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July 18, 2025
Dear Valued Industry Partners,
As the tributes from across the community continue to be shared, the CVB family would like to celebrate the life and impacts of our decades-long partner, friend, advocate and supporter, Bobby Melatti, who passed away last Friday.
Known for love of family, education and community, Bobby relished in lifelong learning and served as a mentor to many, including students from the city’s public school system.
A true visionary who positively impacted Virginia Beach for nearly half a century, Bobby’s legendary influence can be seen in projects across the City. His drive, creativity, and passion led to what is now known as one of the most robust entertainment scenes on the East Coast.
Bobby’s stories and shared experiences were second to none. His sense of community led to his involvement on many boards, commissions and committees and he was often sought after for his irreplaceable institutional knowledge of the entertainment industry and the Virginia Beach community at large.
While we could never thank Bobby enough for his many contributions to Virginia Beach, we were thrilled to recently honor him with the inaugural Bobby Melatti Attractions and Entertainment Award, which will be awarded to a nominee during our upcoming 2026 National Travel and Tourism Awards Celebration.
The CVB will be supporting our Virginia Beach Hotel Association (VBHA) partners who have adopted the Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ Giving Pack Program. A past member of the city’s public school board, Bobby had a passion for the students of the city’s public school system. The schools are collecting backpacks for the start of the school year with a program which aims to allow students to start the school year strong with hope, dignity, and encouragement for a successful year ahead. VBHA will be donating 100 book bags in Bobby's memory to this program. If you are interested in contributing or want more information, contact Teri Wiley at teri.wiley@vbha.net. Books bags must be received by August 1st to be ready for the school year.
Last Friday, CVB hosted a luncheon in downtown Toronto for top tier Canadian travel media. Representatives from various outlets attended the luncheon including Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, National Post, Globe and Mail, Elle Gourmet, BOLD Traveller and more. We were excited to meet with our northern neighbors and share all the fun & exciting happenings in Virginia Beach!
Here are this week’s press hits:
- The Pioneer Woman included Virginia Beach in a roundup of the 25 best beach vacations for the family
- Northern Virginia Magazine published a guide to where to stay and what to do in Virginia Beach
- Recommendations for the best things to do in Virginia Beach are listed in this Mommy Poppins article
- Virginia Beach is among the best US cities for a digital detox due to its low noise pollution and trail mileage, according to Upgraded Points
- Islands spotlighted Bayside and Virginia Beach’s nature immersions, as well as the Boardwalk and downtown shopping
📣 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!
In sales news, Jamie Rawls was in Fredericksburg attending the Virginia Society of Association Executives’ Association Management Companies’ Retreat – keeping Virginia Beach’s name as a great meeting destination front and center to the wheel spokes of association business. Scott Warren and Amy Overstreet conducted site visits over the past week. Our Services team is busy making sure all of our summer groups are being welcomed and appreciated while also assisting sales with major tradeshow action this summer.
Recently we shared information about our Wave Makers program, M&C’s newest recommendation campaign. A Wave Maker has personally recommended Virginia Beach to meeting planners and organizers from across the country to ask them to consider Virginia Beach for a future event. Thank you to this week’s Wave Makers:
Steve Lambert, Parks and Recreation, recommended Virginia Beach to host the Virginia Land Conservation & Greenways Conference in 2029
Lyndee Tripp, Emergency Medical Services, recommended Virginia Beach to host the National Association of Mobile Integrated Healthcare Providers for their International Co-Responder Alliance
Annick Kournal, Voter Registration and Elections, recommended Virginia Beach to host the National Association of Election Officials for their Annual Convention and CERA classes
Erin Walden, Human Resources, recommended Virginia Beach to host the Ascension Leadership Academy
Do you attend a meeting that would be a great fit for Virginia Beach? Find out more about Wave Makers below:
This week, Virginia Beach comes alive with high-energy competition and cultural celebration as we welcome a series of exciting events hosted by the Virginia Beach Sports Tourism team.
Kicking off this past Wednesday and running through Monday, the 2025 USA Volleyball Beach National Championship is taking over the Oceanfront, with matches stretching from 9th Street to 14th Street. This nationally-renowned event brings together approximately 700 elite athletes from across the country, and beyond, to compete in one of the most anticipated beach volleyball events of the year. Featuring boys’ and girls’ divisions in four age groups (12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U), this championship highlights the best in youth beach volleyball. With the majestic Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, it’s a spectacular showcase of athleticism and one of the marquee summer events on Virginia Beach’s sports tourism calendar.
The courts will be buzzing with talent starting Thursday at the Virginia Beach Tennis & Country Club, as the USTA L5 Boys & Girls 12’s–18’s Doubles Championship gets underway. This high-level competition features promising young athletes from across the region, and is followed closely by the Singles Championship, beginning Friday and concluding on Tuesday. In total, around 400 players will compete in both events, offering a full week of non-stop tennis action and a look at the sport’s rising stars.
We’re proud to welcome athletes, families, and fans from near and far to experience all that Virginia Beach has to offer.\
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.
- Help your guests explore the Marina District during construction – download a flyer here for the best routes to the Marina District or request printed copies by emailing WinstonSalem@vbgov.com.
The First of Its Kind in the Nation, Owl Creek Landing Now Open: A new attraction has opened in Virginia Beach and it is the first of its kind in the U.S.! Owl Creek Landing features the first spiral tower with the longest steel slide in America, an expansive canopy walk and a children’s treehouse playground. This 38 acre area of scenic forested land guarantees a breathtaking experience for visitors of all ages and abilities! For more details, click here. Open daily, find all the details 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 Now Available: Whether you’re with a hotel or restaurant, a hospitality supplier or a CVB or DMO, 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 more than 500 industry professionals for networking, education, and inspiration like nowhere else. Find all the details here.
Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association Hospitality Training (VRLTA) 2025 Regional Seminar Series Offers Professional Development 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:
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- 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 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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