Why choose Virginia Beach for your next meeting or event?

Located where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach offers a spectacular coastal setting for events with a wide range of pre- and post-meeting activities and exciting outdoor experiences. Easily accessible from a host of surrounding international airports, including Norfolk International Airport, Virginia Beach is located on the East Coast of the United States, close to other popular U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., Richmond, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland.  

Only in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach’s oceanfront location makes it ideal for memorable group activities from whale and dolphin-watching tours to sunrise yoga on the golden sand. Its many group-friendly restaurants offer delicious fresh seafood such as locally harvested oysters, crabs and fish.

Travel essentials

Convention Centre: Virginia Beach Convention Center (VBCC)

Convention Bureau: Visit Virginia Beach

Local currency: U.S. Dollar

Visa requirements: A Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of many countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or fewer without obtaining a visa. Eligible travellers must apply for an ESTA via the official government site (please be aware of a significant number of Internet scams involving ESTA procedures). International visitors who require a visa must apply at an American embassy or consulate. Find more information on visas.

Power: Standard U.S. voltage, most outlets are 110 or 120v

Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5)

Transportation in and around the area

Airports

• Norfolk International Airport (ORF) - just 20 minutes from the Virginia Beach Convention Center
• Chesapeake Regional Airport – smaller and ideal for charters
• Larger international airports within driving distance: Richmond International Airport (RIC); Dulles International (IAD); Ronald Reagan International (DCA); Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)

Getting about

The Virginia CVB will be delighted to assist meeting and event planners with arranging transportation for groups.

• Recommended local transportation companies include Orange Peel group transportation and James River Transportation group buses
• A taxi costs about $45 from Norfolk International Airport to Virginia Beach; travellers can also use Uber or Lyft apps for convenient rideshare options

• The Virginia Beach Convention Center prides itself on helping clients reduce their carbon footprint and was the first existing convention centre in the U.S. to earn a LEED Gold certification. Making stylish use of wood, water features and glass, the interior is bathed in natural light, ensuring that this sleek, eco-friendly building is an attractive venue for meetings. Offering a 150,000 sqft (14,000 sqm) meeting hall and 31,000 sqft (nearly 3,000 sqm) ballroom, it is a versatile space for a range of events. There are more than 10,000 rooms city-wide, including 3,500 within two miles of the convention centre.
• The Cavalier Resort is located on Virginia Beach’s oceanfront and offers a range of flexible event space. It comprises three hotels, more than 540 bedrooms and 70,000 sqft (6,500 sqm) of meeting space. The Historic Cavalier Hotel & Beach Resort opened in 1927 and has played host to celebrities for nearly 100 years. Recently renovated, it offers variously sized ballrooms, high-tech AV equipment, excellent catering, and a lovely garden available for events. The Marriott Resort Virginia Beach Oceanfront offers a stylish rooftop bar that is ideal for group social gatherings, while the Embassy Suites by Hilton offers 15,000 sqft (1,400 sqm) of meeting and restaurant space together with 157 hotel suites.
• The Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront offers wonderful Atlantic views from some of its function rooms as well as its zero-edge infinity pool. It can seat up to 832 in its ballroom.
• The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center has five event rooms, the largest accommodating up to 1,200, and nine breakout rooms.
• Find hotels near Town Center in Virginia Beach
• The Brock Environmental Center was built by The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) as one of the world’s greenest buildings. Designed as a space to engage, inform and inspire visitors to learn about the environment and work to save the Bay, it is also available for events. It serves as the hub of CBF's Virginia Beach programmes, and is home to the mobile oyster restoration center and the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Environmental Studies Program for high school students. An innovative example of environmentally sensitive and smart building, it has achieved the Living Building Challenge™ certification and LEED Platinum. With a range of event spaces seating up to 175 in the largest, more details can be found here

The Sandler Center for the Performing Arts - With outstanding acoustics, the impressive performance hall can seat up to 1,300 while the Miller Studio Theatre is ideal for smaller groups and receptions.  

Military Aviation Museum - With one of the largest collections of World War I and World War II military aircraft, this venue will delight many. Two hangars can each accommodate up to 600 people, and there are large outdoor spaces as well. Groups can host a private airshow and take a ride in a vintage aircraft.

The  Virginia Beach Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is an architecturally award-winning building. Its combination of style and art creates a stunning backdrop for any event. 

Whether you’re looking for memorable and effective team-building activities or attractions for a leisure programme, Virginia Beach offers it all. Its stunning natural environment also makes it easy to incorporate wellness into any events programme.

Top attractions

• Explore a wealth of fun activities and entertainment at Town Center, where you can shop, eat, catch a theatre performance or share a laugh at a comedy show.
• Encourage your participants to take a stroll along the pier and the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to take in the famous 26-ft tall King Neptune statue. Visitors can shop at the Artery, eat fresh seafood at one of the ocean view restaurants or enjoy drinks at Orion’s Roof at the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort.
• The mission of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is to connect visitors to the marine environment to inspire a more sustainable future. A driver in conservation, education and sustainability, it is leading the charge to save wildlife and their ecosystems. It is available for tours, educational programmes and visits to enjoy the animals and hands-on exhibits.
• Meeting attendees can spark their own creativity at the ViBe Creative District,  near the oceanfront area, and enjoy the eclectic street art. This is a hub for artists, galleries, restaurants, artisan shops, craft brews and creative businesses including street markets, community projects and entertainment.

Adventure activities

• Whale-watching - Rudee Tours  is one of the local companies recommended for exciting group days out for an awe-inspiring whale-watching or dolphin-watching boat tour, where meeting attendees may spot one of the ocean’s most majestic creatures. It’s an experience never to be forgotten.
• Whether it’s a simulated Special Ops Mission, a gentle day of fishing, a whale, seal and dolphin tour or a sunset happy hour cruise, Patriotic Excursions can accommodate small groups for memorable experiences on the water.
• Join Pleasure House Oysters for a trip on the Lynnhaven River for an Oyster Farm Tour. Both educational and entertaining, the tour will demonstrate how the famous Lynnhaven Oysters are harvested and, of course, have a chance to enjoy this local delicacy.
• Take your team building to new heights as you zipline from tree to tree at The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium. The aerial adventure park also offers high and low ropes course climbing and is situated minutes from the Boardwalk.
• Get the adrenaline pumping with indoor skydiving at iFly. The world’s most technologically advanced flying wind-tunnel, iFly can be hired for private events.
• Virginia Beach’s coastal location makes it ideal for all manner of watersports from surfing lessons with Chesapean Outdoors, to fishing, parasailing, kayaking and paddleboarding. Or just enjoy a relaxing day out exploring the glorious surroundings on a Chesapeake Bay boat tour.
• And if it’s the great outdoors you’re after, you will be amazed. You can hike, bike and picnic in First Landing State Park, enjoy the beaches and dunes at False Cape State Park, kayak in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and visit the Cape Henry Lighthouse. Breathing in the fresh air is the perfect break from meetings, or make excellent activities for attendees looking to extend their trip. Let the adventure begin!

Learn more about the exciting, year-round events in Virginia Beach.

Visit Virginia Beach offers a host of convention bureau services including Concierge, Housing, Transportation, Registration and more.

For further assistance and information:

Sally Noona
Director of Convention Sales & Marketing
[email protected]

Virginia Beach Convention Center
Tel.: +1 (757) 385-2000
[email protected]
www.visitvirginiabeach.com/convention-center

f: VisitVaBeach