Due mostly in part to several years of declining nominations and participation, the CVB will not be hosting the NTW Awards luncheon this year. Instead, the Communications Unit is planning a fun, grassroots, in-market activation to surprise and thank more than 100 frontline employees (everyone from police to retailers to waitresses to taxi drivers) at their workplace. We will be capturing their joy on video and sharing through our new industry social media channels (facebook.com/vabeachCVB and twitter.com/CVBvabeach). Our week will end at the Norfolk International Airport during Thank the Visitor Day – except we will also be thanking airport personnel. Stay tuned for more details!
VB All Over the April Issue of Coastal Living
In the same issue that will feature a Virginia Beach two page advertisement as well as a Virginia Beach 3 Beaches Quiz, Coastal Living has also decided to feature VB in their “Double Take” editorial feature for April. The “Double Take” section is a friendly head-to head competition between two coastal destinations, and we have been paired with Huntington Beach for a battle of surf towns. Once it runs in print, the competition will be taken online to encourage readers to vote for their favorite, which then gets an Instagram takeover! We will be keeping you all posted so that we can represent!
Vivir la Vida – Argentina’s La Opinion Newspaper Covers Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Tourism continues to spread its presence in international markets as they received a great feature in Argentina’s La Opinion newspaper.
For a rough Google Translation of the article, click here!
Virginia Beach Highlighted in Smart Meeting Magazine
Smart Meetings magazine has published a great feature regarding Coastal Virginia as a meetings destination. The “new” Cavalier Hotel, the ViBe Creative District and the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel are all highlighted for Virginia Beach.
Read the article here.
VB Featured in The Group Travel Leader
Check out this great feature in The Group Travel Leader, highlighting Virginia Beach as part of a Coastal Virginia group travel experience!
A Surprise Visitor on the Bay
While conducting a site visit early last week at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center, Convention Sales Manager, Jamie Mitchell, and her clients noticed something coming out of the water while touring one of the sleeping rooms – a happy and healthy seal swimming in the water and skipping up onto the beach! Thanks for sharing, Jamie!
VB Competing for Top Spot in Coastal Living’s “Beach Bracket!”
Virginia Beach is competing with other beaches around the US to be named the “2016 Best Beach in America.” We are taking on Ocracoke Island, NC, in Round 1 of the March Madness-style bracket, the voting for which closes tomorrow (March 17) at 5 pm. Vote Now and be sure to share the link!
View the great Pilot coverage of our nomination here!
Last Weekend in VB Sports
With three events including Cheer and Dance Extreme at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Gymstrada Gymnastics Level at
Ocean Lakes High School, and Rush Cup at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex, the VB Sports team found a way to keep busy this weekend!
Are You Ready to ShamROCK?
What do our very own CVBers Tiffany Russell (Media and Communications), Renee Britt (VBCC Admin) and Sabrina Rinaldo (Distinctive Gourmet) have in common this weekend? They will be joining forces with more than 30,000 other runners who will take to the streets of VB for the Shamrock Sports Festival!
Have you ever wondered what it takes to operate this massive March event? The fun facts below give you a quick look behind the scenes:
290,000 Water Cups throughout the course
220,000 Gatorade Cups throughout the course
25,000 Bottles of water
22,000 bags of delicious salty Potato Chips
22,000 cute sugar Shamrock Cookies
16,500 bananas for race finishers
11,000 Granola Bars
11,000 12-ounce bottles of Gatorade
3500 Rolls of Toilet Paper
500 Port-A-Potties
284 kegs of ice-cold Yuengling Lager
2,000 AWESOME volunteers
The VB Sports Team will be on site and around town supporting our event partner, J&A Racing. May the “Luck of the Irish” be with Tiffany, Renee, Sabrina and all of the participants. According to the 2015 study facilitated by San Diego State University, the Shamrock Weekend brings more than $22 million in impact to Virginia Beach! That is a lot of GREEN.
See you at the finish line!
-VB Sports
Virginia Beach Has Taken Off on Top Chinese Social Media Site
Virginia Beach is up to over a half-million followers on Chinese microblogging site, Weibo. With US visitors from China expected to double before the decade is over, this is great news out of an important market. You can read the great Southside Daily article here.