What's New for Meetings in Virginia

What's New for Meetings in Virginia

STATEWIDE

The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the independence of the United States in the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of the former colonies and future states, where much of this history took place. The celebrations run through 2024 and the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

At Alexandria’s newest waterfront development, Robinson Landing, one of the city’s last remaining historic waterfront warehouses will be preserved and transformed into a new upscale market and relaxed tavern space called Cooper Mill, a nod to the former mill on the site which fabricated barrels for the Alexandria Flour Company. Estimated opening Spring 2024.

Slated to open in the heart of Old Town Alexandria in May 2024, Hotel Heron is Aparium Hotel Group’s flagship adaptive-reuse development, located steps from the bustling King Street mile. Originally occupied from 1926 to 1971 by the George Mason Hotel, the new space includes 134 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of hotel amenities, including a hearth-inspired restaurant offering Mid-Atlantic cuisine, a cozy cocktail bar, and a seasonal rooftop bar, as well as meeting space and ground floor retail.

Rappahannock Oyster Co. plans to roll out its fifth oyster bar in the international terminal of Dulles International Airport in April 2024. The modern-meets-casual seafood eatery will feature 90 seats and a wraparound bar.

Senator John Warner Maritime Heritage Center, Home of Tall Ship Providence – Opened in Spring 2023 on the Alexandria Waterfront – Visit the floating museum and education center. Experience the first warship, Providence, authorized by the Continental Congress for the Continental Navy. STEM workshops include Navigation, Knot Tying and Mechanical Advantage.

Doyle’s Outpost – A 16,000 sq/ft destination with elevated service, sports bar/restaurant and event space. Featuring a 5,500 sq/ft 2 story Battle for DC themed laser tag arena, Hologate virtual reality stations and popular arcade games. Gaming and group catering packages.

Astro Beer Hall will be expanding from DC and opening its second location, a 14,000 square-foot concept in Shirlington. Opened in 2023, this location includes local beer along with Astro’s famous fried chicken and donuts, as well as over-the-top sandwiches and more. Astro Beer Hall Shirlington will feature seating for up to 500 guests inside and 80 guests on the large outdoor patio.

Tysons Corner Marriott completed a $25 million floor-to-ceiling renovation. Some of the enhancements included a new lobby, 400 fully transformed guest rooms, over 12,000 square feet of reimagined event space and two additional event spaces, a state-of-the-art fitness center with Peloton bikes, a refreshed dining space inspired by a sophisticated Gastropub, and the addition of a 24-hour M Club for Marriott Bonvoy members.

Sheraton Reston has completed its massive renovation of the 302-room hotel with a new contemporary focus that draws inspiration from the history of Northern Virginia, and the unique planned community history of Reston itself.

The Watermark Hotel is a 300-key, all-suite elevated residential-style property located at Capital One Center, the new entertainment complex at the corporation’s headquarters in Tysons, Virginia. The hotel has been thoughtfully designed with oversized suites, upscale furnishings and convenient access to Northern Virginia & Washington, DC’s amenities. The property’s lobby opens up to The Perch, a breathtaking village green soaring 11 stories above street level (which features a Biergarten, amphitheater, dog park, food truck experience, and mini-golf course). The Perch sits atop Capital One Hall, the region’s newest performance venue, which already has an impressive lineup of concerts, Broadway, holiday shows, and more.

Opening Soon The Rose Gaming Resort Dumfries is a $372 million dollar gaming and entertainment complex destination, located alongside I-95 in Dumfries. Along with exciting gaming action, The Rose Gaming Resort will include a luxury hotel, eight bars and restaurants, a cultural venue, a space for meetings and events, and over 80 acres of green space with miles of hiking and fitness trails, athletic fields, playgrounds and more.

COASTAL VIRGINIA/HAMPTON ROADS

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center will welcome guests into the newly renovated and expanded South Building in January 2024. Holding nearly 20,000 gallons of water and more than a dozen species, the South Building’s renovated spaces will have immersive experiences with interactive exhibits, kid’s play areas, touch pools, an observable veterinary care center, interactive water quality lab, outdoor play areas, and more.

Aslin Beer Company’s new Virginia Beach brewery, located at 823 Virginia Beach Boulevard, is expected to open in March 2024.

Downtown Newport News, branded The Yard District in a nod to Newport News Shipyard, is quickly evolving into a scenic and vibrant hot spot. A restaurant row has popped up along 23rd Street, where Ironclad Distillery and Coastal Fermentory have already established roots. During this revitalization effort, plans are also being made for a coffee and wine bar, retail shops, and a large full-service restaurant in 2023.

The Norfolk Botanical Gardens has started construction of the Garden of Tomorrow. Slated to be finished in 2024, the Garden of Tomorrow focuses on accessibility, sustainability and improving the gardens green impact. With a new expanded parking garden, new entry pavilion and state-of-the-art conservatory, and new water education and rowing center on the waterfront.

HeadWaters Resort & Casino Norfolk (2024) - The Pamunkey Indian Tribe planned casino resort alongside Norfolk’s Harbor Park is set to be a $500 million resort and casino with a 300-plus room hotel, attached parking deck for about 2,000 cars, a spa, sports bar and grill, steakhouse, rooftop event space and multi-purpose event center. 

Rivers Casino Portsmouth Rivers Casino Portsmouth is a world-class $300 million investment for the new Entertainment District along Victory Boulevard. The complex features a casino, event and conference venues, premier restaurants, a movie theater and more. A hotel is planned in future years.

Embassy Suites by Hilton opened in 2023. Its 157 luxury hotel suites plus 10,000 sf. of meeting and event space feature a host of first-class amenities. Indoor and outdoor pools, a 24/7 fitness center, and a pair of new eateries – Arbuckle’s Bar & Grill and beachfront dining at the Taco & Tequila Shack – make it a destination all its own.

Water Country USA debuted Riptide Race in Summer 2023. Virginia’s First Dueling Pipeline, this adrenaline-pumping water slide pits teams against each other as riders take their mark atop a 54-foot tower before racing through 520 feet of slide, with low walls to keep an eye on the competition.

Beale’s Brewery Yorktown Taproom opened in winter 2023 on Route 17. The draft list features a variety of Beale’s most popular brews as well as small-batch, Yorktown-only releases. 

SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS 

Caesars Virginia, a premier destination resort casino, is coming to Danville in 2024. Property plans include a 500-room hotel and a world-class casino gaming floor with over 1,300 slots, 85 live table games, 24 electronic table games, a WSOP poker room and a Caesars Sportsbook. In addition, the resort will feature a full-service spa, pool, high-quality bars and restaurants, a 2,500-seat state-of-the-art live entertainment theater and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.

The Holbrook Hotel opened November 2023 in a former doctor’s office on Danville’s Main and Holbrook streets. The property offers 45 luxury suites with kitchenettes and a mid-century aesthetic.

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN VIRGINIA

Unlocked History Escape Rooms in Charlottesville is expanding in 2024, growing from 3 escape rooms to a total of 7. “Da Vinci’s Discovery” delves into the enigmas of Leonardo Da Vinci’s creations and is slated to launch in Winter 2024.

In celebration of The LEGO Group opening its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture will host Traveling Bricks, one of the largest exhibitions of LEGO® models in the world. Themed on the evolution of transportation, visitors will explore installations by master builders in four distinct sections for air, land, sea, and space. With more than 1,000,000 LEGO® bricks and 120 LEGO® models, visitors will learn about record breakers and the history of transportation innovation in this fun and interactive experience including a play zone to practice your own master building techniques. The exhibit runs October 19, 2024- January 5, 2025.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden kicks off its 40th anniversary in 2024 with a year-long celebration featuring exquisite horticultural displays, art exhibits, community events, live music, and more, including: Contemporary American multi-disciplinary artist Kyle Epps as an artist-in-residence from April-September 2024. Epps’ work will explore the landscape and history of the Garden through a variety of mediums. Guests will be able to view the artwork in the Garden’s Community Art Gallery and Epps will also lead workshops.

Glass Hollow, projected to open in Nelson County in September 2024, will be a unique destination where visitors can watch the magic of glass blowing, and peruse a gallery featuring celebrated local and national artists along the 151 Wine Trail. The venue is located on a beautiful 8 acre property with mountain and river views.

Caesars Virginia, a premier destination resort casino, is coming to Danville in 2024. Property plans include a 500-room hotel and a world-class casino gaming floor with over 1,300 slots, 85 live table games, 24 electronic table games, a WSOP poker room and a Caesars Sportsbook. In addition, the resort will feature a full-service spa, pool, high-quality bars and restaurants, a 2,500-seat state-of-the-art live entertainment theater and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.

Shenandoah Mansions will be the first boutique hotel in Richmond’s Fan neighborhood, opening Fall 2024. The 73-room hotel, the latest from New York City-based hotelier Ash, will feature a retail space and the third location of Ash–Bar, an all-day dining concept and European cafe.

The Little Mod Hotel in Charlottesville opened in October 2023, steps away from the University of Virginia grounds. A mid-century modern building dating back to the 1960s, this hotel includes 20 brightly decorated rooms and apartment-style suites with vintage touches. The Mod Pod, an onsite converted airstream, serves up all-day breakfast, tasty tacos and delicious savory waffle cones.

The Holbrook Hotel opened November 2023 in a former doctor’s office on Danville’s Main and Holbrook streets. The property offers 45 luxury suites with kitchenettes and a mid-century aesthetic.

Nestled in the center of Historic Old Towne Petersburg, the reimagined Hotel Petersburg will open its doors in Summer 2024. A century in the making, the upscale boutique hotel will include 68 sleeping rooms with a restaurant, rooftop bar, and outdoor courtyard.

Harry’s at Hofheimer is a modern speakeasy-inspired restaurant focused on craft cocktails and innovative new American cuisine. Harry’s opened in October 2023 inside the iconic Hofheimer Building in Scott’s Addition in Richmond. The art deco-themed bar has a twist of modern style while paying homage to the character of its historic home. Custom commissioned portraits of famous people named Harry, created by local artist Todd Hale, adorn the entire 2,000 square foot restaurant.

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA – BLUE RIDGE HIGHLANDS, HEART OF APPALACHIA

With a projected opening in Summer 2024, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol will feature a 300-room hotel, five restaurants, four bars and lounges, new entertainment options, wedding and convention facilities, top-notch retailers, and an indoor and outdoor concert venue that will further solidify Bristol as the true “Birthplace of Country Music.” The casino will feature 1,500 slots, 55 tables, and a sportsbook.

Squabble State Farms is coming to Washington County in Spring 2024. Three miles from the new Bristol Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the vision is a 68-acre agritourism destination featuring an apple orchard, hard cidery, distillery, nature trails, music venue, and scenic views for miles.

Delta Blues will be expanding its footprint with the opening of a new location in Abingdon in 2024. The locally owned and operated, Memphis inspired BBQ restaurant and catering company’s original establishment is located on State Street in Bristol.

The Highlander Hotel opened in Radford in April 2023 and overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains. The new hotel features 120 hotel rooms and 4 luxury living suites, more than 6,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 4,000-square-foot ballroom, a rooftop restaurant and bar and complimentary parking.

FOR MORE EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS SEE WHAT'S NEW IN VIRGINI