The Landing Hotel Portsmouth — an eight‑story, upscale hotel rising next to Rivers Casino Portsmouth — has reached a major construction milestone. The $65 million project, funded privately by Rush Street Gaming, recently celebrated its topping‑off ceremony, marking the placement of the final steel beam and the completion of the building’s structural frame.
City leaders say the hotel is a major step forward for Portsmouth’s growing entertainment district and a sign of continued economic momentum. Ground was broken on the new hotel last fall, so the project is moving along quickly. The casino has been generating very strong revenue since it opened.
During the topping‑off ceremony, Portsmouth officials and project leaders signed the final steel beam before it was lifted into place. The event was tied to Mayor Shannon Glover’s State of the City address, delivered at the casino, where he highlighted the hotel as a symbol of Portsmouth’s progress.
Mayor Glover projected an early 2027 opening, calling the development part of a broader vision of Portsmouth as a “city on the rise.” City officials also noted that it has been decades since an eight‑story building was constructed in Portsmouth — making this project especially significant.
What To Expect From The Landing Hotel
The Landing Hotel Portsmouth is designed to bring a luxury experience to the Hampton Roads region. The eight‑story property will feature:
- 106 guest rooms, including 32 suites
- Two “super suites” with indoor/outdoor living space
- Suite sizes ranging from 400 to 800+ sq ft
- A sophisticated lobby bar
- Two private executive boardrooms
- Complimentary breakfast and a sundries shop
- A fully non‑smoking environment
The hotel will also have a direct covered corridor connecting guests to the casino’s Event Center, eight restaurants and lounges, BetRivers Sportsbook, poker room, and the main gaming floor.
“As we celebrate the phenomenal economic development progress in Portsmouth, we have another shining example of Portsmouth’s ongoing success, and this one is already eight stories high,” Rivers Casino Portsmouth General Manager Antonio Perez told WAVY-TV.
Designed by KOO Architecture & Interiors of Chicago, the hotel overlooks the casino’s water feature and aims to deliver a modern, upscale atmosphere tailored to both tourists and business travelers.
Economic Impact on Portsmouth
The Landing Hotel is expected to bring meaningful economic benefits to the city:
- 200 temporary construction jobs
- 60 permanent positions once open
- Increased tourism and overnight stays
- More events, conferences, and entertainment traffic
- Higher hospitality tax revenue for the city
The hotel is part of the original master plan for Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which opened in January 2023 as Virginia’s first full‑service permanent casino. Since opening, the casino has become a major economic driver, attracting visitors from across Hampton Roads and beyond.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth: A Quick Look
Rivers Casino Portsmouth sits on 57 acres near I‑264 and is only three miles from historic Olde Towne. In the short time it has been open, it has witnessed a jackpot win from the rarest hand possible in standard poker.
The casino features:
- 50,000 sq ft gaming floor
- 1,440+ slot machines
- 57 table games
- A 24‑table poker room — the first authorized poker room in Virginia
- BetRivers Sportsbook
- Eight restaurants and lounges
The Landing Hotel will be owned and operated by Rush Street Gaming, which runs several other Rivers Casino properties across the country.
It is just one piece of a larger wave of development in Portsmouth. City leaders point to new housing near the casino, waterfront redevelopment, an emerging innovation district, and recent reductions in crime as signs of a city gaining momentum.
