|
Riggs, an Akita, participated in yesterday's Celebrate Virginia Cluster dog show at the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center. |
BY PAMELA GOULD
Robin Hutson and her daughter Diane traveled to Fredericksburg from South Carolina this week to enter their three Yorkshire terriers in the Celebrate Virginia Cluster of dog shows.
Their Yorkies--Nina, Mitzi and Sadie--were among more than 1,100 purebred dogs entered in the five days of competition at the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center.
Event officials estimate about 700 people are accompanying the dogs. Dozens more are serving as judges, stewards and handlers, and at least 20 vendors are on site. A check of vehicles shows they've come from up and down the East Coast and from as far away as Wisconsin and Texas.
Local hoteliers said the event is providing a boost to occupancy rates at a traditionally slow time period.
Fredericksburg, it turns out, offers many pet-friendly accommodations.
The Best Western Central Plaza on State Route 3 near Central Park offers all of its 76 rooms to people with pets, and general manager Victoria Brooks said about half the rooms are taken this week by dog show participants.
Bill Harvin, general manager of the Quality Inn near Central Park, said his hotel wasn't sold out but said he has many participants staying three to five nights.
"It's been enough to give our people some work who haven't had anything to do for a while," he said.
And he said it has helped them prepare for their upcoming sell-out period starting on Jan. 17.
"It added some more room nights, getting us prepared for inauguration," he said.
Comfort Inn in Massaponax has more than 20 rooms rented to people with purebreds this week, and neighbor Country Inn and Suites was running a show special to draw customers. Dunning Mills Inn off U.S. 1 in Fredericksburg and the Fredericksburg Hospitality House also housed participants.
"It's helping a lot [with business] but it's not a huge impact," said Debbie Schreck, Hospitality House rooms division director.
Elizabeth Atkins, president of the Northern Neck Kennel Club, said organizers were hoping for a bigger turnout but were pleased since it's the first time the shows--organized by the Northern Neck, Greater Fredericksburg and Chesapeake, Md., kennel clubs--were held at the Expo Center.
Like the Hutsons, Atkins said it has been great to have shopping and restaurants nearby for both recreation and necessities.
The Hutsons visited Wal-Mart and Lowe's for supplies Wednesday.
"Today, we're going to expand out," Robin Hutson said yesterday.
Pamela Gould: 540/735-1972
Email: pgould@freelancestar.com
The Celebrate Virginia Cluster |
