Tourism Bouncing Back

With domestic travel on the rise, the tourism and hospitality industries still have a journey ahead to full recovery.

Claremont hosts popular annual festivals including Enduro Mountain Bike Racing, Brew Fest, Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off, Cardboard Sled Races, National Night Out, Pleasant Street Block Party, Alumni Weekend (Stevens High School has the oldest active high school alumni association in the nation and thousands of alumni, family, and friends will be joining the festivities at the 152nd celebration next year), Fire Prevention Parade (next year marks their 137th parade), Hallowesta, Santa Parade & Park Lighting Ceremony, and First Night.

And there is plenty to explore nearby if you choose to use Claremont as the base for your time in the Sugar River Region.

Claremont isn’t just a great place to live and work, it’s also a great place to visit!

For more information, visit www.claremontnh.com.

Synergy, Sustainability, And Opportunity In Gloucester, VA

Drive over the beautiful York River on the Coleman Bridge and experience the vibrant economy and quality of life in Gloucester. It has become a destination of choice for visitors of all ages looking for an exceptional vacation, residential location, or to start a new business. We are a growing community with numerous historic attractions, exceptional dining, shopping, and a relaxed environment. Gloucester, VA is home to the world-renowned Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).

Shopping Districts. York River Crossing—is a 161,351-square-foot shopping center located on U.S. Route 17 (George Washington Memorial Highway) in Gloucester. Gloucester Village on Main is quaint, historic, and the center for government and retail activity.

Fox Mill Centre is a newly developed shopping center with a mix of national and local retailers.

Health care. Gloucester is home to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, Riverside Cancer Care Center, Sentara Medical Arts, and Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters Pediatric Center.

Recreation. Gloucester is bound by over 500 miles of shoreline for exceptional watersports and recreational activities. The community boasts five marinas with over 500 boat slips and amenities to meet all your docking needs—and no boat tax!

Gloucester Point Beach, located on the York River, features two boat ramps, a fishing pier, a playground, a pavilion, and an interpretative walking tour detailing the history of the area. Throughout the county are five rivers that offer exceptional saltwater fishing, boating, and paddling. Beaverdam Park, located in the center of our community, features a 635-acre freshwater lake offering a host of activities including fishing, boat rentals, picnic areas, trails, meeting/event facilities, and more.

We also have a 644-acre national park that will serve to further the understanding of the Virginia Indian cultures in the Werowocomoco region and provide outdoor recreation and meeting opportunities, as well as a state park, Machicomoco. Located in the southern part of Gloucester County along the York River, Machicomoco State Park is approximately 10 miles downriver from Werowocomoco. The landscape of Timberneck was most certainly associated with Tsenacommacah and Powhatan’s extensive Chiefdom.

Our annual Daffodil Festival is a two-day celebration of spring.  The family-oriented event is a long-standing tradition and has been held for the past 36 years.

History and Heritage. Notable historic places in Gloucester include Tyndall’s Point and the Gloucester Point Archaeological District. The Gloucester Courthouse Historic District is one of the most charming and sophisticated colonial courthouses ever built in Virginia, and is one of the oldest operating courthouses in the United States, dating back to 1766. The community is also proud to be home of Walter Reed’s Birthplace, and the remnants of Rosewell, arguably one of the finest mansions built in the American colonies sitting alongside the beautiful York River. We invite you to visit our historical, vibrant community and see what Gloucester can offer you.

For more information, visit www.gloucesterva.info.

Vacation With A Cajun Twist In Southwest Louisiana

Here is a question. If you are a hospitality company decision-maker, why have you not located a venture in Lake Charles, LA aka “Louisiana’s gaming capital?” The five parish area (Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis parishes/counties)—is situated in the southwest corner of the Bayou State. Texas is the area’s closest neighbor with visitors from Houston and Dallas being primary factors in the exciting growth of casino resorts, a racino (a combination of racetrack and casino), top-notch golf courses, and water sports.

Hunting, fishing, and other outdoor sports are key interests for locals and visitors also.

More importantly, the mix of Cajun and Creole cultures influences the culinary foodways and entertainment, which has garnered international attention.

tourism and hospitality
Southwest Louisiana has several casino resorts that offer attractions such as horse racing. (Photo: Boyd Gaming)

The Lake Charles, LA website describes the locale this way, “Lake Charles, LA is a blend of contrasts that magically works together in total harmony. A Cajun personality with a Texas flair. A love for big-city entertainment and a relished joy of nature. A little black dress paired with flip-flops.”

Gaming

Southwest Louisiana’s casino resort lineup includes: L’Auberge Casino Resort-Lake Charles, Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel and Casino, Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel-Vinton, Coushatta Casino Resort-Kinder, and Hotel Lake Charles.

L’Auberge and Golden Nugget are the largest casinos. In June 2022, gross revenues at L’Auberge and Golden Nugget were over $31 million apiece which gave them the highest casino revenue in Louisiana.

Delta Downs Racino generated over $167 million in gross revenues this fiscal year. This facility is the most successful racetrack in the state.

The financial windfall proves that people are visiting the region with money and are willing to spend it.

Natural Attractions

Southwest Louisiana is home to Sam Houston Jones State Park, Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Holly Beach, and Rutherford Beach—both beaches are located within the 26-mile coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

These attractions provide opportunities for visitors to enjoy outdoor activities.