Rivers Casino Portsmouth plans Jan. 15 opening
Rivers Casino Portsmouth will open to the public Jan. 15 at 3 p.m., according to an announcement Monday. The $340 million venue, part of a planned entertainment district along Victory Boulevard off Interstate 264, will feature 1,448 slot machines, 57 table games and 24 poker tables as well as 10 bars and restaurants and an even[...]
Lottery Board approves license for Portsmouth casino
The Virginia Lottery Board unanimously approved the casino facility operator’s license for the Rivers Casino Portsmouth Wednesday. It was the second casino operator’s license issued in the state; the first was awarded in April to Bristol’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, which opened a temporary casino in July. Two[...]
Carnival to double trips from Norfolk, proposes year-round cruising
Carnival Cruise Line announced Monday it will more than double the number of cruises it offers from Norfolk in 2023 and is working toward year-round cruising from Norfolk in 2025. Stephen Kirkland, executive director of Nauticus, shared the news from Norfolk’s cruise terminal that overlooks the harbor where ships dock, adj[...]
Tourism, hospitality are rebounding, Youngkin says at VA1 summit
One of the big takeaways from the VA1 Governor’s Tourism Summit being held in Norfolk this week is that Virginia is ready and eager for travelers. Travel industry professionals from around the commonwealth are gathering at Hilton Norfolk The Main through Tuesday for the ninth annual state tourism industry conference, which[...]
D.C. AG’s office sues Snyder, Commanders, NFL
Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine announced on Twitter Thursday afternoon that his office is suing the Washington Commanders team, owner Dan Snyder, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the National Football League, accusing the defendants of “colluding to deceive District residents … about an investigatio[...]
Caesars gives $504K to Averett University
Caesars Virginia, which is building a $650 million casino in Danville, announced a gift of $504,000 to Averett University on Wednesday. The gift will be used to develop a hospitality and tourism academic program. Averett’s new concentration and minor in hospitality management and tourism will be part of the university̵[...]
Commonwealth Lodging hires corporate HR director
Virginia Beach-based Commonwealth Lodging Management has hired Claire Larkin as corporate director of human resources, the hospitality management and consulting firm announced Thursday. “Claire enjoys building strong relationships with clients and co-workers, often serving as a mentor and coach to help people grow in their car[...]
Report: Bezos, Jay-Z could buy Washington Commanders
Could Beyoncé become a regular presence at Washington Commanders games? It’s within the realm of possibility. According to The Washington Post, Amazon.com Inc. founder and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos and billionaire rapper Jay-Z (Beyoncé’s husband) may team up to buy the Ashburn-based NFL team, currently owned by[...]
Dan Snyder may sell Washington Commanders
Daniel and Tanya Snyder are considering selling the Washington Commanders, the Ashburn-based NFL team announced Wednesday. They have hired Bank of America Securities “to consider potential transactions,” according to a news release. Dan Snyder has been under increasing pressure to sell the team in recent weeks, as bo[...]
Something in the Water will return to Va. Beach in 2023
Music superstar and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams announced Wednesday that his signature three-day music festival, Something in the Water, will again be held in Virginia Beach on April 28-30, 2023, after the festival moved to Washington, D.C., this summer. The inaugural Something in the Water festival was held on the V[...]
On the road again
Business and leisure travelers are putting the pandemic in the rearview mirror and once again are filling Virginia hotels and resorts. While that’s good news, widespread staffing shortages continue to hamper the hospitality industry. Occupancy rates are almost back to 2019 numbers, with Northern Virginia finally seeing upt[...]
Petersburg approves Cordish Cos. for possible casino
Petersburg City Council is taking a gamble on Maryland-based The Cordish Cos. to develop a casino there — even though Petersburg doesn’t yet have permission to build a casino, according to state law. Council members voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of Cordish,, a commercial real estate company that has developed casino[...]