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April 4, 2025
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
It’s a busy time of year as we gear up for the 2025 season: it’s an exciting time in Virginia Beach! I'd like to take a moment to thank you for everything you do every day to elevate the visitor experience at your establishment. Whether a restaurateur, hotelier, or small business owner, you’re on the front lines every day making us shine and we appreciate you and your team for all the extra little touches that leave visitors longing to return. Thank you for all you do.
I’m happy to share that planning for our local NTTW celebration is well underway and we’re excited to have received over 110 nominations for the 2025 awards! The judges convene next week to select those nominees who rose to the top, by consensus, and we’ll keep that news under wraps until the luncheon. On that note, stay tuned for registration info for the luncheon and be sure you have saved the date on your calendars for May 9th from 11 am to 1:30 pm at our Convention Center.
It’s East Coast She-Crab Soup Classic time! Get your taste buds ready for the annual East Coast She-Crab Soup Classic tomorrow at the Oceanfront, where some of the region’s best restaurants will compete for the coveted title of “Best She-Crab Soup.” Attendees can sample and cast their votes for the Sean Brickell People’s Choice Awards, while culinary experts specializing in regional cuisine will be dishing out the Critics’ Choice Awards. Don’t let this chance slip by to savor some of the finest She-Crab Soup on the East Coast! Get tickets and find out more at this link.
Continuing education about our industry is key to staying ahead of the curve, and our competition. Many of our partner organizations and associations offer professional development opportunities that are an added value to partnering and staying engaged with the VBCVB.
Partner Professional Development Opportunities - To support our strategic pillar of accountability to our stakeholders and the industry as a whole, we are pleased to share information about upcoming opportunities for professional development:
Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association Hospitality Training Expands - VRLTA’s 2025 Regional Seminars aim to provide education and resources on critical industry topics, extending their outreach and enhancing their statewide presence through valuable, focused programming.
On May 19, 2025, from 1:30 - 4 p.m., I encourage all who can to attend the Human Trafficking Training & Prevention seminar, a VRLTA Coastal Regional Seminar being held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Virginia Beach. Human trafficking is a widespread issue that often operates in plain sight and the hospitality and tourism industries are uniquely positioned to help identify and report potential cases, making training and awareness critical. Open to members and non-members, find out more about this free educational opportunity and register at the link provided here.
Other VRLTA Training Offerings - The VRLTA regularly also 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:
- 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
I hope some of you, or your designees, are able to attend one or more of these important and insightful professional development opportunities.
We are pleased to share the following press hits and other timely information about an opportunity to show the world Virginia Beach has the most outstanding boardwalk in the US.
- Click here to cast your vote for Virginia Beach under the “Best Boardwalk” category. You may cast your vote once per day and voting ends on Monday, April 7 at noon ET so don’t wait, vote today! Winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 16.
- Leisure Group Travel included the Neptune Festival in “Virginia Events: An Explosion of Music and Culture”
- Canadian press trip attendee Doug Wallace featured Virginia Beach in the Renaissance Magazine article titled, “Virginia Beach bliss”
- Global Traveler included Virginia Beach in a round-up story titled, “4 Family-Friendly Destinations to Visit in 2025”
- VA Dogwood included the Cherry Blossom Festival at Red Wing Park in a list of “Top 10 spring activities to do in Virginia”
Each year, Travel South, the official regional destination marketing organization of the Southern USA, conducts a “Global Week.” Prior to Global Week’s Media Marketplace and onsite specific activities, the organization offers all Travel South states the opportunity to host pre-familiarization tours. Last weekend, Virginia Beach CVB, in partnership with Travel South and Virginia Tourism Corporation, hosted three international journalists from Denmark, Italy and Australia. The journalists explored our beautiful city, and we look forward to reading their articles. Stay tuned!
The M&C Sales & Services Team continues to ramp up the engagement and promotion of our beautiful coastal destination. This week marked our inaugural “Quarterly Connect” meeting with our hotel industry partners who work with all sales and service units at the CVB. At the initial meeting, which happened to fall during the week of Global Meetings Industry Day, those gathered worked on establishing what will be included in every meeting and discussed possible future topics. The Doubletree Hotel generously hosted us in their new, beautifully renovated meeting space. Look at how Virginia Beach embraced the day in this very fun video clip - enjoy!
In other M&C news, this week Jamie Rawls was a guest lecturer at George Mason University for an Honors Level Course to discuss our Sustainable Tourism and Amy Overstreet was in DC yesterday to celebrate and honor Global Meetings Industry Day with the Capital Chapter of Professional Conference Managers Association.
It’s another packed weekend for Sports Tourism in Virginia Beach, and the CVB is proud to welcome thousands of athletes, families, and fans to our city for five exciting events across multiple venues!
Kicking off the week and running strong through Sunday, the 2025 Senior Softball Tidewater Classic is in full swing. This tournament features 76 teams of seasoned athletes, some as experienced as 75 years young, representing the best of senior softball from up and down the East Coast. With record attendance expected, this year’s classic is set to be one of the most memorable yet.
Making its debut in Virginia Beach, the DMV Grid-Iron Classic storms into the Virginia Beach Sportsplex today through Sunday. Featuring nearly 1,000 youth football athletes, this all-star event brings together some of the top invited talent from across the DMV region. Fans will also get a first look at the Sportsplex’s impressive upgrades, including a brand-new, state-of-the-art turf playing field setting the perfect stage for these rising stars.
Over at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, energy will be high as the Spring Fling Volleyball Tournament serves up action on Saturday and Sunday. Hosted by Tidewater Volleyball Association (TVA), this tournament will see more than 2,500 athletes competing at a high level, completely taking over the facility and filling the beach with volleyball action.
Meanwhile, field hockey enthusiasts will gather at the USA Regional Field Hockey Training Center for Field Hockey Play Day, also happening Saturday and Sunday. Around 200 athletes from various locations will take the field to showcase their skills in a fun, competitive setting at one of the nation’s premier field hockey venues.
From softball diamonds to volleyball courts and football fields to cheer stages, Virginia Beach is the place to be for sports this weekend. We’re thrilled to welcome all participants and spectators to our vibrant city!
The Convention Center has another busy weekend ahead as they plan to host over 5,000 attendees for two different events. Starting today the Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State Leadership Convention kicks off with workshops, an Expo, and an opening session themed “The Power of Dreams”. The conference runs through Sunday morning. Tomorrow and Saturday Cheer & Dance Extreme’s The ONE is in house and on stage! This two-day event brings together top squads from across the region for an unforgettable weekend of elite stunts, high-energy routines, and nonstop excitement. Come check out the top teams on the East Coast as they compete for the honor of being crowned The ONE Champion.
The main Visitor Center at 2100 Parks Ave. and the Chesapeake Bay Center at First Landing State Park will be open on Sundays starting April 6th. The main center will be open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Please note that for the month of April, the Chesapeake Bay Center will only be open Friday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Funding Still Available for City Façade Improvement Grants (FIG) - FIG funds are still available! FIG is the City’s matching grant program to support small, locally owned, and operated businesses in the City of Virginia Beach. Façade improvement grants are reimbursements for significant exterior improvements for small, locally owned, and operated businesses located in any commercial or industrial-zoned area within the City of Virginia Beach. The program will match small business owners', or those who lease to small businesses, investments up to $10,000, for exterior building, site, and outdoor dining improvements. Find out more here.
Cherry Blossom Festival Ends Tomorrow - There's still time to experience the beautiful blooms of the Cherry Blossoms at the Cherry Blossom Festival at Red Wing Park on General Booth Boulevard. This free family-friendly festival, celebrating Cherry Blossoms and Japanese culture, kicked off on Saturday, March 29 and runs through tomorrow, Saturday, April 5th. Enjoy a robust vendor market, featuring food, crafts, jewelry and more, plus a variety of activities. Plus, this is a photo op you won't want to miss this season!
Grommet Island Park Temporarily Closed - Grommet Island Park will be closed for repairs starting April 7th for essential maintenance. The closure is scheduled for five days. This temporary closure will include partial playground renovation, replacing rusted decks, steps & panels and sanding & painting. The Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation wants visitors and residents to know that while this isn’t a full renovation, it’s a little facelift to keep the park safe and enjoyable for everyone!
Family Fun Abounds at Town Center - Visiting the beautiful Town Center district is a treat as there is always something new to see and do, but this is an especially picture-perfect time to plan a visit. Find the diverse and many free family-friendly events and happenings in the latest edition of Town Talk found at this link.
VB Street Art Festival Returns For Another Exciting Weekend - We are looking forward to hosting visitors and residents for the upcoming 2nd Annual VB Street Art Festival the . Presented by The Runnymede Corporation in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission, this visually exciting festival on 18th and 19th Streets in ViBe Creative District features the painting of 15 sculptures by 15 artists - all live painting - over the three-day weekend. Each sculptural, multi-faceted neighborhood identifier will get a new life as it is repainted live during the festival. The 1.5-mile route is designed to be easily walkable to see all 15 artists working. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet the artists while they work. In total, 95 artists from 3 countries, 11 states and cities through Virginia applied and the top 15 designs were chosen by the Virginia Beach Public Art Committee. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy the 20 local food and beverage businesses when they visit the ViBe Creative District. All are welcome at this free event. Find more detail at the link provided here.
VRLTA’s Ordinary Award Nominations Open Through June 30 - I encourage everyone to participate in the 2025 Virginia Restaurant Lodging & Travel Association’s (VRLTA) Ordinary Awards. The Ordinary Awards celebrate and honor all of Virginia’s restaurants, lodging establishments and hotels, DMOs, attractions, and more. Nominees shine a light on the incredible restaurateurs, hoteliers, attractions, establishments, and employees that represent some of the best our industry has to offer. Do you know someone in your network who is worthy? Nominations are now open through June 30, 2025, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on September 8, 2025. Find out more about the awards and the process for nominating someone at the link provided here.
U.S. Travel Industry News - As shared earlier, yesterday was Global Meetings Industry Day 2025, highlighting the $1.6 trillion global impact of the meetings and events sector, with events taking place worldwide to emphasize the value of face-to-face business. U.S. Travel Association estimates that travel related to meetings and events was responsible for more than $126 billion in spending in 2024, supporting nearly 620,000 jobs. "In-person gatherings are the heartbeat of business and connection, indispensable to every industry," said U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman. Read the full article in the April 3rd edition of U.S. Travel Association’s SmartBrief newsletter found here.
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 February 2025 - Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the month of February was down -6.5% from Feb. 2024, at 46.2% occupancy, and down -4.1% year to date. ADR was down -1.9% from Feb. 2024, at $109.12, but up 0.7% year to date. RevPAR was down -8.3% from Feb. 2024, at $50.38, and down -3.4% 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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