VRLTA Fall Meeting

See You in Richmond!

Join fellow VRLTA members across our Association on Monday, September 8, for this year's VRLTA Fall Membership Meeting & Luncheon at the Richmond Marriott Downtown!

This event brings together industry professionals for a day of networking, VRLTA updates, and insightful presentations. Engage with key speakers, explore our Vendor Showcase, and connect with your peers from accross the association during Component Meetings!

VRLTA Fall Membership Meeting 2025 - Tentative Agenda

9:30 - 11:00 AM - VRLTA Executive Committee Meeting*

11:00 AM - Fall Meeting Registration & Vendor Showcase Open

12:00 PM - Plated Lunch & Programming

1:30 - 2:15 PM - Coffee Break & Vendor Showcase

2:15 - 4:00 PM - VRLTA Component Meetings

Hotel & Lodging Component
Restaurant Component
Travel & Attraction Component

4:00 - 4:45 PM - VRLTA Board of Directors Meeting

*Executive Committee Members Only

2025 Component Meeting Agendas

Hotel & Lodging Component:

Welcome and Introductions:
- Brian Wells -
Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
- Lars Friedriszik -
The Cavalier Hotel

Featured Sessions:
State of the Industry Update
- Sharon Sykes -
AHLA

Presentation TBD
- Patrick Dawkins -
Ecolab

Round Table Discussion

Adjournment

Restaurant Component:

Welcome and Introductions:
- Amber Kostka -
The Stockpot

Featured Sessions:
VRLTA Kitchen Cabinet
- Tommy Herbert -
VRLTA

Round Table Discussion

Adjournment

Travel & Attractions Component:

Welcome and Introductions:
- Kurt Krause -
- Megan Hazzard -
Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority

Featured Sessions:
Partnering with Amtrak
- Haley Glynn -
VPRA/Amtrak

Building Blocks of a Great Tourism Product
- Simon Jones -
Tourism Works

Round Table Discussion

Adjournment

OUR FEATURED SPEAKERS

Rosanna Maietta President & CEO, AHLA
Session: Main Luncheon

Rosanna Maietta is AHLA president & CEO and is responsible for setting the organization’s strategic vision and championing the industry’s voice on Capitol Hill, within the administration, and beyond. Rosanna is no stranger to the hospitality industry, having previously served at AHLA as executive vice president of communications & public relations and president & CEO of its Foundation for nearly eight years. In those roles, she was responsible for driving the strategic planning for all the association’s internal and external communications and increasing visibility for the industry in and outside Washington, D.C. At the Foundation, she oversaw its philanthropic mission, and supporting and growing the industry’s workforce.

Dan Roberts Vice President of Research & Stratefy, Virginia Tourism Corporation
Session: Main Luncheon

Dan Roberts is the Vice President of Research and Strategy for the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC). In his role, Dan leads VTC’s market research, industry analytics, and overall planning and goal setting processes using data to help identify, set, and measure the organization’s overall priorities. Prior to joining VTC in early 2021, Dan spent 4 years with Choice Hotels International in Rockville, MD, leading performance analytics for the company’s Business Intelligence Group. His hotel data experience includes industry and competitive analysis, data-driven site selection based on demographics and local points of interest, loyalty program fraud prevention, and overall brand opportunity identification and sizing. Dan has a degree in Economics from American University in Washington, DC.

Jay Smith Partner, Capital Results
Session: Main Luncheon

Jay is a partner at Capital Results and helps to lead the firm’s media relations, public relations and coalition development efforts. He helps clients develop compelling messages, motivate stakeholders and the public to engage in influencing policy development, and facilitate that engagement into meaningful, positive policy outcomes. Using communications tools from traditional media and social media to digital advertising and grassroots outreach, he has been an influencer in many of Virginia’s most high-profile issues over the past 25 years. Jay has spent more than two decades working in coalition development helping diverse stakeholder groups align strategy, messaging and efforts to shape public policy. Jay's session will provide an overview of how VRLTA members can help keep Virginia competitive by protecting our Right-to-Work law.

Tommy Herbert Director of Government Affairs, VRLTA
Session: Main Luncheon; Restaurant Component

Herbert brings a wealth of experience to VRLTA, with recent positions that include Manager of Government Affairs with the Virginia Apartment Management Association, as well as Communication Manager for Government Affairs with the National Apartment Association. He also has experience working alongside several Virginia lawmakers, spending time as a legislative aide in the staffs of both Delegate Rich Anderson and Delegate Tim Hugo. Herbert graduated from George Mason University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political and Persuasive Communication.

Simon Jones President & Founder, Tourism Works
Session: Travel & Attractions Component

Simon Jones is President / Founder of Tourism Works where they've simplified tourism planning, development & management into bite-sized, practical steps. Tourism Works suite of tailored programs meet partners wherever they are on their journey—whether they are just starting out or looking to refine their approach. We help destinations, businesses, and sites achieve their tourism goals. In his session, Simon will talk about the essential building blocks of tourism products that engage and retain visitors, focusing on elements that help to make them unique and effective visitor experience structuring.

Patrick Dawkins Corporate Account Manager, Ecolab
Session: Hotel & Lodging Component

Patrick has been with Ecolab for 11.5 years, currently serving as a Corporate Account Manager. He works closely with lodging customers nationwide to ensure guest satisfaction exceeds standards while providing cost-effective solutions that positively impact the bottom line. On a personal note, Patrick is happily married to his wonderful wife, Alexandria, and they have two amazing sons, Elias and Gregorio.

Sharon Sykes Senior Director, State & Local Government Affairs, AHLA
Session: Hotel & Lodging Component

Sharon Sykes serves as Senior Director, State & Local Government Affairs at AHLA. In this capacity, Sharon is the primary liaison with state and local policymakers, Governors, mayors and other government officials in nine east coast and mid-western states and the District of Columbia. Her issue specialty is state and local taxes; including occupancy tax and tourism marketing protection, tax parity for Online Travel Agencies with lodging establishments, and property taxes. Sharon serves as state and local government affairs advisor to the AHLA Food & Beverage Committee and the AHLA GM Roundtable Committee.

More details coming soon!