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Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: BRIDGETTE C. BYWATER
Coming out of pandemic-driven restrictions, “Kings Dominion will be the cure for cabin fever in 2023,” Bywater said in October 2022, announcing the 48-year-old amusement park’s intention to welcome guests year-round, adding weekends in January, February and March to its regular April to December season. Kings Dominion aimed to hire 2,500 employees this year; in […]
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: 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: DOUG BRADBURN
Bradburn has been leading the most popular historic estate in the U.S. since 2018. The historic home of the first U.S. president and his wife, Martha Washington, welcomes an average of 1 million visitors each year. An author and scholar of early American history, Bradburn joined Mount Vernon in 2013 as the founding director of […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: ERIK H. NEIL
Neil has been director of the Chrysler Museum of Art since 2014, but his title changed in late 2022 when the position was endowed through a $34 million gift to the museum. He’s now the Macon and Joan Brock director, with the post named for the late Dollar Tree founder and his widow, Joan, both […]
Hospitality | Tourism 2023: RITA D. McCLENNY
As head of the state’s tourism agency since 2012, McClenny has seen the industry through ups and downs. In the wake of the pandemic, she helped secure federal dollars to assist statewide tourism rebound. In 2021, 102 million visitors spent $25.2 billion in Virginia, according to a study released by the agency last fall, still […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: TODD ‘PARNEY’ PARNELL
In his 30-plus years in Minor League Baseball, Parnell has built a reputation for bringing in the crowds. In 2022, the Squirrels — the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants — led all 30 Double-A teams in total and average attendance. It was the first time in franchise history the team achieved that milestone. […]
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 […]
Bristol makes tourism marketing switch
After 38 years, Bristol, Virginia, has switched destination marketing organizations. On June 13, City Council passed a resolution designating Bristol Regional Tourism Marketing Corp., better known as Explore Bristol, as its new DMO, the agency responsible for promoting the area to tourists. The former DMO, Discover Bristol, operated by the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, will […]
Richmond casino returning to Nov. ballots
It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but the Virginia Lottery and the Richmond Circuit Court have approved Richmond’s do-over casino referendum to appear on ballots this fall. “I am excited to see the Virginia Lottery and the Richmond Circuit Court approve the referendum for a Richmond destination resort and entertainment venue that will provide 1,300 good-paying […]
Richmond riverfront amphitheater gets green light
Construction could begin this summer on a $30 million, 7,500-person amphitheater overlooking the James River. On June 12, Richmond City Council approved a 20-year performance grant that gives Red Light Ventures LLC the green light to build its proposed amphitheater on four acres of land it will rent from NewMarket Corp. behind the American Civil […]
Luxury RV park sets sights on Danville
Danville visitors could soon be setting up camp at the area’s first luxury RV park if City Council approves a special use permit for The Palace Resort, a project that could generate $1.3 million in annual city tax revenue. The matter was set to go before Danville City Council on June 20, following the planning […]
