​Director of Marketing
Kristin Berrier
marketing@vrlta.org

Kristin joined VRLTA as a contract employee in March 2019 and is responsible for marketing and communications. Kristin has worked in various marketing roles at corporations, nonprofits, associations, and start ups for more than 15 years, and recently opened a small marketing consultancy, Seed to Sprout Marketing, to provide fractional marketing support to clients. Her work at VRLTA supports the staff in their efforts to grow membership, build engagement, and recognize the great work our members are doing in the fields of hospitality and tourism. A Midwest native, Kristin's degree in Economics from DePauw University helps her bring an analytical eye to her marketing efforts. Kristin, along with her husband, Chris, two teenagers, and a Bernese Mountain Dog, live in Short Pump. Outside interests include traveling and reading.

More about Kristin...

What is your ultimate Virginia weekend getaway?
A weekend in Old Town Alexandria with my husband combines lots of things I love: old town charm, eating and drinking, and wandering around to discover the best of an area. We’d stay at one of the hotels on King Street and fill up the days with sightseeing and shopping all of the cute boutiques. I’d definitely book a sightseeing cruise to see the monuments, visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center, and go to the Old Town Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning. We’d have to try some of the amazing restaurants, breweries, and cideries. If we got really motivated, we’d bike the Mount Vernon Trail.

What is your favorite cuisine, and a favorite Virginia restaurant that serves it? 
There aren’t too many places that my almost-vegetarian daughter and my carnivore husband and son agree on, but one cuisine everyone can get behind is Vietnamese. There are a number of good Vietnamese restaurants in the Richmond area – we like them all, but our favorite is Pho 1 Grill in Short Pump.
 
Which places are on your travel bucket list – Virginia and beyond? 
I’m very lucky to have traveled to many places around the world, most recently Iceland and Italy. Still on my bucket list are Portugal, South Africa, and some of the national parks out west. Closer to home in Virginia, I’d love to stay at Primland Resort – it seems like the best of all worlds – a beautiful setting, lots of outdoor activities, and great food.
 
Mountains or beach? 
My family loves the beach, but I’d rather be in the mountains. I prefer the cooler air and being out in nature. A great day would be a hike in the woods, grilling out, and smores by the fire. Wintergreen Resort is a central place to stay, with access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Crabtree Falls (a really good hike).
 
Eat out or carry out? 
Definitely eating out! This is something I’ve really missed during the quarantine. There are so many amazing restaurants in RVA – I’ll be happy to get back to trying new ones and visiting old favorites.
 
Amusement park or camping? 
Amusement park. I have really fond memories of visiting Busch Gardens Williamsburg many times each summer with my children when they were younger. We’d meet the grandparents and it was a great way to connect across three generations (plus, camping has too many bugs for me!).
 
Name a place in Virginia you’d like to visit. 
I’ve lived in Virginia for 25+ years, but I’ve never visited Mount Vernon or Luray Caverns. Both of these places are on my list of things to do.
 
What’s your area’s best-kept secret? 
Richmond has a lot of cool walking tours, and taking one is a great way to get to know the city better. Some are run by companies, but you can also find self-guided ones. A DIY tour I recently found allows you to see all of the amazing murals around the city – this is on my list for an excursion soon.
 
Favorite place for a beer or a cocktail?
I’m a fan of cider, so I’d have to say Blue Bee Cider in Scott’s Addition in RVA or Bold Rock Cider in Nellysford. For beer, you can’t beat Capital Ale House for a great selection (and try the pretzels!).

​Perfect day in your (Virginia) hometown? 
My perfect day would combine some culture, good food, and fun. First, my family would visit the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts or the Institute for Contemporary Art for the latest exhibit. For lunch, a great option is Lunch.Supper in Scott’s Addition. Then, we’d go to one of the fun options like Tang & Biscuit or Bingo Beer Co to play some games and try some local beer. On the way home, we’d stop by 2nd & Charles to browse the huge book selection. We’d pick up some dinner and then head home for a movie on the couch.