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Demand rises for unique meeting locations
Event planners are choosing distinctive Virginia venues — from art museums to racetracks — to create memorable experiences.
VA1 Summit gives tourism pros chance to talk
Virginia tourism leaders will gather in Danville for the annual VA1 Summit to discuss innovation, AI and the future of travel.
Notable hotels opening across Virginia
Virginia’s hotel sector remains strong despite reduced federal travel, with new luxury and boutique properties opening statewide.
Live conventions return but face rising costs
Event planners across Virginia say meetings and conventions are thriving again, even as costs and expectations climb.
Historical Roanoke bank to reopen as music hall, hotel and restaurant
The First National Exchange Bank building in Roanoke is about to start a second life housing a boutique hotel, restaurant and 1,200-capacity venue.
Temporary Petersburg casino to open in January
A temporary casino preceding the $1.4 billion Live! Casino & Hotel Resort in Petersburg is expected to open in January 2026.
Shamin Hotels debuts first Hyatt Select in US
Shamin Hotels opens the first Hyatt Select in the U.S. in Chester and plans a new Outset Collection hotel in Virginia Beach.
Roanoke eyes casino at Berglund Center
Roanoke officials announced they are exploring the idea of locating a casino at the Berglund Center to boost revenue and tourism.
Hospitality | Tourism 2025: ALBRECHT, CHRIS
In 2022, Albrecht assumed his current post overseeing the Danville casino, which opened in December 2024. The $800 million Caesars Virginia resort, with 1,200 employees, is the third permanent casino to open in the state, although a temporary venue was previously in operation. The property includes more than 90,000 square feet of gaming space, with […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2025: BRADBURN, DOUG
One of the most visited historic estates in the nation, Mount Vernon receives about 1 million visitors annually. Bradburn is overseeing a privately funded preservation project to ensure the structural integrity of George Washington’s mansion for decades to come. The $40 million project, which started in 2023 and will stretch to 2026, includes designing and […]
Nostalgia-fueled Colony House reopens
Thanks to $10 million in 21st-century improvements, Roanoke’s Colony House Motor Lodge will once again welcome guests who are into time travel. The iconic motel, which opened in 1959 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, closed in 2018 as it awaited an extensive makeover that includes redecorated rooms and modern-day enhancements. […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2025: TERRY, ERIC
With four decades of hospitality experience, Terry has advocated for the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association’s 1,500-plus industry members since joining as president in 2014. VRLTA and Virginia Tourism Corp. announced in June that the 2026 VA1 Governor’s Tourism Summit — an annual gathering of 500-plus tourism professionals — will be at the Kalahari […]
