Local Businesses & Restaurants Invited to Participate in 1st Annual Block Party & Fort Lee Appreciation Day

Holiday Inn Colonial Heights partners with American Family Fitness to bring a day of fun and community building

April 18, 2009, (Chester, Va.) – Holiday Inn Colonial Heights, in partnership with American Family Fitness, invite all local Colonial Heights businesses and restaurants to participate in the 1st Annual Community Block Party and Fort Lee Appreciation Day on Saturday, June 6th, 2009 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.  The event is sponsored by Coca-cola and the Petersburg Progress-Index and will offer a variety of kid-friendly activities, such as a moon bounce, face-painting, clowns, a petting zoo, and the first-ever local college Mascot Olympics.  There will also be an art fair with work from local artisans and a blood drive conducted by Virginia Blood Services. 

“We are excited to give the Colonial Heights community this great opportunity to showcase their business and thank patrons for their continued support,” said Lori Darling, vice president of sales and marketing for Shamin Hotels.  “It is an even greater honor to offer a day of fun and thanksgiving to Fort Lee who support a large portion our hospitality business.”

This event offers the community a day to enjoy a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere with their families while being exposed to local businesses.  As a vendor, this is an opportunity to expose your business to people who may not be familiar with your services. Local restaurants and businesses are invited to offer taste-testing, games and giveaways at individual tables. 

This event costs $50 per business vendor and each is responsible for a door prize of their choice.  Door prizes such as gift cards, gift certificates or free merchandise will be raffled off at the Block Party.  All business vendors will be located under a tent and provided with a table, table cloth and two chairs. 

For more information please contact Cheryl Bradshaw at 804-520-7000 or e-mail at cbradshaw@amfamfit.com. 

About Shamin Hotels
Shamin Hotels, based in Richmond, Virginia, is a dynamic, growth-oriented hotel company that owns, operates, and develops commercial business hotels under Hilton, Marriott, InterContinental, and Choice flags.  With 3,300 rooms in 29 properties across three states, Shamin Hotels is today recognized as the largest hotel management company in Central Virginia. Deeply rooted in the hospitality industry, Shamin Hotels enjoys a number of advantages that give the company a competitive edge. Its senior management team has more than 100 years of combined experiences. This executive team along with more than ___ associates provide a daily wealth of intuitive input, perspective, and knowledge that helps to create the Shamin Touch. The company also has long-standing relationships with the industry's most highly regarded brands and has consistently been recipient of awards from its franchisers. For more information, call 804-777-9000 or visit http://www.shaminhotels.com.

About American Family Fitness
Richmond Fitness Inc. operates seven American Family Fitness locations throughout Fredericksburg and Central Virginia with approximately 115,000 members.  American Family Fitness was ranked the 30th largest revenue producing for-profit health club in North America in 2007 according to Club Industry magazine.  American Family Fitness is the 2008 winner of the Greater Richmond Chamber Impact award, which recognizes the growth, innovation and community contributions of privately-owned, for-profit businesses in the Greater Richmond Region. American Family Fitness facilities are located in the Richmond/Petersburg area in Mechanicsville, Southside, Northside, Colonial Heights, the West End and Swift Creek near Brandermill and in Fredericksburg.  For more information, visit www.amfamfit.com.

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