Eric Terry

A graduate of the Hospitality and Tourism Management School at Virginia Tech, Eric has a long and deep understanding of the hospitality and tourism industries.  As President of VRLTA, Eric Terry leads a membership of over 1,500 from across the Commonwealth in efforts before the General Assembly and with industry events.

Eric Terry joined VRLTA from Redstone Companies Hospitality and has over three decades of experience and business success within the entertainment, hotel, casino resort, and events industries. Prior to joining Redstone, Eric was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Benchmark Hospitality and the President of Xelerate Group, a company he launched in 2002. He grew the Xelerate Group into an organization with a recognized specialty in national events marketing, sponsorship partnering, media buying, and celebrity appearances including partnerships with NASCAR, Chuck Norris, The Food Network, and Indy Racing League. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Malibu Entertainment Worldwide, Inc. and also served as Corporate Marketing Director and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Hollywood Casino Corporation/Pratt Hotel Corporation.  Eric has held leadership positions with Bristol Hotels, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, and for Anheuser Busch's Busch Gardens.

He is an active member of Meeting Professionals International and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International and is a former president and vice president of the Crowne Plaza Marketing Association.  In 2020, Eric was recognized as one of the “Top 500 Power List in Hospitality/Tourism” in Virginia Business Magazine.