THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610190127
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 56 lines
Henry Richardson, 46, a fidgety, chain-smoking resort hotel owner, says he will step down as president of the Virginia Beach Hotel and Motel Association after four years at the helm.
Richardson was nominated for an unprecedented third term in office as head of the city's most influential lobbying group, but asked Thursday at a monthly meeting of the association to have his name removed from consideration.
He wants to devote more time to his family and his growing business, he explained.
Had Richardson remained in contention, he would have faced one and possibly two opponents for another two-year term that begins Jan. 1.
Also nominated at the Thursday meeting were James H. Capps, a former association president, and Dawson Sterling, secretary of the association.
Both men own Oceanfront hotels and have long been advocates of resort improvement and economic development initiatives that would bolster the city's tourism industry, which brings in an estimated $500 million in revenue and $20 million in taxes to the city.
A vote at a November meeting of the association will determine which of these two will take over the leadership of the association.
The association, particularly under Richardson's stewardship, successfully persuaded the City Council to move ahead with the Tourism Growth Investment Fund, or TGIF, a long-range $93 million tourism improvement package. This is a self-financing mechanism that uses special hotel and restaurant sales taxes to fund projects such as:
The $35 million expansion of the Virginia Marine Science Museum.
The new $17 million Amphitheater.
The $40 million Atlantic Avenue streetscape project.
Yet to come are two major projects with the potential to bring in millions more in tourist dollars.
One is a $100 million-plus plan to triple the size of the Pavilion Convention Center, which could expand the city's tourist season.
The second is a plan to develop four golf courses, two of them professional tournament caliber.
Another initiative being eyed by the city is a plan to spend $60 million to upgrade Pacific Avenue.
Under Richardson, the association endorsed this plan and on Thursday went on record to endorse the creation of a city housing and redevelopment authority, which would enable municipal officials to clear blighted areas for economic development, new housing or for public use, such as parks.
Four years ago, Richardson was elected president of the hotel and motel association, outpolling incumbent Rick Anoia, co-owner of The Windjammer motel and now president of the Resort Leadership Council - another lobbying group.
Richardson and his brothers, Addison and Leonard, and sister, Liz Thomas, own and operate several resort hotels. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Richardson by CNB