After the 2025 Virginia Elections saw sweeping changes across the Commonwealth, VRLTA members have the opportuntiy to connect with new members of the state legislature at Day on the Hill.
VRLTA needs you in Richmond, January 26 and 27 for the annual VRLTA Day on the Hill! Please consider joining us in Virginia’s Capital for our annual advocacy conference at the Virginia General Assembly. This event brings together leaders from all corners of the Commonwealth’s hospitality sectors, from restaurants to hotels to destination marketing to campgrounds and attractions, all focused on one goal: to keep Virginia a great place to visit.
This year’s Day on the Hill is one you won’t want to miss. It has never been more important to meet directly with our state-level legislators to form relationships and to educate them about the impact that our industries make for the Commonwealth, our visitors, our residents, and our teams. In 2026, the General Assembly will be hearing thousands of bills in just 60 days, many of which will directly affect your business and your community. An old adage in politics goes “if you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu.” Day on the Hill is how Virginia’s restaurateurs, hoteliers, and tourism industries take their seats at that table.
…And not a moment too soon, as the Virginia House of Delegates will seat 17 completely new members in January, in a chamber that was already very new as a result of the previous election in 2023. That means that these new legislators may be coming to Richmond to cast their votes without having ever met a tourism official or a restaurant operator or hotelier in their lives! There is not a moment to be lost in forming these relationships and making ourselves a resource to these new law makers. I hope you will take the time to join us.
Day on the Hill consists of two days. The first day is dedicated to issues briefings, member meetings, and the much-loved Taste of Virginia reception at the John Marshall Ballrooms that night. The next morning, members meet for a quick breakfast and a tactical briefing before marching up to the General Assembly in teams to meet with legislators. Each team is led by a veteran industry leader, and all attendees are well-briefed on priority issues and armed with printed talking points, so there’s no stress or pressure if this is something you haven’t been familiar with in the past. It’s annually a great event, and one much looked forward to by the legislators.
Registration for Day on the Hill 2026 will open on Friday, November 7, 2025! If you have any questions about Day on the Hill, please don’t hesitate to reach out to VRLTA Director of Government Affairs, Tommy Herbert.
For a more in-depth look at the 2025 Virginia Election, you can check out the results on the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP).