FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Kelli Norman  Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau  |  knorman@VisitVirginiaBeach.com |   757.385.4700

Patricia Miotto   |  pmiotto@videotron.ca  |  514.527.5013

The Resort City Will Offer its Northern Friends Multiple Ways to Commemorate the Anniversary, Visit and Save With an Online Photo Contest and Vacation Giveaways   

(Virginia Beach, Va., Feb. xx, 2012) - For the past 30 years, Canadians have enjoyed Virginia Beach, Va. as a favorite vacation destination and the famed resort city is poised to celebrate that achievement. In 2012, Virginia Beach is "Celebrating 30 Years" with several promotions that will inspire Canadians to "Love the Moment" and create their fondest vacation memories in Virginia Beach, while reminding them of previous ones they created. What better way to escape the colder weather with the ones you love than travel to a destination with outdoor adventure, fresh coastal cuisine and beautiful beaches with a seemingly endless shoreline? Hop in a kayak and paddle by wildlife, learn to catch the perfect wave with experienced surf instructors, savor succulent seafood and local produce during a food tour or simply relax on the beach with your toes in the sand. What a life!

Throughout March, Virginia Beach is partnering with Météo Média to award a grand prize trip for four to Virginia Beach. Consumers can visit the Météo Média website to enter the sweepstakes by filling out a short form. The vacation package, valued at approximately $6,000 USD includes six night accommodations in a Sandbridge condominium, admission to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, dolphin-watching boat trip passes, a kayaking excursion, paddleboard or surf lessons, a bike or surrey rental, the Boardwalk Food Tour, tickets to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, $200 in restaurant gift certificates, a $200 VISA gift card and a Virginia Beach bag filled with goodies.

Also starting in March, profiles of Quebecors who have relocated permanently to Virginia Beach will be on the Virginia Beach website throughout the year. These ex-patriots will explain what brought them to the resort city, what they love most about the area and how they "Live the Life" in Virginia Beach. One ex-patriot is Chantale Dowell-Brault who had always enjoyed Virginia Beach as her summer haven.  In 2004, she decided to relocate to Virginia Beach and Live the Life permanently. She began working with Holiday Trav-L-Park where she assists with translation needs, coordinating reservations and other activities. During the summer, French-Canadian guests occupy 85% of the campsites, so Chantale always gets a little taste of home. Today, Chantale lives at the oceanfront and loves to rollerblade and run on the boardwalk, kayak along the shore and enjoy fresh seafood at local restaurants.

In April, the resort city will launch the "A Virginia Beach Life to Remember" Online Photo contest where Canadians will be encouraged to submit their Virginia Beach vacation moments to win Virginia Beach bags filled with goodies. Photos will continuously be added to a rotating gallery on the website, and remain visible through the end of the year.

Virginia Beach's beloved Canada Weeks promotion will return with a twist in 2012. The annual summer savings program offer invites Canadian travelers to enjoy two extra nights free in Virginia Beach when they book a six-night stay at a participating hotel during the travel dates of August 19th through 30th and September 3rd through October 31st (excluding Labor Day Weekend). To further celebrate the thirty-year relationship, Canadians who visit Virginia Beach during Canada Weeks (August through October) will be able to sign up to win an all-expenses paid vacation for four to return to Virginia Beach in 2013. The vacation is valued at $3,000. Registration is quick and easy and can be completed in-person at one of the Visitor Information Centers when they pick up their Canada Weeks packet.

Virginia Beach offers vacationers more than 12,000 hotel rooms, more than 1,800 campsites and several hundred rental vacation homes — most offering ocean- or bay-front vistas. Those accommodations, along with a long list of year-round events and boundless things to experience, make it easy to plan the perfect vacation. To book travel or for more information on Virginia Beach vacation options, visit www.VisitezVirginiaBeach.com.   

Virginia Beach entices visitors to "Live the Life" every season of the year! Located in the southeastern corner of the state in the Coastal Virginia region, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day's drive from Québec. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit the Web site www.VisitezVirginiaBeach.com for online trip planning. For media information and digital images, click on www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com/pressroom.

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