Author: Kasey Moore

The CVB is pleased to present the 2018 Destination Look Book, a reimagined and refreshed vacation guide produced in-house by the CVB Marketing Communications team. Using captivating photography and inspirational editorial content, this coffee-table worthy book highlights the entire city from Sandbridge, the oceanfront, Chesapeake Bay, Pungo, Town Center, ViBe Creative District and our surrounding inland areas. Copies will be distributed this month to visitor centers around the state, travel journalists, tour operators and more.

As part of National Plan for Vacation Day on January 30, the Virginia Beach CVB is encouraging residents of our coastal region to decompress, destress and take some time off this year by planning a vacation now.

Research by U.S.Travel Association shows that every year more than half of Americans (54 percent) fail to use all their time off, creating a stock pile of 662 million unused vacation days. In Virginia, the number is higher, with 59 percent of employees leaving 16,039, 278 days unused. Those unused vacation days mean less revenue flowing through Virginia’s economy and missed opportunities of more than $2.86 billion in untapped economic benefit.

The most effective remedy for American workers who want to use more vacation days is better planning. Yet just over half of households set aside time to plan the use of their vacation time each year. National Plan for Vacation Day, launched by Project: Time Off, is a call-to-action for Americans to stop making excuses and start making vacation plans.

To help employees get their vacation days on the calendar, Project: Time Off created a vacation planning tool. By simply entering the number of days off earned, users can plot out their trips or vacations for the year, export to their work or personal calendar, and share with their family and co-workers.

Location: East Parking Lot, Virginia Aquarium, 717 General Booth Blvd.

Cost: Free to the public (donations welcome!)

Contact: Virginia Aquarium

Phone: (757) 385-FISH (3474)

 

*Note that cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions cannot be accepted.*

Acceptable personal electronic recyclable items include:

• Personal computers and laptops
• Telephones, cell phones and PDA’s
• Printers
• Circuit boards and components
• Monitors and flat screens
• Fax Machines
• Stereo equipment and game systems
• Regular recycling materials such as newspapers, bottles and cans will also be accepted
• Acceptable Household Hazardous Waste items include:

• Up to five gallons of liquids or up to 75 pounds of dry materials
• Aerosol spray cans
• Automotive fluids
• Batteries: Alkaline (AA, AAA, C, D), Boat, Car, Camera, Cell phone, Hearing aid, Lead acid, Lithium, Rechargeable, Trucks
• Herbicides
• Household cleaners
• Gasoline (up to 5 gallons)
• Fertilizer
• Pool Chemicals
• Light bulbs – small quantities of CFLs or fluorescent tubes
• Oil and water based paint
• Pesticides
• Propane tanks (small – up to 20 lb. capacity)
• For further tips visit www.VBgov.com/landfill

 The Virginia Beach CVB is gearing up for the launch of its warm weather leisure tourism advertising campaign and “Canada Weeks” for international travelers, scheduled to start early February. Leisure media placements include broadcast/cable/digital TV, social media and brand partnerships with USA Today, Thrillist, iExplore, Blue Ridge Outdoors, NBC Sports World of Fishing and Buzzfeed.  Seventeen markets are targeted for messaging including major cities such as New York City, Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, OH, and Quebec.

 

While scores of city staff from across the organization were readying for Winter Storm Grayson, a team from the CVB were in the final stages of preparing for the Convention Center’s first major public event of the new year. Following successful events in 2012 and 2014, the organizers of USA Fencing’s North American Cup (NAC) chose to return to our coastal city for their 2018 event. The NAC is a competition during which athletes have the opportunity to advance and compete in world championships and vie for Olympic team placement in the sport of fencing. More than 1,800 athletes from across the country and around the world registered to compete in Virginia Beach in a number of divisions and levels of play.

As winter storm warnings began to circulate on Tuesday, Jan. 3, CVB staff schedules and roles were adjusted to ensure plans were in place to cover equipment load-in and set up on Wednesday and Thursday, and adequate customer service support was available from Friday to Monday.

From sheltering in place at the Center and nearby locations, to pitching in with walkway clearing and answering questions at help desks, the team pulled together and despite an adjustment to the event start time to allow for flight delays, the tournament was in full swing by Friday afternoon. Motor coach shuttles, provided by the CVB, transported athletes between the Convention Center and the 13 hotels providing accommodations. Between the athletes, coaching staff and other participants approximately 2,700 room nights were blocked for the four-day tournament.

The spirit of was determination was alive and well within the fencing community also. Two examples standout: one athlete from Vancouver who was diverted to Richmond hired an Uber driver to bring him to Virginia Beach on Thursday morning and a group of judges diverted and stuck in the DC area called each other, arranged for a rental vehicle to accommodate them and made the rounds between BWI, Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan airports to get themselves to Virginia Beach in time to judge this important event.

Despite the snow, delayed flights and persistent frigid temperatures, the tournament was lively, action-packed and well-attended. The CVB looks forward to hosting USA Fencing again.

Kudos to all involved for your dedication and hard work and congratulations on another successful event.

 

Following successful experiences in 2012 and 2014, the USA Fencing North American Cup Tournament returns to the Convention Center this week for four days of action-packed swordplay. More than 1800 athletes will face off in a variety of competition levels and styles including Division I Epee, Division I Foil & Saber, Junior, Wheelchair and Senior.

Beginning Friday afternoon, Jan. 5 and continuing through Monday, Jan. 8 the action will take over the Center’s entire 150,000 square foot expo hall and an additional 31,000 square feet of ballroom space as bouts in more than 60 fencing strips (areas of play) are held simultaneously. Fourteen local hotels are participating to provide the more than 2,700 room nights needed to house the athletes and spectators. Shuttle service will be provided for to and from participating properties and the competition venue. The public is invited to attend this event which is free for spectators. More information may be found on www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com.