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September 12, 2025
Dear Valued Industry Partners:
It’s been a fantastic week! I’d like to recognize all our Virginia Beach partners who were nominated during the ninth annual Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association (VRLTA) Ordinary Awards. A statewide competition, it is a true honor just to be among those nominated to be called among “the best of the best” in the Commonwealth. Thank you for all your hard work year round. I am very proud of all the nominees who represented the Virginia Beach hospitality industry this year and very excited to share that Virginia Beach brought home two phenomenal and major wins this week.
Taking the win for 2025 Restaurant of the Year in Virginia is Waterman’s Surfside Grille. Recognized as a cornerstone of the Virginia Beach dining scene for decades, we offer owner Mike Standing and his crew our sincerest congratulations on this major accomplishment. Way to go for putting Virginia Beach on the map yet again!
For Hotel Manager of the Year, we offer kudos to Delta Virginia Beach Waterfront Hotel Manager Allison Knapp. Allison was recognized for her people-first leadership style and for developing and implementing initiatives created to help shape the future of our industry. She is a true star. Congratulations, Allison!
Needless to say, it was a huge night for Virginia Beach! I’m grateful for the level of partner participation and look forward to an even stronger presence at these prestigious awards next year.
 I’m thrilled to announce that we have filled a key position in the Marketing division. Please help me in welcoming Anna Stone to the CVB family. Anna will be joining our team as the Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy. Anna is an award-winning hospitality professional with a master's degree in hospitality management and a proven track record of success. With extensive experience in marketing, sales, and business development for major brands like Hilton and Marriott as well as destination marketing organizations like The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel CVB, she is an expert at leading high-performing teams and exceeding KPIs and goals. For the past five years, Anna has been the Director of Marketing and Business Development for SPIRE Hospitality. Anna has earned multiple industry awards, including the 2021 Carson Lifetime Award. She is also a member of HSMAI and has served on the Visit Orlando marketing committee for the last two years. Outside of her career, Anna enjoys spending time with her husband, Steve, their daughter Ruby James, and their two terriers, Ernie and Winston. The family is thrilled to be relocating to Virginia Beach from Nashville, Tennessee, and they are excited to be active in the local community. Anna’s start date was September 11th, and she plans to hit the ground running by providing leadership and brand strategy to our highly successful marketing team. Please stop by and say hello when you can.
The next several weeks are going to be busy and full of fun with many Neptune Festival activations happening across the City. Celebrating the beach life since 1974, the Neptune Festival produces more than 40 events in Virginia Beach annually, with many of the larger events happening in September and October. From free concerts and seaside wine tastings to athletic events and a 30-block celebration along the boardwalk, there is something for everyone. I hope each of you can enjoy some of the fun!
With two large conventions in town back-to-back, the Destination Services Team has been hard at work servicing the various needs of both groups. Following the close of the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Shrine Association (MASA) last week, which brought over 2500 visitors to Virginia Beach, the 2025 WaterJAM returned this year with a record-breaking number of more than 3200 convention delegates and 340 exhibitors to our Convention Center. They wrapped up their convention earlier this week. Attendees of each of these conventions infused our economy by staying in a number of our hotels, dining in our cafes and restaurants, visiting our attractions and shopping with our local retailers.
This week was a milestone moment for the Virginia Beach Sports Tourism team. The team traveled to Columbia, SC for S.P.O.R.T.S. – The Relationship Conference, one of the premier gatherings in the sports tourism industry. Early in the week, the team networked with event organizers from across the country, continuing our mission to bring new and exciting sports tourism events to Virginia Beach.
What made this trip truly special was the announcement that Virginia Beach will serve as the host city for the 2026 S.P.O.R.T.S. – The Relationship Conference, September 21–24, 2026! The event will take place at the Oceanfront and bring together hundreds of the nation’s top sports event planners, rights holders, destinations, and suppliers. Attendees will experience four days of highly curated meetings, educational sessions, and exclusive networking opportunities, all against the backdrop of Virginia Beach’s beautiful oceanfront. Securing this national conference further cements Virginia Beach as a top-tier destination for sports tourism. For more information on S.P.O.R.T.S. – The Relationship Conference, visit www.therelationshipconference.com.
This weekend, Virginia Beach will welcome two great events that will together bring more than 3,000 athletes and their families to the city. At the Sports Center, the 2025 Endless Summer High School Volleyball Tournament will showcase over 2,400 athletes from some of the region’s and surrounding states’ best high school programs. This annual event continues to grow and remains one of the top showcases for future volleyball talent. Meanwhile, at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex, the 2025 757 USSSA East Coast Championships will feature some of the top youth baseball athletes from across the region in two days of high-level competition.
With the announcement of hosting the 2026 S.P.O.R.T.S. – The Relationship Conference and two strong events taking place this weekend, the Virginia Beach Sports Tourism team continues to shine on both the national and regional stage, showcasing our city as one of the premier sports tourism destinations in the country.
Here is a sample of this week’s press coverage:
- USA Today listed Virginia Beach as a reinvented family-friendly fall beach destination, highlighting the iconic boardwalk, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, First Landing State Park’s foliage-lined trails, and seasonal events like the Neptune Festival’s International Sand Sculpting Championship
- Virginia Beach’s surf culture is featured in Yahoo! Creators, with a spotlight on ECSC, Super Girl Festival, Atlantic Park, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, and the Surf & Rescue Museum
📣 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!
The M&C Sales Team has travel plans throughout September to engage with clients and sell the destination. This week, Amy Overstreet is in Providence, RI spreading the good news about Virginia Beach to planners while attending NorthStar Meeting’s Destination East appointment show. She plans to conduct approximately 20 face-to-face appointments. during the show. Also this week, M&C Sales Vice President Anissa Ladd traveled to Richmond to support our Virginia Beach partners at VRLTA’s Ordinary Awards to support the nominees.
2025 Sonrise Music Festival This Weekend - Get ready to join Coastal Virginia's largest annual Christian music festival tomorrow and Sunday, September 13th & 14th, at the 24th Street Park. Enjoy music from today's top Christian, regional, and local artists. The Oceanfront is known for its great dining, and fun activities for the whole family, all against the stunning backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. Festival attendees will also be able to participate in a myriad of creative and family-oriented activities and forms of entertainment including face painting, kids activities, contests and give-aways which will take place from the main stage. There will also be a variety of themed tents and vendors for festival attendees to explore, shop and browse. The event will end with a Sunday Worship Service from 10 AM to 12 PM. Find out more here.
Public Invited to Provide Input on the City’s Draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan at Two Public Meetings Scheduled in September: The City’s Planning Department is in the final stages of updating the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) – the guiding document that will shape how Virginia Beach should grow and develop over the next 20 years and beyond. The public is invited to review the draft plan and provide feedback at one of two upcoming public meetings:
The Comprehensive Planning Team and its consultant have conducted a multi-phased, multi-year community input gathering process to identify themes, priorities and policies for the updated Comp Plan. At this stage, staff is seeking confirmation from the public that the final draft reflects community priorities communicated during the public input phase of the plan’s development. For those who are unable to attend an in-person meeting, the draft plan is available online at VirginiaBeach.gov/CompPlan. To request a paper copy and submit comments, residents should contact the Comprehensive Planning Team at CompPlan@vbgov.com or 757-385-4319. Staff will accept public comments through Oct. 30th.
Marina District Remains Open During Construction: The local businesses, restaurants, and attractions in the Marina District at the 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.
- Support the Marina District during construction – download a flyer with the best routes to the Marina District or request printed copies by emailing WinstonSalem@vbgov.com.
The Party at Town Center Continues Each Saturday in September and October - Movies in the Plaza, a series of free outdoor movie screenings each Saturday night at sunset, begins Saturday, September 6th. The films will be presented on a large outdoor screen in the recessed area of the Town Center Fountain Plaza. Limited seating is available; first come first served! You are encouraged to bring your own chairs and blankets (if necessary) and prepare for an evening of family-friendly fun. There will also be free treats while they last! All movies start at sunset; the times listed below are approximate. Here's the movie lineup for each Saturday in September and October:
September 13 @ 7:00 PM – Despicable Me 4
September 20 @ 7:00 PM – A Minecraft Movie
September 27 @ 6:30 PM – Sonic the Hedgehog 3
October 4 @ 6:30 PM – If
October 11 @ 6:30 PM – Captain America: Brave New World
October 18 @ 6:00 PM – Finding Nemo
October 25 @ 6:00 PM – Wicked
Viewer discretion advised, weather permitting. Visit www.cbda.net to learn more.
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 Only Available Through Next Friday, September 19 - Whether you’re with a restaurant or a lodging facility, a hospitality supplier or a DMO/CVB, VA1 is your chance to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the power of Virginia’s tourism economy. Join more than 500 industry professionals for networking, education, and inspiration like nowhere else. Register before 9/19/25 for early bird pricing for this year’s Summit. 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:
- This Tuesday, September 16 – Traveler Segments, Powered by the State of the American Traveler - Discover the latest insights shaping U.S. leisure travel in our annual webinar, "Traveler Segments, Powered by The State of the American Traveler," hosted by Miles Partnership and Future Partners. This year, we're diving deep into four trending traveler segments, highlighting new research and unique insights, including:
- Sports and Music Event Travelers – Exploring research on travelers who seek community through sporting and live music events.
- Wellness Seekers – Examining the continued rise of wellness-focused travel.
- Generation Z – Breaking down how Gen Z approaches leisure travel.
- DINKs (Dual Income, No Kids) – Analyzing how this segment channels its spending into travel.
In addition, a panel of destination experts will discuss the surge in sporting events and their impact on destinations across the country over the next decade. Don’t miss out—register today here to reserve your spot and gain valuable insights!
- November 18 – Stewardship & Sustainability Insights, Powered by the State of the American Traveler
I encourage everyone to try to attend one of these insightful professional development opportunities if possible.
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 July 2025 - Virginia Beach’s hotel occupancy rate for the month of July was up 0.4% from July of 2024, at 78.6.3% occupancy, but down -0.3% year to date. ADR was down -0.8% from July of 2024, at $232.26, but up 0.7% year to date. RevPAR was down -0.4% from July of 2024, at $182.55, but up 0.4% 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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