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Hospitality | Tourism 2023: ERIC TERRY
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. During the pandemic, Terry led the VRLTA in persuading state legislators to allocate $250 million in federal stimulus funds for industry relief. He also spearheaded support for legislation approved [&h[...]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: THOMAS J. BALTIMORE JR.
Baltimore joined the lodging real estate investment trust in 2016, shortly before its 2017 spinoff from McLean-based Hilton Worldwide Holdings. He has led the company through some of its toughest times as the pandemic squelched business and leisure travel. Park continues to bounce back from the pandemic-related downturn, reporting $2.5 billion in 2022 revenue, up […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: BRUCE L. THOMPSON
A Norfolk native and Virginia Business’ 2021 Person of the Year, Thompson is one of Hampton Roads‘ most prominent developers and hoteliers. He is best known for developing the Cavalier Resort, which includes the restored historic Cavalier Hotel as well as two new hotels, restaurants and residences on 21 acres at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: NEIL AMIN
As CEO of one of Virginia’s largest hotel operators, Amin brings a mix of hands-on experience and MBA expertise to the company his Indian immigrant father and uncle started in the 1970s. Amin lived with his family in one of their hotels in Chesterfield County until he was 12, pitching in with maintenance and handling […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: JAMES CARROLL
A former Navy fighter pilot with a Harvard MBA, Carroll parlayed his financial management expertise into running one of the largest independent hotel operators in the country. Founded in 2000, Crestline Hotels and Resorts operates more than 18,000 rooms in 30 states. Carroll joined Crestline in 2004 as senior vice president and treasurer, after holding […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: CHRISTOPHER J. NASSETTA
Nassetta is the longtime president and CEO of one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. Hilton has a portfolio of 7,200 properties and 19 brands in 122 countries and territories, including high-end hotels Waldorf Astoria and Conrad and mid-level chains such as Doubletree by Hilton. Nassetta joined Hilton in 2007 after investment firm Blackstone acquired […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: CLYDE STACY
A former coal mining executive who headed Rapoca Energy, Stacy is a prominent developer and investor in his hometown of Bristol. He purchased the vacant Bristol Mall for $2.6 million in 2018 and partnered with longtime friend Jim McGlothlin, chairman of The United Co., to build Virginia’s first casino. The two friends were instrumental in changing state […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: JUSTIN G. KNIGHT
As CEO of Apple Hospitality, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, Knight oversees about 220 hotels, mainly Hilton and Marriott brands, in 37 states. He took over from his father, founder Glade Knight, in 2014. The elder Knight serves as executive chairman of the 16-year-old REIT. For fiscal year 2022, Apple reported almost $1.24 […]
New federal per diem rates provide bump for hotels
The federal government’s fiscal 2024 per diem reimbursement rates — released Aug. 16 by the General Services Administration — will largely benefit Virginia’s hotels, but not necessarily its restaurants. The continental United States (CONUS) rates — dictating lodging allowances and meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) for federal employees while traveling — will be effective[...]
2023 Va. hotel revenues up 12.9% over pre-pandemic
Hotel revenues in the commonwealth this year were 12.9% higher from January through May, compared with pre-pandemic business during the same period in 2019, 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 were about the same compared […]
Richmond region launches state’s first tourism district
Virginia’s first tourism improvement district received approval this week and can begin collecting funds from Richmond-region travelers to fund tourism marketing efforts beginning July 1. Following Richmond City Council’s approval vote this week, the new tourism improvement district, or TID, received the necessary support to move forward. Designated areas that raise funds for tourism m[...]
Regional TIDs generate tourism marketing bucks
Tourism improvement districts are new to Virginia, but they’ve been in place elsewhere for two decades. Designated areas that raise funds for tourism marketing through hotel assessments, TIDs were passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2021, and a Richmond-area TID is expected to launch this year. “There are more than 200 TIDs already in […]
