Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association

06/12/2026

We were thrilled to attend the grand opening of Birdwood Mansion yesterday afternoon in Charlottesville. This storied gem - now beautifully restored - provides guests with the amentities of Boar's Head Resort with the unique charm of a historic estate.

Congratulations to members Russ Cronberg and Gigi Vega on seeing all their hard work come together!

06/11/2026

Tourism is delivering results in Charlottesville and Albemarle - but the funding needed to sustain that success isn’t always keeping pace.

As this article explores, Transient Occupancy Tax revenue is growing, yet tourism promotion and destination development often remain underfunded. If we want Virginia destinations to stay competitive, we need to ensure tourism-generated revenue helps support the industry that creates it.

We’re so back. Tourism spending in Charlottesville and Albemarle surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, as visitors poured $989.8 million into the regional economy. With Monticello and other historic sites celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary, and the Downtown Mall marking its 50th y...

06/10/2026

We had a blast yesterday at our 12th Annual Co****le for Colleges fundraiser! Every year this event benefits the VRLTA Foundation’s scholarship fund, which has provided over $250,000 in funding to students pursuing a career in hospitality.

This year we held our event at the picturesque Lansdowne Resort, who also happened to field the tournament's winning team - the Super Baggers! Congratulations to them and to our runner-up, the Dono-Hokies from Donohoe Hospitality Services.

An extra shout out to the sponsors who helped make this happen: Archer Hotel Tysons, Visit Fairfax, Glory Days Grill, J.R.'s Custom Catering & Events, and our incredible hosts - Lansdowne Resort.

06/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Iris Inn yesterday for our latest Shenandoah Valley Chapter Event! Our members were warmly welcomed to this stunning property, where we connected over some in-house refreshments and heard from local representative, Ellen McLaughlin for Delegate.

Thanks again to the Iris Inn's team for being incredible hosts - and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!

05/19/2026

Yesterday, we were thrilled to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Shamin Hotels new AC Hotels by Marriott property in Scott's Addition! This 12-story development will be the first of it's kind in the historic neighborhood, bringing some welcome infrastructure to the area.

Thanks again for including us in this event, and we look forward to watching the project come together!

05/15/2026

After several incredible years with VRLTA, we’re wishing a heartfelt congratulations and thank you to our Chapter & Events Manager, Kayla Cleveland, as she begins an exciting new chapter with The Westin Richmond!

Kayla has played a tremendous role in elevating VRLTA events, strengthening member engagement, and helping create meaningful connections across Virginia’s hospitality and tourism industries. From chapter meetings and networking events to many of our signature programs, her passion, creativity, and dedication have left a lasting impact on our organization and our members.

While we will certainly miss having Kayla on the VRLTA team, we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue working alongside her in her new role and know she will continue to make a positive impact on Virginia’s hospitality community.

Please join us in thanking Kayla for all of her hard work and wishing her the very best in this next step of her career! 👏

05/13/2026

Our team has been staying busy during American Hotel & Lodging Association - AHLA's Hotels on the Hill! This event is the hotel industry’s most important national advocacy event of the year - and we're hear making sure Virginia voices are heard.

Thanks to the offices of Congressman John McGuire, Senator Mark Warner, and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine for the opportunities to meet and discuss the state of Virginia hospitality. And let's not forget out (adorable) run-in with Babydog Justice!

05/13/2026

We were thrilled to be invited to the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Top 100 event this week at Topgolf Richmond!

It was great to see so many of the incredible hospitality professionals that make Richmond such a dynamic culinary destination. Make sure you grab this issue when you can, and start checking them off your list!

05/13/2026

Owners of the Cavalier Hotel property are considering selling it to a New England-based real estate investment firm.

The city’s Development Authority will vote Tuesday on assigning the project’s Tourism Development Financing, also known as gap financing, to affiliates of Wheelock Street Acquisitions, LLC.

The Development Authority will vote Tuesday on assigning the project’s Tourism Development Financing, also known as gap financing, to affiliates of Wheelock Street Acquisitions, LLC.

05/12/2026

We were honored to participate in the most recent District Dialogues session held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond earlier this afternoon.

This dynamic conversation on the “K-shaped economy” touched on the different realities facing different income groups around the Commonwealth. We appreciate the chance to speak to how economic conditions are impacting Virginia's hospitality industries.