Virginia’s premier hospitality industry association has announced the finalists for its annual Ordinary Awards, and several Fairfax County businesses and residents made the list.
In the running for the title of Hotel of the Year, one of 24 categories, is the Watermark Hotel at the Capital One Center in Tysons. It will compete with The Georges in Lexington and River’s Rest Marina & Resort in Charles City, the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) announced yesterday (Thursday).
Operated by BF Saul Company Hospitality Group, The Watermark will open on September 21, 2021 at 1825 Capital One Drive, furthering the transformation of Capital One’s headquarters from an office location to a more mixed-use space with restaurants and a performing arts venue.
The 25-story, 300-room hotel includes the Wren Japanese restaurant, a fitness center, meeting rooms and access to The Perch, the elevated recreation area that is home to the Starr Hill beer garden. Capital One wants to put a “speakeasy” bar on the top floor of the hotel and received a building permit from Fairfax County yesterday.
The Watermark Hotel wasn’t the only Tysons property to garner attention at the Ordinary Awards. Nancy Longstreth, director of sales, events and marketing for the Hyatt Regency Tysons, is a finalist for Hotelier of the Year, competing with Caity Deets, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria.
According to her LinkedIn page, Longstreth has led the marketing team at Hyatt Regency in Tysons since January 2016, less than a year after the 18-story, 300-room hotel in Tysons Corner Center opened in April 2015.
Outside of Tysons, Ordinary Awards finalists include two different employees of L’Auberge Chez Francois: Hugo Ruiz, a server at the Great Falls restaurant since 2005, is nominated for Restaurant Employee of the Year, while Danny Guevara, who runs the more casual Jacques’ Brasserie downstairs, is one of two contenders for Restaurant Manager of the Year.
L’Auberge Chez Francois, located at 332 Springvale Road, opened in 1976 and is still run by the family of founder François Haeringer. The eldest son, Jacques Haeringer, is the executive chef. The Washingtonian has named it one of the 100 best restaurants in the Washington area for two years running.
One of the finalists for the Rising Pineapple Award for Hospitality Student of the Year is George Mason University student Natalie Strait, who is expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in tourism and event management next May and is president of the university’s Tourism and Events Society, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The Ordinary Awards are designed to honor “the best in the hospitality and tourism industry” in Virginia and are judged by a panel of VRLTA members and “industry experts,” according to a press release. They recognize restaurants, hotels, breweries, attractions and individual workers.
“This has been an exceptional year for the Ordinary Awards,” VRLTA President Eric Terry said in the release. “On behalf of the association, staff and board, we congratulate the 2024 finalists on the incredible work they have done and continue to do. Regardless of who takes the stage in September, this group of finalists showcases the excellence of Virginia’s hospitality and tourism industry.”
Winners will be announced during an awards dinner at the Richmond Downtown Marriott on Thursday, September 12.
