Landmark Hotel Group President Reigns Over Virginia Beach’s 50th Neptune Festival Court
By Chelsea Sherman
Akhil Jain’s first memories of the Neptune Festival are that of a young child spending the last weekend of September at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, visiting artists’ stalls and watching the Grand Parade. Later in life, as his career in hospitality took off, the festival took on a new importance to Jain, as it drew visitors from all over Virginia and beyond.
But Jain, who now serves as the president of Landmark Hotel Group, did not fully appreciate the impact of Neptune Festival until he joined Court 45 as a Triton five years ago. It was then that he and his wife Nita got to experience all the events that lead up to the Boardwalk Weekend.
“Like a lot of Virginia Beach residents, we didn’t quite realize how expansive and impactful the festival is to the city of Virginia Beach. We thought it was all about the Boardwalk Weekend, but really that weekend is the culmination of a series of events that raise the profile of Virginia Beach, support nonprofits in the area and connect our community,” Jain says.
After his season as a Triton, Jain was asked to serve on the Neptune Festival board, and he readily accepted. He was crowned King Neptune at a special gala in March.
Each year for the last 50 years, the festival committee has chosen its king from a list of nominees. The candidates are chosen based on a variety of criteria, including their participation in the community and their contributions to improving Virginia Beach. Once selected, King Neptune becomes the ambassador for the festival’s full season of events.
LANDMARK EVENT Jain says he developed a new appreciation for The Neptune Festival’s impact on the community over the last 50 years when he joined their board.
“I’m honored to be associated with the Neptune Festival and all the kings who have come before me,” Jain says. “Far more than me, those are people who have made this city what it is, and to be included with that sort of company is just an incredible honor.”
Since this spring, King Neptune and his court of Tritons, princes and princesses have been busy attending special events, such as the Virginia Special Olympics and the Symphony by the Sea concert series. Jain’s wife Nita and their two sons, Aarush and Aditya, are also enjoying participating in the festivities.
There are more than 40 events that comprise the Neptune Festival each year. With this year commemorating the festival’s golden jubilee, several additional celebrations have been added, including a permanent commemorative mural on 30th Street.
Local businesses are also getting in on the celebration, with Tarnished Truth Distillery launching a commemorative small batch bourbon and Lolly’s Creamery featuring a specialty ice cream.
New Realm Brewing and Back Bay Brewing have also each launched special beers to commemorate 50 years of Neptune Festival. The Festival’s Boardwalk Weekend takes place September 27-29.
“Fifty years is quite a milestone for this organization. It started as just an idea and one event, and to witness it grow to what it is today is remarkable,” Jain says.
Jain was in grade school when his father Raj Jain bought his first hotel on the Outer Banks in 1983. He grew up helping out with his parents’ business, starting with sweeping the hotel parking lot at age 9.
“I’ve worked a day in the life of every associate in my company—that’s one of the best gifts I’ve been given,” Jain says.
By the time Jain graduated from the University of Virginia, the company had grown from one to four hotels. Jain worked in management before moving into finance and development, and eventually focusing on growing the portfolio. Landmark Hotel Group now manages 12 hotels and is continuing to grow and expand its reach.
“The bar just continues to be raised in Virginia Beach. I remember growing up working at the Oceanfront, it was a lot of older properties in need of a refresh. Fast forward to today, we’ve got such beautiful properties there,” Jain says.
“To me, we have a very bright future here in Virginia Beach. We’ve continued to celebrate and lean into our diversity. We’re ambitious, but we still have the beach life culture and southern hospitality that makes us special. We’ve somehow managed to maintain that small town charm, even as we’ve grown as a city.”
You can catch Jain and the rest of the Neptune Festival Court at special events around town from now through the last weekend of September.
A full list of Neptune Festival celebrations is available at neptunefestival.com.
Chelsea Sherman
