Virginia’s main hospitality industry group has unveiled the finalists for its annual Ordinary Awards, and a few Fairfax County businesses and residents made the list.
In contention for “Hotel of the Year,” one of 24 categories, is The Watermark Hotel at 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 B.F. Saul Company Hospitality Group, The Watermark opened at 1825 Capital One Drive on Sept. 21, 2021, furthering the transformation of Capital One’s headquarters campus from an office site into more of a mixed-use destination with restaurants and a performing arts venue.
The 25-floor, 300-room hotel includes the Japanese restaurant Wren, a fitness center, meeting space and access to The Perch, the elevated recreational space where Starr Hill Biergarten is located. Capital One is looking to add a “speakeasy” bar on the hotel’s top floor, obtaining a construction permit from Fairfax County yesterday.
The Watermark Hotel wasn’t the only place to stay in Tysons that drew the Ordinary Awards’ attention. Nancy Longstreth, the director of sales, events and marketing for Hyatt Regency Tysons, is a finalist for “Hotelier of the Year,” competing with Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria General Manager Caity Deets.
According to her LinkedIn page, Longstreth has been leading Hyatt Regency’s marketing team in Tysons since January 2016, less than a year after the 18-floor, 300-room hotel opened at Tysons Corner Center in April 2015.
Outside of Tysons, the Ordinary Awards finalists include two different employees of L’Auberge Chez Francois: Hugo Ruiz, a waiter at the Great Falls restaurant since 2005, is up for “Restaurant Employee of the Year,” while Danny Guevara, who oversees the more casual Jacques’ Brasserie on the lower level, is one of two “Restaurant Manager of the Year” contenders.
Located at 332 Springvale Road, L’Auberge Chez Francois opened in 1976 and is still run by the family of founder François Haeringer, with eldest son Jacques Haeringer serving as head chef. Washingtonian has included it among the D.C. area’s 100 best restaurants for the past two years.
Finally, the finalists for the Rising Pineapple Award for Hospitality Student of the Year include George Mason University student Natalie Strait. She’s on track to graduate next May with a bachelor’s degree in tourism and events management and serves as president of the university’s Tourism and Events Society, per her LinkedIn profile.
Intended to “celebrate the best of the hospitality and tourism industry” in Virginia, the Ordinary Awards are determined by a judging panel of VRLTA members and “industry professionals,” according to a press release. They recognize restaurants, hotels, breweries, attractions and individual workers.
“This was an exceptional year for the Ordinary Awards,” VRLTA President Eric Terry said in the release. “On behalf of the Association, staff, and board, we applaud the efforts of our 2024 finalists for the incredible work they have done and continue to do. Regardless of who’ll walk across the stage in September, this group of finalists showcase the excellence in Virginia’s hospitality and tourism industries.”
The winners will be announced during an awards dinner at the Richmond Downtown Marriott on Thursday, Sept. 12.
