinforce Virginia Beach's reputation as a leading destination for sports tourism, capable of hosting events of national significance.
The M&C Sales & Service Team has enjoyed a busy week of proactively preparing for the upcoming Business & Events Industry Week in DC and Meeting Planner International’s (MPI) Global Meetings Industry Day on April 11. During the MPI event Virginia Beach will be sponsoring three breaks, reminding listeners that #MeetingsMatter and that “Happiness Is A Real Place” in our coastal city. In M&C Sales & Services travel news, Sally Noona, Dee Mittman and Amy Overstreet will be representing Virginia Beach at Destination Showcase and attending a myriad of industry meetings and connecting with the industry in DC. Scott Warren, Lynn Huneycutt and Samantha Montague will be attending the Mid Atlantic Shrine Association’s spring meeting and securing future dates for that group.
Jim Coggin was recently in State College, PA attending the Pennsylvania Bus Association Marketplace where more than 500 group leaders were in attendance representing 14 Pennsylvania-based motorcoach companies.
The Convention Center is starting April off with a busy weekend of Cheer & Dance Extreme, the National High School Coaches Association wrestling weigh-ins, and the Influance Hair Care Symposium. Next week we welcome the Family Career & Community Leaders of America for their annual state leadership convention, followed by more cheer and dance.
The main Visitor Center and Chesapeake Bay Center (CBC), inside First Landing State Park, are now open on Sundays. Both locations are open to serve guests seven days a week. The hours of operation are as follows: Main Visitor Center, 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am to 4 pm on weekends. The CBC location is open 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 4 pm or 10 am to 3 pm on weekends.
We're pleased to share the following links to more great examples of recent media coverage:
New Electric Transmission Infrastructure Project To Begin - Dominion Energy is installing new underground electric transmission infrastructure that will deliver the renewable energy generated by Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) to the electric grid. Beginning as early as April 8, 2024 until the end of July, nighttime work and lane closures can be expected on Oceana Boulevard between Harpers Road and Bells Road. Dominion will install underground infrastructure in duct bank that crosses Oceana Boulevard north of the intersection with Harpers Road. This work will progress across the road in stages to minimize traffic impacts.
- Work hours are from 7 pm to 5 am Sunday night through Saturday morning.
- At least one lane will be open in both directions of Oceana Boulevard.
- All lanes will be open during the day.
- As crews safely secure the work zone with steel plates, traffic stoppages lasting up to 15 minutes are possible.
- For everyone's safety, please follow posted signs, flagger instructions, and speed limits.
This traffic alert is posted on Dominion’s interactive project map online at coastalvawind.com/geovoice. If you have questions, please email info@coastalvawind.com or call 1-844-319-2065.
2024 Oceanfront Event Season Meeting Covers Potential Impacts Through July 4 - During the Resort Advisory Commission’s Oceanfront Enhancement Committee Meeting on March 28, City staff covered event information and potential impacts for Oceanfront area events with anticipated attendance of more than 10,000 per day (subject to change). The first meeting discussed Audacy Oceanfront Concerts, Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Summer, Jackalope Fest, Point Break Music Festival, North American Sand Soccer Championship, and Fourth of July Stars & Stripes Celebration. In case you missed it, read a blog post recapping the meeting, including a recording of the presentation.
This Month on Live! On Atlantic - Starting earlier in the year than ever before, Beach Events’ live programming at the Oceanfront begins tonight! We’re excited to share the lineup for the free April shows scheduled to be appear at the 17th and 24th Street Park stages:
Friday, April 5
17th Street Park stage: Suburban Sunday
24th Street Park stage: James Henry Morgan Band
Saturday, April 6
17th Street Park stage: Bill Miles Band
Friday, April 12
17th Street Park stage: Joe Gosman Band
24th Street Park stage: Uncle Jack
Saturday, April 13
17th Street Park stage: Vince Kornegay Band
24th Street Park stage: Foxglove
Friday, April 19
17th Street Park stage: Request Station
24th Street Park stage: Skylark
Saturday, April 20
17th Street Park stage: Free For All
Ynot Wednesday, The Sandler Center Outdoor Concert Series, Returns For Its Sixteenth Season - The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce the return of Ynot Italian’s Ynot Wednesdays sponsored by Southern Auto Group for a sixteenth season. This free outdoor summer concert series will take place on the Sandler Center Outdoor Plaza every Wednesday evening from 5 - 9 pm from June 12 through August 28. Over twelve weeks, visitors will enjoy a musical panorama of live, local bands showcasing a diversity of genres from pop, country, big brass, Motown, rock, jazz, and more. The 2024 season will feature an exciting line-up of local bands, with the return of popular groups like The Deloreans, BrassWind, and Party Fins, and two concerts from Ynot Wednesday favorite Buck Shot. for the full lineup, click here.
Those feeling the summer heat are encouraged to venture inside the Sandler Center to cool off, visit the restrooms and bars, or take a stroll through the public art gallery displayed on the second and third-floor lobbies. The Kids Craft Corner in the Miller Studio will also be open for families to enjoy make-and-take art projects and activities*.
The Ynot Wednesday Night Markets will also return to the Sandler Center lobby on June 12, July 20, and August 14 with vending opportunities for artists, craftspeople, and retail sales.
*Kids Craft Corner dates are subject to the availability of the Miller Studio.
VRLTA Program Offerings - As the leading advocate unifying the restaurant, lodging, and tourist attraction businesses in Virginia, the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) is pleased to offer a variety of training opportunities and workforce development initiatives.
The ServSafe program provides a certification which shows customers your commitment to safety and dedicates your business to sanitary food practices. VRLTA is pleased to recommend select preferred training partners for these classes. Each of these vendors has undergone a vetting and approval process to ensure that class participants will receive a high-quality training experience. Current preferred training partners include:
If your organization is interested in becoming a preferred training partner for VRLTA, note that you must have a Virginia address and be a VRLTA member. For more information, please email Jai Girard or call him at (804) 288-3065, ext 203.
VRLTA’s Virginia ProStart Program is a career and technical education program that unites the foodservice industry and the classroom to teach high school students culinary skills and restaurant management principles, as well as employability skills such as communication, teamwork, professionalism, and time management.
How Can You Get Involved with Virginia ProStart?
- Mentor ProStart Students - Engage with ProStart by visiting a ProStart classroom, hosting a field trip at your restaurant or offices, or observing students in the kitchen. Contact Jai Girard, Director of Education & Workforce Development, to connect with your local ProStart school.
- Hire a ProStart Student or Alumni - ProStart students know culinary arts and restaurant management essentials. They're dependable, natural leaders and are eager to learn.
- Sponsor a Team - Give a ProStart team the opportunity to compete for scholarships at the National ProStart Invitational.
For more information, visit the VRLTA site 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 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 17 - 23 : Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the week of March 17 - March 23 was down -7.5% at 55.2% occupancy but up 1.4% for the running 28-day trend. ADR was down -7.2% at $119.64 and down -1.6% for the running 28-day trend. RevPAR was down -14.2% at $66.02 and down -0.3% for the running 28-day trend.
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