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Lawmakers debate human trafficking bill
RICHMOND, Va. — Legislators raised a few questions with a measure that would deploy hotel staff to help combat human trafficking. The bill introduced by Del. Shelly A. Simonds, D-Newport News, was heard Thursday in a House subcommittee. House Bill 258 would authorize the Department of Criminal Justice Services to create an online mandatory course […]
Better together
“Cooperation” is a word Jim Noel uses a lot these days when speaking about the Greater Williamsburg region, which encompasses the city of Williamsburg and York and James City counties. As York County’s economic development director, Noel has watched as one of the most historically significant areas of the nation has worked to revive and […]
Damascus sees hike in trail tourism
On a September afternoon, Stuart Wright was trying to persuade a tourist to bring her son back to visit the town of Damascus in Washington County. “Bring that little boy down here and he can play in the river, he can hike, he can bike the trail,” Wright coaxed. “Bring him where he’s got something […]
Downtown Richmond Marriott gets new GM
The downtown Richmond Marriott has a new general manager. Lars Friedriszik has been named general manager of the 410-room hotel, which is managed by White Lodging and owned by Apple Hospitality REIT Inc. Friedriszik was previously the assistant general manager at the hotel in 2018, but left to serve in other management roles at White […]
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 […]
Hospitality | Tourism
NEIL P. AMIN CEO, SHAMIN HOTELS, RICHMOND The past year has been a bit of a mixed bag for Amin and Shamin Hotels, one of the United States’ largest independent hoteliers. Shamin, which owns more than 60 hotels, saw its Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump enter receivership in January after falling behind on […]
Roanoke construction firm to renovate Homestead’s Warm Springs Pools
Roanoke-based Lionberger Construction Co. has been selected as the general contractor to renovate The Omni Homestead Resort’s historic Warm Springs Pools, Omni Hotels & Resorts announced Monday. The contractor will restore the men’s and ladies’ bath houses at the formerly named Jefferson Pools and the reception house of The Omni Homestead Resort to their 1925 […]
Yorktown’s Duke of York Hotel sells for $3M
The Duke of York Hotel in Yorktown sold for $3 million, M.A. Bowry & Co. announced July 2. Built in 1965, the 57-room, 26,084-square-foot, limited-service hotel is located on the York River. It will remain open as the company renovates it. Crockett Enterprises LLC sold the hotel to a limited liability company connected to M.A. […]
Va. hotel revenues still lagging pre-pandemic levels
Virginia hotel revenues for June 2021 were down 22% compared with pre-pandemic levels in June 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, rooms sold decreased by 14%. The average daily rate (ADR) paid for hotel rooms […]
Va. hotel revenues increased by 178% in May
Virginia hotel revenues for May 2021 increased by 178% compared with May 2020, according to data released Tuesday by STR Inc., a CoStar Group division that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. During the same period, rooms sold went up by 96%. The average daily rate (ADR) paid for hotel rooms rose 42% […]
