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July 11, 2025
Dear Valued Industry Partners,
I read a great article in this week's U.S. Travel SmartBrief newsletter which really piqued my interest, and I thought it would be a great read for our industry. The article was an inside look at how events and the entertainment industry are driving travel more than ever. It states that after an entertainment-heavy 2024 with record-breaking travel for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and other popular events, Americans seem to show no signs of slowing down in their desire to enjoy entertainment experiences and relish in their chosen fandoms.
A new Vacation Confidence Index from Allianz Partners USA found that 63% of Americans plan on attending at least one ticketed event this year. 43% want to attend a sporting event, and 29%will travel just to attend a major pop culture event - a 5% increase from 2024. Event-driven travel aligns specifically with younger generations’ increased desire to spend money on experiences over material goods, with 40 percent of travelers aged 18-34 expecting to attend an event away from their hometowns. The full contents of this article may be found here.
This encouraging news is beautiful music to our ears as our coastal city is known for offering endless sports events, festivals, and other types of entertainment. Just this week it was announced that the CVB Sports Tourism team has secured a four-year commitment for a world - class action sports event to be held in Virginia Beach beginning in September of 2026. We are thrilled the Super Girl Surf Festival series will be held in Virginia Beach over Labor Day Weekend 2026. In collaboration with ASA Entertainment, this world-class event will feature female athletes of all disciplines who will compete in a broad variety of action sports. An expected 75,000 attendees will converge on our coast from September 5 - 7, 2026 as more than 1,000 female athletes vie for titles in 10 sports including surfing, volleyball, and soccer, among others. There will also be concerts, DJ battles, health and fitness classes, speakers, panel discussions and more.
Designed to not only showcase top female talent, this event is intended to mentor and encourage the next generation of aspiring female pros. And best of all, this community-based event will be free and open to all! Stay tuned for more details as the progress on the planning continues on this awesome event for our City! Check out the presentation made to City Council here.
We are pleased to share this week’s press hits:
📣 Partner with Us on Social! We’re excited to share the latest efforts from the CVB Marketing Team across Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook. By following Visit Virginia Beach on these channels, you'll stay up to date on our newest content, campaign rollouts, and stories that showcase the spirit of our destination.
🤝 We’d love for you to engage with us, share posts that resonate with your audience, and help amplify Virginia Beach’s message. When sharing, be sure to tag @visitvabeach so we can highlight and celebrate you in return!
With the summer season in full effect, this weekend marks the grand opening of the 2025 Nexus Championship at the USA Regional Field Hockey Training Center. Over the next ten days, more than 1,000 top-tier athletes from across the country will participate in the event here in Virginia Beach. Anticipate fast-paced matches, top-level tactics, and electric atmosphere as teams clash in pursuit of the Nexus title.
Through this Sunday, the Princess Anne Athletic Complex will remain alive with the energy of the Summer Scorcher & Mid‑Atlantic Player Camp. Started this past Wednesday, more than 1,000 aspiring softball stars will gather for five days of high-level coaching, skill-building drills, and scrimmages. This isn’t just training, it’s a community festival where families, friends, and scouts come together to celebrate the future of softball. Expect inspiring displays of teamwork, passion, and next‑gen talent driving the sport forward.
Beginning yesterday and running through this coming Monday, the Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club plays host to the USTA Level 6 Singles Championship for boys and girls ages 12 to 18. With roughly 175 players plus families and supporters in town, the event transforms the club into a hub of junior tennis brilliance. Combine competitive spirit with waterfront charm, and you’ve got a winning weekend lineup.
Together, these three premier events showcase Virginia Beach as a powerhouse destination for youth sports. From elite field hockey to youth softball camp to nationally ranked junior tennis, there’s fandom‑fueled excitement at every venue. Make sure to catch the action and support tomorrow’s athletes in action here at home.
Excitedly, the M&C Sales Team achieved their room night goals for fiscal year 2025. Amy Overstreet conducted a site visit this week with the Navy League at the Founders Inn & Spa. Recently, Amy Overstreet & Scott Warren introduced our newest recommendation campaign, Wave Makers, to our Municipal Center campus colleagues. Thank you to those who came by to see us; we have already been introduced to key players with two national groups! If you are connected to a state, regional or national group that might consider Virginia Beach as its future meeting or convention location, RECOMMEND US! Reach out to your group and let them know that they should “Bring It To The Beach!”
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.
Beach Blanket Cinema Offers Free Family Entertainment All Summer - Bring a blanket or a beach chair and claim your space on the sand at 29th Street at the resort beach for free, open to the public outdoor cinema nights! Find out more here and hope to see you there!
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 in one or more of these sessions, click here.
- 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
September and November are great months to take available training. I encourage everyone to register and 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 May 2025 - Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the month of May was up 2.8% from May of 2024, at 67.3% occupancy, but down -0.1% year to date. ADR was up 1.7% from May of 2024, at $164.32, and up 2.6% year to date. RevPAR was up 4.5% from May of 2024, at $110.56, and up 2.5% 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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