Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Hotels/Tourism

Aug 17, 2020

Black Lives Matter street mural coming to Richmond

A privately funded Black Lives Matter mural stretching nearly 200 feet long and two feet high will be painted in downtown Richmond near the Virginia State Capitol grounds, Venture Richmond announced Monday. Approved unanimously by the city’s Public Art Commission and Planning Commission, the project will be spearheaded by Richmond artists Hamilton Glass and Ed […]

Aug 12, 2020

Va. hotel revenues improved only 1% last week

Hotel revenues in Virginia improved by only 1% last week and still remain at a 45% decrease compared to the same week last year, according to new data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group providing market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. The week before last, STR reported a 46% decrease in Virginia […]

Aug 5, 2020

Va. hotel revenues slowly improving

Hotel revenues in Virginia slightly improved last week, but still remain at a 46% decrease compared to the same week last year, according to new data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group providing market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. The week before last, STR had reported a 50% decrease in hotel revenues […]

Intimidator 305 roller coaster at Kings Dominion. Photo courtesy Kings Dominion
Aug 4, 2020

For first time ever, Kings Dominion will close for entire year

Kings Dominion won’t open this year due to challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme park in Doswell announced Tuesday. The park, which first opened in in 1975 has never before closed for an entire season, Kings Dominion communications manager Maggie Sellers confirmed Tuesday. “We are disappointed that we a[...]

Nevin Zehr raised money for laid-off restaurant workers by playing a video game marathon. Photo by Norm Shafer
Jul 29, 2020

From Donkey Kong to online tips – raising funds for restaurant workers

After restaurants and bars in the Harrisonburg-Waynesboro-Staunton region closed or cut back to skeleton crews due to the coronavirus earlier this year, area residents rallied to help service industry workers. One of the more unconventional fundraisers was Nevin Zehr, who hosted a livestream event in March as he attempted, over [...]

Busch Gardens Williamsburg remained closed in mid-July, the height of tourism season. Park President Kevin Lembke says COVID-19-driven state limitations on attendance don’t make it financially feasible to open the amusement park. Photo by Caroline Martin
Jul 29, 2020

(Re)open season

RELATED STORY: Busch Gardens set to reopen Aug. 6. Reclining against the Williamsburg greenery, the 180-foot-tall steel serpent awaits anyone brave enough to test their mettle against it. Measuring 3,300 feet in length and boasting a top speed of 73 miles per hour, it shares the name of a Roman temple dedicated to the gods: [&he[...]

Jul 29, 2020

Va. hotel revenues dropped by 50% last week

Hotel revenues last week continued to decrease by 50%, compared with the same week last year, according to new data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group providing market data on the U.S. hospitality industry. Last week, STR had reported that the U.S. hospitality industry had marked its worst quarter yet. Nationally, however, the […]

Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Photo courtesy SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Inc. and Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Jul 29, 2020

UPDATED: Busch Gardens set to reopen Aug. 6

Updated Thursday, July 30: Busch Gardens will reopen to the public Aug. 6, although not the entire park, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. announced Thursday. The park will open for the first time this year Aug. 6-16 for its Coasters and Craft Brews event. Three roller coasters and the Screamin’ Swing ride will be open, and the [...]

Photo courtesy Mariners Landing Development Co. LLC
Jul 27, 2020

Mariners Landing has new owners

Smith Mountain Lake housing community Mariners Landing in Bedford County has new owners, Mariners Landing Development Co. LLC announced Thursday.  Waller S. Perrow III of Mariners Landing Development Co. LLC did not disclose financial terms for the May sale, saying it was contractually protected. Commercial real estate develope[...]

Photo courtesy the State Fair of Virginia.
Jul 23, 2020

Va. State Fair canceled for first time since WWII

The 2020 State Fair of Virginia has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virginia Farm Bureau board of directors announced Thursday. The fair has run annually since 1854, and was last canceled during World War II. It was also canceled during the 1918 Spanish influenza and the Civil War, according to the Virginia [&hel[...]

Sample image for destination marketing organizations to use for campaigns. Photo courtesy Virginia Tourism Corp.
Jul 22, 2020

Playing it safe

The Virginia Tourism Corp.’s DMO WanderLove Recovery Grant Program will award $866,000 in grants to 90 destination marketing organizations that were heavily impacted by the pandemic, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday.  Each recipient will receive a maximum grant of $10,000, which can be used for efforts including par[...]

Jul 22, 2020

Va. hotel revenues decline while U.S. has worst quarter on record

Hotel revenues remained low but steady in Virginia last week, compared with the same week last year, according to new data from STR Inc., a division of CoStar Group providing market data on the U.S. hospitality industry, which STR reported just marked its worst quarter yet. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. hotel industry reported […]

YOUR NEWS.
YOUR INBOX.
DAILY.

By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy.