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June 13, 2025
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
Time is flying by; it is already the middle of June! With the school year wrapping up and commencement ceremonies taking place across the country, I trust you and your teams of hospitality professionals are excitedly waiting for the many visitors we’ll host this season. Early May projections from AAA show that Americans have a strong desire to travel this summer, with many planning to take vacations as travel intentions remain on an upward trend. As a destination with an extremely strong drive market, this is terrific news for a coastal city like ours. Cheers to a great summer!
We are very pleased to share that Virginia Beach appeared in Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, following the distribution of CVB’s “What’s New for Summer 2025” press release. The article, titled “Big Waves & Bold Flavours: Your Ultimate Summer in Virginia Beach,” positions the destination as a must-visit for UK travelers this summer. It does a fantastic job of showcasing Virginia Beach’s vibrant mix of new attractions, family-friendly experiences, cultural moments, and unique events, such as the launch of Atlantic Park. Read more here: Big Waves & Bold Flavours: Your Ultimate Summer in Virginia Beach
CVB PR Director, Erin Goldmeier, attended the 2025 Travel Media Meetup, “Southern Routes and Roots,” in Washington, D.C this week. The 2025 Travel Media Meetup is being held in conjunction with STS’ (Southeast Tourism Society) Congressional Summit. Erin met with media representing US News & World Report, The Washington Post, National Geographic, CNN Travel, AARP, Skift, The Extra Mile (AAA), Orbitz Travel Blog, Hotel Management, ShermansTravel, Women’s Health, USAToday, Travel Noire, Real Simple, Forbes and more.
In addition, we are happy to include the following press hits this week:
- Virginia Beach is mentioned in a story titled, “These Classic Southern Boardwalks And Piers Define Nostalgic Summer Fun” in Southern Living and syndicated to MSN
- Mount Trashmore is mentioned in a Sports Destinations Magazine story about converting industrial sites to green spaces
Virginia Beach Sports Tourism welcomes three great events this weekend! Things kick off this weekend at the Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club where they will be hosting the Level 4 Closed: BG 12–18’s Outdoor Sectional Singles & Doubles Championship. A field of 250 tennis talents from across the nation will be competing. Expect top-tier matches, exciting rallies, and a showcase of rising stars in youth tennis.
Saturday and Sunday, the Princess Anne Athletic Complex will come alive as roughly 500 softball athletes take to the fields for the Summer Scramble Team Camp. Featuring competition and skill-building sessions, teams hailing from Richmond, Northern Virginia, and surrounding regions will showcase their best in hitting, pitching drills, and spirited scrimmages.
Also, this weekend, the USA Regional Field Hockey Training Center will host the Adult RCC’s Field Hockey Tournament. With approximately 150 competitors, this event promises fast-paced action and exciting matchups. Spectators can expect a weekend filled with skillful stick work and excitement.
From budding tennis pros to weekend warriors on the diamond and pitch, Virginia Beach is the hub of summer sports this weekend. The Sports Tourism team invites everyone to come out, support, and enjoy the atmosphere.
Dee Mittman and Scott Warren were in San Antonio attending the Cvent CONNECT appointment show this week. Board member Jamie Rawls was in Charlottesville as the supplier representative for the Virginia Society of Association Executives’ annual board retreat. She also held a site visit with representatives from the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision who are considering Virginia Beach for their 2028 convention. Also this week, Amy Overstreet conducted an eVA training at the CVB for those hotel partners interested in learning more about booking government procured business.
This week, the Virginia Beach Convention Center had the honor of being the host venue for 13 Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ commencement ceremonies. It is estimated that approximately 50,000 people will have been welcomed to the facility for these celebrations. As a proud parent, I got to experience the stellar customer service and celebration first hand. Congratulations to the class of 2025 and especially my own very special graduate!
This Weekend, Local Artists Take a “Starring Role” in the 2025 Chalk the Walk Art Competition - A collection of film, TV, book and game characters will be the stars of the boardwalk this weekend as our famous walkway transforms before your eyes! Watch or participate as sections of the famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk from 16th - 18th Streets transform into an art extravaganza during the 2025 Chalk the Walk tomorrow, June 14th, from 10 am to 5 pm. Participants will create four-by-four-foot chalk drawings that will be assessed by a panel of judges. Whether you want to enter as an artist or attend as a spectator, you don’t want to miss the magic of Chalk the Walk. The competition includes three divisions: Amateur, Professional, and Youth (ages 12-16). Find more information on this free, family-friendly event here.
Juneteenth Marked by Local Celebrations - Juneteenth is a national holiday to celebrate and reflect upon the rich history and culture of African Americans. It commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, making it a significant milestone in our nation's journey toward equality. By acknowledging and honoring Juneteenth, we recognize the struggles and resilience of those who came before us and reaffirm our commitment to justice and freedom for all. Juneteenth is also a time to educate ourselves about the past, work toward a future where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and to come together as a community. Some ways to honor Juneteenth in Virginia Beach include participating in community events, supporting black-owned businesses in the area and by exploring the City’s hub for arts and culture, the ViBe Creative District. Check out the link provided here for a full list of ways to celebrate Juneteenth in our region.
Together with Pride in ‘25 - Cities Join Together to Celebrate Pride June 20th - 22nd: The Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Downtown Norfolk, and Norfolk Town Point Park have collaborated to each offer celebrations of love, unity, and diversity at Hampton Roads Pride's lively pride festivals. Join the celebration, witness incredible performances, and immerse yourself in an atmosphere of acceptance. It's not just an event; it's an experience of authenticity and joy. Get all the details here to find the ride event that best suits you!
Point Break Music Festival Brings Reggae Vibe to Oceanfront June 21st – 22nd: Ready to rock, reggae lovers? The new, two-day Point Break Music Festival, featuring renowned reggae artists from around the world, hits the beach at Virginia Beach Oceanfront as more than two dozen bands are featured over this exciting two day festival. Just pick out your spot on the sand, kick back, relax and bring in the summer season the right way. Find out all the details here.
Nominees Sought for 2025 Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association (VRLTA) Ordinary Awards - Hosted by the VRLTA, the prestigious Ordinary Awards celebrate and honor all of Virginia’s restaurants, lodging establishments and hotels, DMOs, attractions, and more. Simply ordinary is definitely not what these nominees are; in fact, they are extraordinary in that they shine a light on the incredible restaurateurs, hoteliers, attractions, establishments, and employees that represent some of the best our industry has to offer from across the state. Nominations are open through June 30th, 2025, and winners announced at the VRLTA awards dinner and ceremony on September 8th, 2025. Find out more about the awards dinner and the process for nominating someone at the link provided here.
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 Opportunities - VRLTA’s 2025 Regional Seminars aim to provide education and resources on critical industry topics, extending VRLTA’s outreach and enhancing their statewide presence through valuable, focused programming. The organization also regularly 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 to participate, visit https://www.milespartnership.com/how-we-think:
- 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, can attend one or more of these insightful professional development opportunities.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
Find the 2025 CVB Event Calendar here, the Virginia Beach Events entertainment schedule here, and a link to the many fun 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 April 2025 - Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the month of April was up 3.1% from April of 2024, at 63.5% occupancy, but down -1.0% year to date. ADR was up 3.6% from April of 2024, at $139.10, and up 2.7% year to date. RevPAR was up 6.8% from April of 2024, at $88.38, and up 1.7% 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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