How the Virginia Beach CVB Is Making a Splash Locally and Abroad

The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the official destination marketing organization for Virginia Beach. It is responsible for promoting year-round leisure and entertainment, expanding international and sports travel, and securing meeting and convention business.

The CVB manages the 500,000-square-foot Virginia Beach Convention Center, which happens to be the first “Virginia Green” destination in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the first LEED Gold-certified convention center for Existing Buildings in the country.

The East Coast’s newest and largest indoor sports complex, the Virginia Beach Sports Center, also falls under the CVB’s umbrella. The state-of-the-art facility is located right across the street from the Convention Center and hosts a range of sporting events and tournaments. 

With over 100 employees, the CVB is laser-focused on expanding the local economy by increasing visitors and sealing deals with new and repeat clients to keep Virginia Beach brimming with shows, festivals, conferences, exhibits and other functions. Its goal is to attract local, state, national and international events all year long. The CVB’s Resort Management Office coordinates entertainment for locals and visitors, supports Oceanfront business development opportunities and oversees event permit logistics.   

The CVB advocates for one of Virginia Beach’s largest industries—tourism and hospitality. These stats help convey the impact and value of the City’s efforts:  

• In 2022, expenditures by visitors amounted to $2.4 billion dollars, an increase of $300 million compared to the previous year and a striking $460 million increase above the spending levels from 2019. When you factor in both indirect and induced effects to those same numbers, the total amount was a grand total of $3.7 billion dollars of economic impact for 2022.  
• This economic ripple funded more than 32,000 jobs or about 19% of all jobs in the city. In addition, tourism spending contributed $324 million in state and local tax revenues during the same year. 

For the CVB, business is about community. 

The French-Canadian market is Virginia Beach’s number one international market for travelers to the city, with the Canadian market representing an impressive 40% of international visits to the region. 

“The Canadian market is extremely important to Virginia Beach. We love our northern neighbors,” said Nancy Helman, CVB director. “Like our locals, Canadian travelers appreciate all the natural beauty that surrounds us, perfectly paired with a flourishing culinary scene, rich history, and a variety of arts and entertainment attractions that keep the action going year-round.”

During a recent engagement opportunity in downtown Montreal, Canada, the CVB along with partners from the ViBe Creative District hosted dozens of travel agents, tour operators and media to show them how we “Live the Life.” Inspired by the artwork in the ViBe, a hands-on experience in the art of mural creation was led by the district’s own mural artist, Rick Ricketts. ViBe partners also had an opportunity to introduce their products and services to a broader audience.

What locals love about Virginia Beach is ultimately what the CVB aims to highlight in all of their efforts to attract potential vacationers. Tourism is a large revenue source for hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and other businesses. Parks, the arts and culture scene and the economy as a whole benefit from a boost in visitors.

Get Connected 

Are you a local business owner? The Partner Pipeline is the official CVB business-to-business platform where businesses can access growth opportunities, receive market research, gain visibility, network with other tourism industry partners and more. Create your account today.  

Stay informed on all things tourism in Virginia Beach and sign up for the CVB’s Industry Newsletter.