|
June 20, 2025
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
Happy Summer! It’s an exciting time of year in our area. We are proud of the diverse and exciting lineup planned in Virginia Beach to coincide with the regional festivities happening across Hampton Roads. From the tide of visitors arriving daily, the Point Break Music Festival, the various Juneteenth celebrations and Hampton Roads Pride 2025 to the many event happenings at the Dome, the Convention Center and the Sports Center, there is literally something for everyone’s taste and pleasure. Thank you for all you do everyday to make all of our guests feel welcomed and valued. I hope you will let me know if there is any way my team and I can assist you.
Our teams have been on the go to raise awareness of Virginia Beach and increase visitation to the destination.
Jamie Rawls started the week off with a site visit on Monday with one of her many state associations. Dee Mittman traveled to St. Louis, MO on Sunday and is attending Meeting Planners International's World Education Conference. At this conference, Virginia Beach sponsored the Wellness Track within the program. Dee introduced the speakers and engaged those in attendance. During the conference, she also had 20 one-on-one appointments scheduled with planners from across the nation.
Also this week, CVB PR Director Erin Goldmeier attended U.S. Travel Association’s International Pow Wow (IPW) in Chicago where she met with nearly 40 international journalists at Media Marketplace. Kelli Norman and Jim Coggin were also representing the Virginia Beach CVB at IPW where they held desk-side appointments with 55 tour operators from around the world. IPW is the premier event for the U.S. travel industry and brings together travel professionals from more than 60 countries, including exhibitors, buyers, and media, to promote U.S. travel destinations and products in the international marketplace.
We are pleased to include this week’s press hits:
- Travel + Leisure: “The Birthplace of East Coast Surfing Is Getting the First ‘Wavegarden’ in the U.S. - and It’s Just 2 Blocks From the Ocean”
- The Yorkshire Post: Virginia Beach in “Foodie Escapes for Seafood Lovers”
The Convention Center hosted the Small Business Awards Lunch for the Hampton Roads Chamber as well as a small business roundtable for Congresswoman Jen Kiggans this week. Yesterday, the Southern Conference United Church of Christ started and runs through tomorrow. This weekend, ADS begins their load-in in preparation for the annual Warrior East Expo taking place on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
This weekend the Sports Tourism team hosts a dynamic lineup of events across the city, showcasing everything from beach volleyball to basketball, softball, and women’s flag football.
The excitement began midweek with P1440’s Junior National Beach Volleyball Championship, which kicked off this past Wednesday and runs through Tuesday, June 24th. Spanning from 26th Street to 30th Street at the Oceanfront, this premier youth beach volleyball tournament features more than 200 elite athletes from over 20 states. College scouts will be out in full force as many of these athletes are already committed to top programs or are seeking to be recruited. More than 800 spectators are expected to witness this celebration of talent and sportsmanship.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Coast Elite Showcase returns Thursday through Sunday at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex. This high-caliber softball event brings in approximately 500 athletes from around the region, giving players the opportunity to display their skills in front of collegiate scouts and recruiters. The tournament consistently delivers competitive matchups and has become a staple for fastpitch talent development on the East Coast.
Basketball fans will flock to the Virginia Beach Sports Center this Saturday and Sunday for the 2025 Big Time Hoops Virginia Beach National Spotlight tournament. Featuring around 800 players from up and down the east coast, the event brings together premier youth talent in a high-stakes, high-energy environment. Expect exciting matchups, passionate fans, and non-stop hoops action as teams battle for recognition and championships.
Rounding out the weekend, the 2025 Coastal Women’s Flag Football League Virginia Beach Invitational will light up the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex with over 1,800 athletes participating in this fast-growing sport. Taking place Saturday and Sunday, the event highlights the explosive growth and competitive spirit of women’s flag football, offering a powerful showcase of athleticism, teamwork, and empowerment on the field.
Whether on the beach, the court, or the turf, Virginia Beach is the place to be this weekend for elite youth sports action and community spirit!
International Market Night Resumes Tonight, June 20th - The International Night Market is back! Rooted in the heart of the ViBe Creative District, this cultural series returns to celebrate the global diversity of Virginia Beach. Each event will highlight the international flavors, spotlighting diverse artists, musicians, food trucks and vendors from around the world, all coming together to ignite community pride, fuel local business and create a space where everyone belongs.
Located at 723 20th Street, beside Dwell in the ViBe Apartments. In collaboration with the ViBe Creative District and the City of Virginia Beach, this free, family-friendly evening will transform the 20th Street cul-de-sac into an open air cultural block party. Guests can expect vibrant live music, energetic dance performances, local artisan vendors, hands-on art, games and activities for all ages, and a global lineup of food trucks offering authentic flavors from across Latin America.
Inspired by the spirit of street festivals found in cities like São Paulo, Cartagena, and San Juan, the Night Market is more than an event, it is a celebration of identity, culture, and connection. Each Night Market will spotlight a different cultural heritage, including celebrations of African, Asian & Pacific Islander, Indian, Middle Eastern, and European communities. Together, they represent the colorful mosaic of cultures that give Virginia Beach its vibrant, creative, and uniquely connected heartbeat. Find out the dates and details here and hope to see you there!
Celebrate Juneteenth Through Sunday, June 22nd: 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 minority-owned businesses in the area and by exploring the ViBe Creative District the city’s hub for arts and culture. Click here for more information about how you can take part in a variety of community activities to commemorate this national holiday.
Enjoy the Point Break Festival This Weekend June 21st - 22nd: Are you ready to rock, reggae lovers? The new, two-day Point Break Music Festival, featuring renowned reggae artists from around the world, hits the Oceanfront this weekend, June 21st & 22nd. Just pick out your spot on the sand, kick back, relax and bring in the summer season the right way. Get all the details and full lineup here. The Resort Management Office advises there will be a road closure associated with the festival. The Event Road Closure Notice may be found here for the Rudee Loop vicinity. This area will remain closed through June 24. For additional information regarding traffic and parking impacts due to the festival, find a Special Event Traffic Advisory here. To help guide patrons and HRT trolleys around the festival footprint, find a map here. Please contact Special Event and Film Coordinator Christopher McKnight, MS, at 757-385-6637 with any questions or concerns.
Town Center Kids Club - Summer is for the kids! Join the folks at Town Center on Tuesdays through July 8th from 9 - 10 am at the lower Fountain Plaza for free kid’s entertainment. Enjoy the summer sunshine and a six-week rotation of family-friendly activities including interactive story times, museum visits, and more! Find out more here.
Exciting News from the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association (VBRA) - Virginia Beach has been selected to be a part of the Duke's Mayonnaise 2025 Hot Tomato Summer event! Local restaurants can register to participate in culinary creativity while celebrating the iconic duo of mayonnaise and tomatoes during a 10-day event July 17th -27th. Register here for Duke's Hot Tomato Summer 2025 and be sure to let VBRA know you are part of the event at director@dineinvb.com
The Countdown is On! Nominees Sought Through June 30th 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 the industry, we are pleased to share information about upcoming opportunities for professional development:
2025 VA1 Governor’s Tourism Summit Early Bird Pricing Available: Whether you’re with a CVB or DMO, a hospitality supplier, a hotel or restaurant, or part of local or state government, VA1 is your chance to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the power of Virginia’s tourism economy. Register today for this year’s Summit and join 500+ industry professionals for networking, education, and inspiration like no other. Find all the details here.
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
- Discover the latest trends shaping how U.S. travelers use technology to consume content and how they plan, book and experience travel in our annual webinar, “Technology Trends, Powered by The State of the American Traveler.” Hosted by Miles Partnership and Future Partners, this session will explore the latest research and expert insights on emerging technologies and media that are reshaping the travel industry—from AI to streaming. Register here for this informative session.
- 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 encourage everyone to try to 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.
| 
