Developer, CEO credits staff for “tremendous” industry honor

Richmond, Va. – Bruce Thompson, CEO of Gold Key | PHR, was named “Hotelier of the Year” on Tuesday, Oct. 10, by the Virginia Restaurant Lodging Travel Association.

The honor came during the industry association’s annual “Ordinary Awards” ceremony at the Richmond Marriott Downtown. The awards are held to celebrate those who demonstrate “exemplary passion” for the hospitality and travel industry.

“This is truly a tremendous honor and a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Gold Key | PHR,” said Thompson, whose company has developed and introduced some of Hampton Roads’ most popular hotels, restaurants and entertainment destinations, including the Cavalier Resort, anchored by the restored Historic Cavalier Hotel, and Hilton Norfolk The Main.

“Everyone who works at Gold Key | PHR celebrates this award with me,” Thompson said. “They’re the ones who work day in and day out to ensure our service and hospitality are as extraordinary as our hotels, restaurants and guest amenities. I couldn’t be more proud of them today.”

The awards follow a formal nomination process and are judged by VRLTA members and industry professionals.

Since its founding in 1986, Thompson’s Gold Key | PHR has developed 54 private projects in Coastal Virginia, including the massive restoration of the Historic Cavalier Hotel, the addition of its two sister hotels to create the Cavalier Resort, the luxury 42 Ocean Condominiums, and the 31st Street corridor, the gateway to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

“We are very proud of the exceptional experiences we create for our guests everyday, and equally proud to be recognized for the work we do by the VRLTA,” Thompson said.

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About Gold Key | PHR

With business totaling nearly $1 billion, Gold Key | Professional Hospitality Resources (PHR) has been an industry leader for more than 30 years with development, management and operating expertise in hospitality, commercial real estate, residential real estate and food & beverage. Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Gold Key | PHR is one of the fastest growing, and most respected, hospitality companies in the mid-Atlantic and is the region’s largest hospitality employer.

About The Virginia Restaurant Lodging Travel Association

The Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association is the unified voice of the restaurant, lodging, travel and hospitality suppliers associations. VRLTA creates value for members by promoting the legislative interests of the industry, networking, educational opportunities, and protecting free enterprise. For more information, visit www.vrlta.org or call 800-552-2225.

About the Ordinary Awards

The Ordinary Awards celebrate and honor the extraordinary work of all of Virginia’s restaurants, lodging establishments and hotels, Destination Marketing Organizations, attractions and more. The awards are named for Chinn’s Ordinary, an inn built around 1728 in Chinn’s Crossroads, now Middleburg, Virginia, and named by the Baltimore Sun as the “the oldest original inn in America.”