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hospitality and tourism

J. Scott Wunn, executive director of the National Speech & Debate Association, speaks at a press conference in Richmond Monday. Image captured from Richmond Forum livestream.
Nov 20, 2023

Richmond to host 2026 national speech and debate tournament

The Richmond region will host a June 2026 national speech and debate tournament that’s expected to bring 10,000 students and visitors to the region. The National Speech & Debate Association, Richmond Region Tourism and the nonprofit Richmond Forum made the announcement Monday. “I know this will be one of the best tournaments, and I look […]

Sep 20, 2023

Hotel revenue still up, but shows signs of softening

Virginia’s hotel industry revenues remain above pre-pandemic levels but are beginning to show a softening. That’s according to a report from Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy released Tuesday. According to the center’s analysis of data from STR, a division of CoStar Group that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality […]

Fifth District economy has moderate growth, Fed says
Sep 6, 2023

Fed Fifth District economy grows slightly

The economy in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (a multistate region including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) grew slightly in recent weeks, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. Published eight times per year, the Beige Book is based on anecdotal information about economic conditions gathere[...]

Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: BRIDGETTE C. BYWATER
Aug 30, 2023

Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: BRIDGETTE C. BYWATER

Coming out of pandemic-driven restrictions, “Kings Dominion will be the cure for cabin fever in 2023,” Bywater said in October 2022, announcing the 48-year-old amusement park’s intention to welcome guests year-round, adding weekends in January, February and March to its regular April to December season. Kings Dominion aimed to hire 2,500 employees this year; in […]

Fifth District economy has moderate growth, Fed says
Apr 19, 2023

Fed Fifth District economy shrinks slightly

The economy in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (a multistate region including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) has contracted slightly since March, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. Published eight times per year, the Beige Book is based on anecdotal information about economic conditions g[...]

UPDATED: Richmond picks Diamond District development team
Apr 11, 2023

Squirrels president is worried over ballpark timeline

The Richmond Flying Squirrels are worried that a new stadium may not be ready by April 2025 as needed to meet new Major League Baseball regulations, according to the Minor League Baseball team’s president and managing partner, Lou DiBella. In a statement Tuesday, DiBella said that there has been “very little progress” from the city […]

Area tourism needs to be expanded beyond just Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens, which is leading to development of a regional sports complex, says Williamsburg Mayor Doug Pons. Photo by Mark Rhodes
Mar 30, 2023

Shoring up

Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown are all significant parts of the nation’s foundation, and historic tourism drove the region’s economy during the 20th century. But Colonial Williamsburg hasn’t been enough to keep big crowds coming to the area consistently in the 21st century, even before the pandemic. Visitation dropped from 960,000 in 1999 to 534,000 in […]

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Mar 22, 2023

Va. hotel revenues in February up 14.9% from 2019

Hotel revenues in Virginia were 14.9% higher in February compared with pre-pandemic levels, largely because of increased room rates, according to data released Tuesday by STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group Inc. that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. Hotel rooms sold increased by 4.3% last month compared with February 2019. The […]

Claire Larkin
Nov 7, 2022

Commonwealth Lodging hires corporate HR director

Virginia Beach-based Commonwealth Lodging Management has hired Claire Larkin as corporate director of human resources, the hospitality management and consulting firm announced Thursday. “Claire enjoys building strong relationships with clients and co-workers, often serving as a mentor and coach to help people grow in their career goals,” Commonwealth Lodging Managing Director Duane Gauthier sa[...]

Pharrell Williams announced on Nov. 2, 2022, that his Something in the Water music festival will return to Virginia Beach in 2023. L to R: Williams; Virginia Beach Economic Development Director Taylor Adams; City Manager Patrick Duhaney; Councilman Aaron Rouse; and Mayor Bobby M. Dyer. Photo by Mark Rhodes
Nov 2, 2022

Something in the Water will return to Va. Beach in 2023

Music superstar and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams announced Wednesday that his signature three-day music festival, Something in the Water, will again be held in Virginia Beach on April 28-30, 2023, after the festival moved to Washington, D.C., this summer. The inaugural Something in the Water festival was held on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in […]

Fifth District economy has moderate growth, Fed says
Oct 19, 2022

Fifth District economy little changed since August, Fed says

The economy in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (a multistate region including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) has been largely unchanged since August, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. Published eight times per year, the Beige Book is based on anecdotal information about economic […[...]

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Aug 4, 2022

Hilton will expand global HQ in Fairfax

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. will expand its Fairfax County corporate headquarters, creating 350 jobs over the next five years, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday. Over the next five years, the Fortune 1000 global hospitality company will add a variety of roles in areas created to support growth in the coming years, according to a Hilton […]

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