It Starts with a Visit
“If you build a place people want to visit, you build a place where people want to live. If you build a place where people want to live, you’ll build a place where people want to work. If you build a place where people want to work, you build a place where business needs to be. If you build a place where business has to be, you’ll build a place where people have to visit.”
Tourism, economic development, and the organic, long-term growth of a community all starts with one simple visit. Someone that came into town to visit family, try a new menu, or attend a festival they discovered online.
These visitors, whether they stay for one night or a whole week, trickle into our community, feel the warmth of hospitality, and then think, Maybe I could live here, start my own business here, plant new roots here.
In Danville and Pittsylvania County, the Danville Office of Economic Development & Tourism (DOEDT) believes that hospitality lives in the details. Throughout our community, this exceptional customer service takes shape in many forms. Hand wrapped packages at Karen’s Hallmark Shop, a barista at Links Coffee House Café who remembered your latte order, one-on-one shoe fittings at The Brick Running and Tri Store. Hospitality is all about curating a special experience that feels intentional and welcoming, creating memories for both first-time visitors and lifelong residents.
Rooted in History
That attention to detail is especially evident in Danville’s evolving hospitality landscape.
In early 2026, the Danville Hotel Collection was officially branded and born, comprising sister boutique hotels, The Bee, The Holbrook, and newly opened, The Laurel.
Each property offers a distinct experience, yet all are interwoven into the same Southern Virginia story. One is a reimagined newspaper headquarters, another once operated a doctor’s office, and the third was formerly the Dan River Mills office building.
Madi Eades, Regional General Manager of the Danville Hotel Collection, explains this individuality is intentional, “Each property offers its own unique history, story, and guest experience. There are things to fall in love with at each of them, and you have to try each one out to choose your favorite.”
Comfort Meets Character
Opening its doors officially in February 2026, the Laurel Hotel features 36 rooms, two-story loft accommodations, elegant fixtures, soaking tubs, a grand lawn area, and is in mere steps away from Caesars Virginia, the Schoolfield Restaurant, and more. The new lodging option is designed to feel both elevated and personable, perfect for guests seeking luxury and others who are ready for a more extended stay.
From weekend guests to group tours, families, couples, and more, the Danville Hotel Collection, including the Laurel Hotel, attracts all different types of travelers, all looking for that feeling of home.
Hospitality with Intention
For Eades and her team, hospitality is about elevating the ordinary. “We really look for ways to make a run‑of‑the‑mill hotel stay special,” she says.
That might mean arranging a local flower bouquet, leaving a handwritten card, chilling a guest’s favorite wine, or preparing a simple snack and drink. These thoughtful touches transform a stay into a story worth sharing.
These gestures also shape a Danville that values care, intention, and a personal touch. A Danville that invites visitors to return again and again.
Supporting Local
The Danville Hotel Collection also places a strong emphasis on uplifting neighboring businesses and encouraging guests to explore the community beyond their hotel stay.
“From local flower arrangements from KatieDid Florals, our breakfast package at Crema & Vine, and discounts at Me’s Burgers and Brews, to referrals to walkable places like Golden Leaf, Midtown Market, and Schoolfield Restaurant, we prioritize referring our guests to shopping, eating, drinking, and browsing locally,” Eades shares.
This approach blends hospitality with local storytelling, ensuring guests experience the community’s authentic character, rather than a one-size-fits-all itinerary.
The Heart Behind Hospitality
Exceptional guest experiences begin with a supported, motivated staff. Eades emphasizes the importance of investing in the team through monthly team‑building sessions, work anniversary celebrations, and regular recognition of standout employees.
“This is extremely important to the Danville Hotel Collection,” Eades explains. “Not only is there always a reason to celebrate, but having everyone in one place rejuvenates passion for the industry, reiterates the importance of teamwork, and offers invaluable relationship building that takes our team to the next level.”
By prioritizing staff culture, the Danville Hotel Collection ensures hospitality is felt not just by guests, but by the people delivering it every day.
A Shared Commitment
The DOEDT works to make the City of Danville a place where families thrive, businesses grow, and visitors feel welcome. Through strong partnerships, like the one with the Danville Hotel Collection, along with relevant training opportunities and one‑on‑one connections with business owners and partners, the DOEDT cultivates an environment where hospitality is at the heart of all we do.
When hospitality is woven into the fabric of a community, visitors return, invest, and become part of the story.
Learn more about this crucial work at www.discoverdanville.com.
Original article available here (Hannah Toufas, Our Town Magazine)