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February 14, 2025
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
We are eager for everyone to see an innovative way we are promoting the destination and excited to have the opportunity to share a peek at what hundreds of thousands of potential visitors are lured by as they travel the Interstate 95 corridor year-round.
Imagine being in traffic and suddenly, this pulls into view:
First thoughts? Mine are “Wow! Let’s go!”
In partnership with Starr Tours, this beautifully branded wrapped motor coach will arrive at the Virginia Aquarium (VAQ) on the morning of Friday, Feb. 21 at 9 am with a tour group scheduled to take a whale watching excursion.
To commemorate the first-time this one-of-a-kind coach has reached our sunny shores, the CVB is planning a welcome event as a show of good will and to provide our industry community the opportunity to view the wrapped motor coach during its inaugural visit. There will be photographers on site for photo opportunities as well as light refreshments and time for networking.
Please sign up at this link and plan to join in the fun! It would be fantastic to have a large contingency of partners on hand to provide a warm welcome to these vital shoulder season visitors.
We are pleased to share the following press hits:
Last week, CVB hosted Mark Waldron, the Editor-in-Chief at NationalWorld, which has 14,000,000 monthly online users across 17 regional city websites in the United Kingdom. He writes stories and produces content on travel, popular culture, current affairs, food, and more. Stay tuned for Virginia Beach coverage!
Also last week, CVB Media Relations Director Erin Goldmeier attended a Capital Region USA-organized media mission to France & Germany where she, along with representatives from Destination D.C. and Virginia Tourism Corporation, met with 50 travel editors, writers, and influencers. We have already seen results of the trip from German-based writer Christian Dose, who included Virginia Beach’s Atlantic Park in the current newsletter from the German online magazine “USA Entdecken”: https://www.usaentdecken.de/2025/02/06/48-2-virginia/. More to come!
Does your business have something new or unique that you’d like to showcase? Please reach out to the content manager on our MarCom team, Alex Smith, at ajsmith@visitvirginiabeach.com, for opportunities to collaborate in our content space and to be featured on the Visit Virginia Beach website. Also, check out MarCom’s latest content via our social platforms. Make sure to like, subscribe, and follow Visit Virginia Beach on Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook to stay up to date on all things Virginia Beach. Don’t forget to tag @visitvabeach!
Virginia Beach Sports Tourism is gearing up for an exciting weekend of elite competition as three sporting events take center stage here in Virginia Beach. Kicking things off at our Sports Center is the 2025 Pre-Nationals Track Invitational, hosted by Norfolk State University. This meet will welcome over 1,000 collegiate track and field athletes as they prepare for upcoming conference and national championships. With teams looking to secure national qualifying times and familiarize themselves with our venue’s world-renowned track, the event promises high-level competition and record-breaking performances.
Also taking place at the Sports Center is the 2025 USA Field Hockey National Indoor Tournament, which will bring over 1,600 athletes from across the country. As teams battle for national championship honors, the tournament will showcase some of the best indoor field hockey talent in the nation, adding to the energy and excitement of the weekend at the Sports Center.
Meanwhile, just across the campus at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, the 2025 Excalibur Cup will welcome more than 3,000 gymnasts for one of the most prestigious gymnastics competitions in the country. This annual event has become a staple in the gymnastics community, attracting top-tier talent and delivering unforgettable performances year after year.
With thousands of athletes, families, and fans descending on Virginia Beach, this weekend is set to be a true celebration of athletic excellence. Whether on the track, field, or mat, competitors will put their skills to the test, making this a must-see weekend for sports enthusiasts and visitors alike.
The Convention Center staff is excited to be the host venue of this weekend’s Excalibur Cup Gymnastics Invitational. The competition opened today and runs through Sunday evening. Immediately following, the staff will welcome the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association’s Fire & Rescue Conference. With educational sessions running Monday - Saturday, an Expo jam-packed with emergency vehicles, and a new focus on hands-on training sessions, it promises to be a great event!
In CVB sales news, Jim Coggin and a team of local partners recently attended the American Bus Association Marketplace (ABA) in Philadelphia. ABA is the premier event for the group tour market. The event included 54 desk side appointments, a client dinner and other networking opportunities with potential groups interested in touring Virginia Beach.
The M&C Sales & Services Team is keeping the momentum going this week with an exciting Richmond sales mission. The Sales Team will be traveling to Richmond and engaging new and returning clients during a luncheon in the Scott’s Addition region. Theming the event around Valentine’s Week, the team will be donning their signature hot pink logo apparel to remind planners that when selecting Team Virginia Beach, the outcomes are bright and happy!
The Army Corp of Engineers continues their 2025 dredging project at the Oceanfront. Check out this real-time progress tracker found here.
Please take note that the Chesapeake Bay Center at First Landing State Park will be closed the entire month of February. The main Visitor Information Center at 2100 Parks Ave. will be closed on Sundays during the month of March.
Registration Open for Virginia Beach Hotel Association 2025 Coastal Virginia Hospitality Expo - The CVB is once again excited to be a sponsor of the VBHA’s Coastal Virginia Hospitality Expo which is being held this year on Wednesday, March 5 at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront from 2 - 6 pm. Come meet and mingle with hoteliers and businesses from Virginia and the 757 area. This annual event is always high energy and includes new and unique food/adult beverages, silent auction, raffles, giveaways, and lots of fun. Find all the details here including a QR code for easy registration! Reach out to Teri at teri.wiley@vbha.net for any questions, further information, or to volunteer.
Virginia Beach Events Announces 2025 Entertainment Season Schedule - Virginia Beach Events recently released their schedule for 2025 - check out the poster here and mark your calendars for many festivals, concerts and other events you won’t want to miss this season!
Oceanfront Marina District is Open for Business During Construction Project - The local businesses, restaurants and attractions in the Marina District at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront remain open and ready to serve everyone during City construction on Winston Salem Avenue. The project will improve pedestrian access and connectivity between Mediterranean Avenue, the Rudee Loop Walkway and Pacific Avenue. For a complete list of businesses and more information on the project, click here. Those interested in getting email updates and news from the City on this project can sign up here.
Love Is In The Air Through February 25th at Town Center of Virginia Beach - Celebrate your love on the “Cœur Balançoire” and “lock in your love” at the Fountain Plaza in the Town Center of Virginia Beach district. Follow the hearts and capture precious moments with your loved one at the Town Center Fountain Plaza through February 25th. Take a selfie with your special someone at the beautiful “Cœur Balançoire.” This 12-foot life-size red heart will embrace you and your loved one during the season of love.
The Town Center Love Lock Heart was designed and crafted specially for Town Center. Bring your personalized lock and attach it to the Love Lock Heart or use one of ours (limited supply). It will return every year! Take the opportunity to immortalize your love by taking a photo next to this life-sized red heart and love lock ornament. Submit photos between Feb. 1st – 10th for a chance to win a couples Town Center Valentine’s Day package. Submit your photo on Facebook with the hashtag #LoveInTownCenter2025. The winning couple will be announced February 12th on the CBDA Facebook page. Visit www.cbda.net/events to see all the exciting upcoming Town Center events or catch the latest edition of Town Talk, the newsletter of Town Center of Virginia Beach here
Partner Professional Development Opportunities - To support our strategic pillar of accountability to the industry, we are pleased to share information about upcoming opportunities for professional development:
Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association Hospitality Training Offerings - The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, and Travel Association (VRLTA) offers a variety of training and certification opportunities in the hospitality industry. These include online courses, career and technical education programs, and certification programs. Visit https://www.vrlta.org/hospitality-training/ for more information.
2025 Miles Partnership Professional Development Dates - For more information about the following opportunities and/or to register, visit https://www.milespartnership.com/how-we-think:
- March 18 – Destination Decisions, Powered by the State of the American Traveler
- May 15 – Harnessing the Power of AI
- June 24 – Technology Trends, Powered by the American Traveler
- September 16 – Traveler Segments, Powered by the State of the American Traveler
- November 18 – Stewardship & Sustainability Insights, Powered by the State of the American Traveler
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
Find the 2025 CVB Event Calendar here, the Beach Events VB entertainment schedule here, and a link to the events at Town Center of Virginia Beach here.
My team and I are committed to you and our industry and are here to help in any way we can.
Sincerely,
Nancy Helman
CVB Director
CVB Strategic Pillars:
Engagement|Growth|Brand Development|Culture|Accountability
Hotel Occupancy for December 2024 - Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the month of December was up 1.1% from Dec. 2023, at 41.4% occupancy, and up 2.2% year to date. ADR was down -0.2% from Dec. 2024, at $104.66, and down -1.9% year to date. RevPAR was up 1.0% from Dec. 2023, at $43.32, and up 0.3% year to date.
Source: STR, LLC. Republication or other reuse of this data without the express written permission of STR, LLC is strictly prohibited.
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