Hotel workers must complete anti-human trafficking training
RICHMOND, Va. — After a few lawmakers missed time during the session due to COVID-19, Del. Shelly A. Simonds, D-Newport News, said she was thrilled to see all 100 members of the House unanimously pass a bill requiring hotels to provide human trafficking training for employees. “It was really exciting for me to watch the […]
Hilton Richmond Downtown completes multimillion-dollar renovation
Hilton Richmond Downtown’s multimillion-dollar renovation is complete, New Orleans-based management company HRI Lodging LLC announced March 24. The renovation includes a new lobby bar and lounge and hybrid meeting space, as well as updating the fitness center, indoor pool and guest room bathrooms. The 250-room Hilton Richmond Downtown occupies the former Miller & Rhoads department [&hell[...]
Feb. statewide hotel revenues were 6.1% lower than 2019
February hotel revenues in Virginia were 6.1% lower than those recorded in February 2019, according to data released Monday by STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group Inc. that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. Hotel rooms sold decreased by 5% last month, compared with 2019 levels. The average daily rate (ADR) paid […]
Mountain Lake Lodge promotes general manager to CEO
Mountain Lake Lodge, where 1987 hit movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed, announced Thursday the promotion of Heidi Stone to president and CEO. Stone has served as the Pembroke hotel‘s general manager since 2013. “Heidi Stone is a talented hotelier whose proven leadership and commitment is reflected through her team,” Giles County Administrator Chris McKlarney said in a[...]
Pain beyond the pump
Ravi Patel watched as gas prices began their upward spiral and responded accordingly. To help offset fuel surcharges for deliveries, Patel, CEO of Sina Hospitality, placed larger orders for the linens, toiletries and other dry good items that his employees need to stock the Richmond-area hotels his company operates. “Kind of like everybody’s stockpile during COVID,” […]
Take a hike
Amid the ongoing pandemic, Virginians have escaped to the outdoors, enjoying the commonwealth’s varying recreational activities. “Since the pandemic started, people have wanted to get out of their homes and explore,” says Virginia Tourism Corp. Communications Manager Andrew Cothern, “and there’s so much to do in Virginia that outdoor recreation was a natural thing that […]
Va. hotel revenues down 6.5% from Jan. 2019
Virginia hotel revenues in January were 6.5% below January 2019 levels, according to data released Monday by STR Inc., a CoStar Group division that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. During the same period, hotel rooms sold decreased by 4% compared with 2019 levels. The average daily rate (ADR) paid for hotel rooms […]
2021 Virginia Business Person of the Year: Bruce Thompson
Standing on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Cavalier Hotel is a callback to a time when Virginia Beach was a sleepy little resort town inside Princess Anne County. Opened in 1927 as the largest brick building in the state, the Cavalier was a product of the Jazz Age. Over the years, the Y-shaped […]
Va. hotel revenues continue to lag from 2019 levels
Virginia hotel revenues for October were 20% below pre-pandemic levels in October 2019, according to newly released data from STR Inc., a CoStar Group division that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. During the same period, hotel rooms sold decreased by 13% compared with 2019 levels. The average daily rate (ADR) paid for […]
Omni Homestead launches $120M renovation
The Omni Homestead Resort has started work on a property-wide revamp expected to cost $120 million, the resort hotel in Bath County announced Monday. Some renovation work will begin late this month, and an event pavilion will be added to the hotel, which opened in 1766. The Homestead project is likely to be the largest […]
Va. hotels expect $1.5B loss in 2021 biz travel
The Virginia hotel industry expects to take a $1.5 billion loss this year stemming from sharply reduced business travel — 63.5% below pre-pandemic revenue levels, according to projections released Wednesday by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Business travel is expected to generate about $864.5 million for hotels in Virginia for the 2021 calendar year, […]
Bland County’s Eupepsia resort tops wellness hotel ranking
Eupepsia, a 250-acre Ayurveda wellness retreat in Bland County, was named the top wellness hotel in the nation this week by USA Today readers, who chose the resort from nominees selected by editors of USA Today’s 10Best rankings section. Set near the Jefferson National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Eupepsia offers vegetarian cuisine, health […]