BRISTOL, Va. — The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, a first for Virginia, has significantly boosted Bristol's economy since the temporary casino's opening. As of October, the casino has paid over $66 million in gaming taxes, with approximately $650,000 returning to Bristol, Virginia.
City Manager Randall Eads expressed optimism about the future economic impact, saying, "We do anticipate that our lodging and meal tax will increase significantly over the next year."
In a recent council meeting, city leaders announced that Bristol's lodging tax has reached $1 million, while meal taxes have exceeded $2.5 million.
Allen Hurley, CEO of Vision, LLC, who owns property near the casino, shared his positive outlook. "Our businesses have been impacted, and we're very optimistic about the opportunity for not just our center here, but all the surrounding properties and the surrounding communities," he said.
City leaders remain hopeful about further economic benefits and are pushing for more businesses in the area.
This story was originally published by WCYB.
