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 Session:
Seasonal Workforce and the H-2B Visa Solution Demystified
Julia Smyth-Young
MasLabor

Round Table Discussion

Adjournment

Restaurant Component:

Welcome and Introductions:
- Amber Kostka -
The Stockpot

VRLTA Kitchen Cabinet
- Tommy Herbert -
VRLTA

Featured Session:
Details Coming Soon!

Round Table Discussion

Adjournment

Travel & Attractions Component:

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

Featured Session:
Building Blocks of a Great Tourism Product
Simon Jones
Tourism Works

Round Table Discussion

Adjournment

OUR FEATURED SPEAKERS

Rosanna Maietta President & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association
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.

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.

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.

More details coming soon!