60 Seconds with… Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Christi Braginton

As associate director of the global media team at Virginia Tourism Corporation, Braginton helps manage day-to-day activities, and works in a variety of ways to help UK partners get what they need to sell Virginia product overseas. Here, she shares the exciting variety the state has to offer luxury travellers.

Q. What are the top attractions on offer in Virginia?

Virginia is the birthplace of America, with Jamestown housing the country’s first permanent English colony, and Colonial Williamsburg being the nation’s original revolutionary city. Travellers can gain a deep understanding of American and British history across the state, with plenty of presidential homes open to visit too.
There is also a diversity of landscapes – you’ve got everything from the mountains of Shenandoah National Park, with its scenic Skyline Drive, to the views of colourful trees along Blue Ridge Parkway, horse-riding ranches in Piedmont, acclaimed wineries and the world’s longest pleasure beach.

It’s worth remembering that Washington DC and New York City are both only a few hours away and travelling between each one is very easy, so many of the country’s most famous landmarks can be easily packed into one vacation with Virginia at its centre.

Q. The state has a range of options for luxury stays – what are some of your top picks? 

Virginia is known for off-the-beaten-path luxury. We do have modern high-end hotels especially in city hubs, but we’re best known for historic properties such as the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, which used to be visited by presidents and now has its own beach club and oyster farming experience. 

Alternatively, there’s the highly rated Salamander Middleburg in horse and wine country. The hotel has an amazing equestrian offering which not only allows you to ride horses but also has a horse whisperer programme where you learn about equine communication.

We also have a lot of great golf courses, including at Primland Blue Ridge Mountain Resort from Auberge Resorts Collection. The property sits on top of a mountain in Blue Ridge Parkway and has its own observatory for nighttime stargazing programmes.

Head to virginia.org/luxury to see what other options are out there.

Q. How significant is the UK market for tourism in Virginia?

The UK has always been one of Virginia’s biggest markets, and the historical connection definitely adds to that. Canada, France, Germany, India and Australia are other key markets for us. Preliminary data shows the state welcomed 923,000 tourists in 2024 (56,000 coming from the UK) so we’re on track to meet 2024 numbers.

We’d still love to see more Brits. I think we do have a lot in common and we have lots to share with the British audience, so it’s all about meeting UK agents and operators to educate them, including about Virginia’s accessibility as an extension to a Washington DC or NYC trip.

A lot of the properties we have are boutique, and even the bigger ones aren’t gigantic, so a lot of them will work directly with travel agents and tour operators to create that specialised, curated experience that the UK’s luxury audience wants.

Q. What’s next for the tourism scene in the state? 

Our big focus for the coming year is the 250th anniversary of American independence. For example, the world’s largest living history museum Colonial Williamsburg – where you’re literally walking into a colonial city – will be hosting reenactments and immersive experiences like recreated revolutionary meetings. Luxury hotel Williamsburg Inn is onsite, housing two suites named in honour of visits from the late Queen. 

The 250th anniversary of American independence is actually very much tied together with luxury experiences. Within that, Virginia is the ideal place for discovery and adventure off the beaten path that you can’t get just anywhere.