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Virginia scores big with booming sports tourism industry
Henrico and other Virginia counties see major economic growth from sports tourism, with events and new venues boosting jobs, tax revenue, and visitors.
Restaurant chain Hooters goes bust and files for bankruptcy protection
Hooters is going bust. The U.S. restaurant chain, known for chicken wings and its skimpy “Hooters Girls” wait-staff outfits, has filed for bankruptcy protection. HOA Restaurant Group filed the motion for Chapter 11 protection Monday in the North Texas Bankruptcy Court in Dallas. It’s the latest legacy restaurant chain to run into financial trouble amid high […]
Developers break ground on $1.4B Petersburg casino
Baltimore-based The Cordish Cos. and Virginia Beach developer Bruce Smith Enterprise broke ground Wednesday on the much-anticipated $1.4 billion Live! Casino & Hotel Resort in Petersburg. The mixed-use development’s backers say it will create about 1,400 permanent jobs, increase tourism and generate billions in economic benefit for Virginia. In November 2024, more than 80% of […]
Construction kicks off on $750M Norfolk casino
After more than four years and amid shifting plans, construction has finally begun on Norfolk’s new $750 million casino resort. Norfolk Casino spokesperson Jay Smith confirmed that construction on the long-awaited project kicked off Friday near Harbor Park. While a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2024, actual site work didn’t begin until last […]
Playa Hotels & Resorts to be acquired in $2.6B deal with Hyatt
Resorts owner, operator and developer Playa Hotels & Resorts has entered into an agreement to be acquired by an indirect subsidiary of Hyatt Hotels for approximately $2.6 billion, including approximately $900 million in debt, the hospitality companies announced Monday. Playa Hotels & Resorts is a Dutch public limited liability company headquartered in Amsterdam with an […]
Norfolk focuses on cruise and entertainment tourism
The “city surrounded by water” — Norfolk — is going through “an evolution, putting in necessary investments to stay on top of the times” as a tourism destination, says Sean Washington, the city’s director of economic development. The city is expanding its cruise center to accommodate an influx of passengers year-round, has broken ground on […]
2025 Virginia Black Business Leaders Awards: Benita Thompson-Byas
Thompson-Byas joined the company started by her brother Warren Thompson right at its launch in 1992. Over the past three decades, Thompson Hospitality has grown from a group of 31 Big Boy restaurants to become the nation’s largest minority-owned hospitality business. Thompson-Byas is in charge of the company’s partnership with Compass Group, including more than […]
Fairfax casino bill moves forward in Va. Senate
A Virginia State Senate bill that could bring a casino to Tysons won a vote in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, pushing it forward to a full Senate vote later in the Virginia General Assembly session. If passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Fairfax County voters would have the […]
Va. Beach gives Something in the Water 5-day deadline over contract breach
After receiving a brief reprieve, the clock is ticking for organizers for Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water music festival. Organizers were given five days to make significant progress in meeting Virginia Beach‘s requirements for a lineup of performers and a start to ticket sales, city officials decided Tuesday. If organizers do not meet the […]
Richmond water crisis shuts down many restaurants, businesses
Jan. 9 update: Richmond starts water testing, but city remains under boil water advisory “Dry January” became all too literal in Richmond, where most city residents and businesses were struggling with a water outage that started Monday afternoon and was still leaving much of a city with a population of more than 225,000 people without […]
Something in the Water gets extension from Va. Beach
Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water festival got a bit of a break Tuesday from Virginia Beach City Council members, who agreed to give the Virginia Beach-born music and fashion maven more time to fulfill an overdue part of the festival’s contract with the city. City Council voted 8-2 Tuesday to indefinitely defer an earlier […]
