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February 21, 2025
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
It's hard to believe that we are already at the point in our year where it's time to recognize the best of the best in our hospitality industry.
This year, U.S. Travel has designated May 4 – 10 as National Travel and Tourism Week 2025. This weeklong celebration was designed to highlight those in our industry who shine the brightest and bring their best to our industry every day, keeping the wheels of tourism turning all year long.
Please save the date for our local celebration:
Friday, May 9, 2025
National Travel & Tourism Week Luncheon & Awards
Virginia Beach Convention Center
11 am – 1 pm
Nomination forms will be provided soon, so start gathering your list of deserving team members now!
The CVB is proud to be a signature sponsor of the VBHA’s 2025 Coastal Virginia Hospitality Expo which is being held this year on Wednesday, March 5 at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront from 2 - 6 pm.
This year's theme is “Celebrate your Favorite TV Sitcom.” Come out to the Expo to 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 or further information.
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!
This week the Convention Center welcomed the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association’s Va Fire & Rescue Conference. The educational sessions started on Monday and were well attended. The conference was in full swing and the expo was moving into the Exhibit Halls when Mother Nature intervened. Due to the weather the remainder of the Fire & Rescue conference was cancelled and staff and attendees alike returned home to provide emergency services to their respective cities and counties. We hope everyone is safe and warm! Coming up on Monday we welcome the Society of American Military Engineers for their Small Business Outreach + Industry Day and on Wednesday there will be a public meeting from 6pm-8pm concerning the 17th Street Regional Stormwater Management Facility.
In CVB sales news, this week the M&C Sales & Services team is working on creating appointments for travel during March as well as doing the all-important work of follow-up after travel. Scott Warren will be conducting a site visit for a notable Military Reunion this coming weekend. Excitedly, our team and hospitality partners in the resort area are gearing up for the Virginia Distributive Education Clubs of America.
Please find the road closure notices for the 2025 Shamrock Marathon Weekend on Saturday, March 15 here and Sunday, March 16 here. The road closures will impact Oceanfront and Resort Area roads, as well as portions of Shore Drive, General Booth Blvd., and the Birdneck Road area. Visitors, businesses and residents will be temporarily affected by these road closures. Please take a moment to review the notices and contact Kate Miller of the Resort Management Office at either 757-385-6640 or 757-987-1278 for further information.
Keep updated on the progress of the 2025 Army Corp of Engineers dredging project at the Oceanfront by viewing the link to the project tracker found here.
Virginia Beach Sports Tourism is set for a big weekend with the 2025 Hype Nation Seaside Showdown volleyball tournament bringing athletes and fans from all over. More than 1,000 volleyball athletes will be in town, battling for top honors in a packed weekend of nonstop competition. The Sports Center and the Oceanfront are going to be buzzing with visitors as teams take the court and fans cheer them on. Once Saturday wraps up, the focus shifts to track and field. For a full week, the Sports Center turns into Conference Championship headquarters, starting with the 2025 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. It’s the first of three Division I conference meets happening back-to-back. The next few weeks are going to be huge for sports tourism in Virginia Beach, and the city is ready to welcome all the athletes, coaches, and fans coming into town.
The Chesapeake Bay Center at First Landing State Park will be closed for the remainder of February. The main Visitor Information Center at 2100 Parks Ave. will be closed on Sundays during the month of March.
Virginia Beach Restaurant Association Announces New City-wide Event, EAT DRINK GIVE VB! - The Virginia Beach Restaurant Association (VBRA) invites local celebrities, influencers, and community leaders to serve as guest servers for a special fundraising event from April 7-10, 2025. Held at participating Virginia Beach restaurants (VBRA members), this initiative supports local 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
How It Works
- Well-known figures from Hampton Roads—athletes, media personalities, and officials—will serve diners to raise funds.
- All donations collected go directly to local charities.
- Enjoy great food while supporting vital causes like education, hunger relief, and youth programs.
Get Involved by being a celebrity server, dining in a participating restaurant and helping to spread the word by sharing #EatDrinkGiveVB! For questions, contact Martha Davenport or 757-567-9304. For more information and to register, click here.
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!
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:
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- 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 Virginia Beach Events 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
nhelman@visitvirginiabeach.com
CVB Strategic Pillars:
Engagement|Growth|Brand Development|Culture|Accountability
Hotel Occupancy for January 2025 - Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the month of January was down -1.4% from Jan. 2024, at 39.1% occupancy, and down -1.4% year to date. ADR was up 4.1% from Jan. 2024, at $103.56, and up 4.1% year to date. RevPAR was up 2.7% from Jan. 2024, at $40.49, and up 2.7% 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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