CELEBRATING NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK
MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2023
National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is a widely celebrated annual tradition for both the U.S. travel community and here locally in Virginia Beach. It’s a time when travel, tourism, and hospitality professionals come together to celebrate the importance our industry holds for our economy, businesses, and even personal well-being.
Now in its 40th year, NTTW is dedicated to highlighting the power of travel by recognizing the millions of people nationwide who help keep the hospitality industry going strong, on the frontlines, and behind the scenes.
NTTW 2023 recognizes the need to TRAVEL FORWARD and the critical role our industry has in rebuilding the workforce, helping communities continue to recover, fostering sustainability, ushering in new innovations, and reconnecting travelers in the U.S. and around the world.
This is a special week for us to unite in celebrating our industry and honoring the hard work and commitment of our Virginia Beach hospitality and tourism workforce - our hospitality heroes. Do you know someone who is the best of the best in Virginia Beach tourism? NOMINATE TODAY!
Winners in over 10 categories will be announced during an award ceremony planned for 5/11/23 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
During National Travel and Tourism Week, the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau holds its annual National Travel and Tourism Week Awards Ceremony program. The program was created to recognize those within our hospitality community who excel in their work in making Virginia Beach a first-class travel destination. Awards in almost a dozen industry-related categories were presented to local “hospitality heroes” at a luncheon held on May 11th, 2023 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Recipient | Category | Property/Business |
Chuck Sass | Carlos Wilson Lifetime Achievement | Gold Key PHR Hotels & Resorts |
Rachel Cook | James Ricketts Hospitality Hero | Jungle Golf |
Joanne Guilford | Banquet/Catering | The Westin |
Dana Caston | Dishwasher/Busser | Zoes Restaurant |
Asher Bush | Host/ Hostess/Cashier | Rockafeller’s Restaurant |
Jerry Flowers | Kitchen Staff | Hemingway’s @ Holiday Inn Oceanside |
Victoria Addenbrook |
Waitstaff/Bartender | Ocean Eddies Seafood Restaurant |
Avril Crepsac | Front Desk | The Flowering Almond Spa @ The Founders Inn |
Doug Strejeck | Bellman/Valet/Concierge | Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront |
Shavonne Jenkins |
Housekeeping/Laundry | Hyatt Place Virginia Beach Town Center |
Mike Johnson | Maintenance/Engineer* | Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront |
Clayton Colyer | Maintenance/Engineer* | Doubletree by Hilton Virginia Beach |
*indicates a tie