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Gordon Ramsay to open restaurant at Caesars Virginia
Cantankerous celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay plans to open a restaurant called Ramsay’s Kitchen at the $750 million Caesars Virginia casino in Danville by the end of 2024, the casino resort announced Tuesday. “Caesars Virginia sets the standard for approachable luxury, and I’m so proud to open my first [Virginia] restaurant here inside this beautiful resort,” […]
Alexandria Restaurant Partners promotes CFO
Nazia Millwala has been promoted to chief financial officer for the Alexandria Restaurant Partners, the restaurant operator announced Monday. Millwala joined ARP in January 2022 as the vice president of finance, and she helped restructure ARP’s financial framework. In her new role, she will lead the company’s finances and people management as well as working […]
Va. tourism generated $33.3B for 2023
Virginia’s tourism industry generated $33.3 billion in visitor spending in 2023, an increase of nearly 10% over 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. “The commonwealth’s record-breaking visitor spending numbers are a testament to our abundance of attractions and unique destinations,” Gov. Youngkin stated in a news release. Virginia’s tourism industry supported over [...]
100 People to Meet in 2024: Hosts
Nourishing and delighting us, these Virginians welcome us to their communities through food, hospitality and entertainment. Chris Albrecht Senior vice president and general manager, Caesars Virginia Danville In May, the temporary Caesars Virginia casino opened in Danville, led by General Manager Chris Albrecht. A Florida native, Albrecht has worked for Caesars Entertainment for 18 years […]
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[...]
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[...]
Five Guys moving HQ to Alexandria
Five Guys Enterprises LLC is moving its corporate headquarters from southern Fairfax County to Alexandria this month, a spokesperson confirmed Friday. The new main office for the family-owned hamburger chain will be in leased space at 1940 Duke St., starting July 17. Friday was the company’s last day at its Lorton headquarters at 10718 Richmond […]
Rain and wind delay Something in the Water’s start
Rain and high winds delayed the start of Pharrell Williams’ Virginia Beach music festival Something in the Water by about four hours Friday, leaving fans and businesses waiting for the weather to clear. Scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. Friday, the festival was delayed until 5 p.m. Instead of being filled with throngs of music […]
COVID challenges continue for Va. restaurants
Liz Kincaid faced a major problem in August after the walk-in refrigerator in one of her Richmond restaurants — Max’s on Broad — broke. Her usual supplier told her the wait for the replacement part would take two months. “I have raw oysters and produce and fish and chicken,” recalled Kincaid. “I’m like, ‘What am […]
Gilbert Bland to receive Civic Leadership Institute award
Urban League of Hampton Roads President and CEO Gilbert T. Bland will receive the Civic Leadership Institute’s 2022 Individual Darden Award, the Norfolk-based nonprofit organization announced Thursday. “Over the last three decades, I have joined with many to build upon the efforts of countless, often unsung, past leaders to help improve the lives and build […]
Va. restaurant, travel association names new VP
Richmond-based Virginia Restaurant Lodging & Travel Association has promoted Brittany Wojdyla to vice president of membership and business development, the organization announced Thursday. In her new role, Wojdyla will be responsible for leading the association’s membership efforts throughout the state, developing partnerships and sponsorships, managing events and overseeing marketing an[...]
Summer dreams
Tournaments at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. Events at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. A busy Oceanfront boardwalk. That was the scene in Virginia Beach during just one weekend in mid-March. And it was the perfect “prelude” to the summer travel season, says John Zirkle, general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Virginia Beach. “The […]
