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(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[...]
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 […]
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 [...]
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[...]
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[...]
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[...]
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 […]
Va. hotel revenue declines worsen
Hotel revenue declines have worsened during the past week, despite the state operating under Phase Three of Gov. Ralph Northam’s “Forward Virginia” plan, which has loosened some gathering and hospitality restrictions. Hotel revenues and rooms sold declined in every major market in Virginia, compared with the same time frame last year, according to new data […]
Primland, Salamander nominated for USA Today resort list
Two Virginia resorts have landed on a list of 20 nominees for USA Today’s 10Best readers’ choice award for favorite destination resorts. Primland, in Meadows of Dan, and Middleburg’s Salamander Resort & Spa are nominated for the final list, which will be determined by readers’ ballots through July 27.[...]
Colonial Heights joins Richmond Region Tourism
The city of Colonial Heights has signed on as a Richmond Region Tourism partner locality, the organization announced Wednesday. With the partnership, Richmond Region Tourism will support Colonial Heights’ tourism efforts as the state is reopening during COVID-19. “We look forward to collaborating with Richmond Region Tourism to market Colonial Heights to visitors as the […]
Colonial Williamsburg names chief development officer
William & Mary’s associate vice president for development has been named chief development officer at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Earl T. Granger III will start his new position Aug. 2, the foundation announced Thursday. His hiring comes after a national search. A 1992 William & Mary graduate, Granger has[...]
Colonial Williamsburg begins gradually reopening
After a rough spring, Colonial Williamsburg reopened June 14 on a limited basis, although visitors may notice modern reality intruding in the form of face masks and Plexiglas barriers. With nearly 2,000 workers, Colonial Williamsburg is one of the Peninsula region’s largest employers, but it was especially hard hit by the[...]
