HomeMy WebLinkAboutConvention and Visitors Bureau Departmental Budget PresentationCity of Virginia Beach
Proposed FY 2026-27
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Nancy Helman, Director of Convention and Visitors Bureau
April 28, 2026
1
Trends & Issues
2
Virginia Beach Sports Center
•Focused on attracting prestigious national events like the USA Volleyball Beach
National Championship, the Stonewall Sports Tournament & Summit, the A-10
Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships, the CAA Men's &
Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships
•2026 S.P.O.R.T.S. The Relationship Conference, welcoming approximately 400
sports rights holders and destination representatives
Resort Area Initiatives and Special Events
•Virginia Beach will host the world’s largest women’s sports, music, and
lifestyle festival when the Super Girl Festival arrives September 5-7, 2026.
•Returning events include the Boardwalk Art Show, Neptune Festival, Jackelope
Festival, Symphony by the Sea, Point Break Festival, and East Coast Surfing
Championship
Trends & Issues Continued
3
Convention Center Utilization
•Event planners are increasingly focused on integrating technology,
sustainability, and personalized experiences to meet evolving attendee
expectations
•Multiple projects are now underway as part of a comprehensive
master plan to maintain and reinvest in the Convention Center
Economic Recovery
•Visitors to the City continue to increase to 14.3M in 2024, up from
14.1M in 2023.
•Estimated visitor spend is up to $2.6B in 2024 up from $2.5B in 2023.
•Visitor spending directly supports 34,076 job in the City
Major Budget Changes – TAP Fund
4
•Multiple avenues for improving the City’s
marketing efforts have been identified to create
a more comprehensive marketing plan to
enhance the City’s reach and promote the City as
a premier travel destination.
•Annualize the Super Girl Festival, a new sports
tourism event, investing in new domestic
markets, Google AI MAX, ad placements in
podcasts and email, and a mobile destination
app
Increased
Marketing
Opportunities–
$1,941,131
Major Budget Changes- TIP Fund
5
Expanded Entertainment Contract and Events $1,875,000
•Additional investment to expand and enhance entertainment opportunities
•Enhancements to the Oceanfront Concert Series, Funk Fest, and July 4th
Fireworks
•Expanded events including East Coast Chess Championship, Sand Blast
Jigsaw Puzzle Competition, and new weekend event
Holiday Light Rework $1,010,000
•New walking experience at the Virginia Aquarium with some one time set up
•Annual funding will be $210,000 for the holiday experiences including Santa
Seaside Cinema, Santa Paws Tuesdays, and enhanced décor on Atlantic
Major Budget Changes – General Fund
6
•Increase of rental charges for the Convention Center
to keep up with the inflationary pressure on the
cost to provide service without needing to increase
general government support of the facility
Convention
Center Revenues
$124,079
•Thorough evaluation of internal operations
opportunities to right size funding based on need have
been identified. Reductions have been made to event
services and professional development training.
Streamlining
General Fund
Operations
$151,196
Questions?
7