“Group Travel is returning to Virginia Beach. In April we welcomed two student groups, and a Bank Group. We had a high school coral group from Ohio that stayed 3 nights. This was the first departure for the Tour Operator since early 2020. They had 48 students on the tour. We had another student senior class trip from Indiana. They stayed two nights before heading to Washington DC and they had 45 on the tour. We had a Bank group from Iowa that stayed four nights. They flew into the area and charted a local bus company. It was a small group of 11 and it was their first trip since late 2019. In late March we welcomed an adult group from Illinois. They had 22 on the tour and it was the first departure for the Tour Operator since early 2020. All the groups had a wonderful time exploring our attractions, restaurants and Boardwalk. There is light on the horizon!”
— Jim Coggin, Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Groups are on the move again as fully two-thirds of Americans 65 and older have been vaccinated and more than 80 percent will be by the start of summer. By this summer, 45 percent of all our travel planners and tour operators expect to be traveling with their groups again, and by this fall, 76 percent expect to have groups out enjoying America’s destinations.
This submission from our friends at the Virginia Beach CVB tells the tale. Based on our research, planners expect pent-up demand to mean that trips will sell out earlier and many destinations like Virginia Beach CVB will see a return of groups. America’s national parks, wide open western spaces, New England, beaches, rivers and storied towns will all see a resurgence of groups.
Ride the silver wave with us as older Americans celebrate their newfound freedom to travel again!
