Hilton continues to rake in five-star reviews from employees.
The Tysons-based hotel giant has been named the best company to work for in the U.S. by Fortune Magazine, which released its 27th annual round-up of the top 100 companies today.
The announcement marks a return to the top for Hilton, which has been ranked no. 1 twice before but slipped to second place last year and in 2022. That was still enough for Fortune to recognize Hilton as the World’s Best Workplace for 2023, giving the distinction to a hospitality company for the first time ever.
“Our team members have always been at the heart of our hospitality, and these collective recognitions are the result of the passion they bring to our guests and to one another each and every day,” Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta said. “We are so proud of the incredible culture we’ve built together and look forward to building on this tremendous foundation in the years to come.”
Based on surveys conducted by the data and research platform Great Place to Work, this year’s 100 Best Companies to Work for were united by an embrace of hybrid and remote work, with only two requring employees to work on-site four or more days a week, Fortune CEO Alan Murray said.
According to Great Place to Work, earning employee trust is more critical than ever for a quality workplace, as many industries assess the potential and risks of generative artificial intelligence, technology that CEO Michael Bush says “will radically transform how we work.”
Rated as a great place to work by 95% of responding employees, compared to 57% for a typical U.S. company, Hilton was distinguished by an emphasis on diversity and career growth, along with worker benefits such as discounted stays at its hotels, according to Fortune.
An example of employee comments describes a supportive environment for all workers:
The company goes above and beyond to recognize and celebrate team members and I have never experienced anything like it at any other workplace. I can confidently share my ideas and they are taken seriously even as an hourly employee. I have learned so much about sales, revenue, front office, food and beverage and operations in my 4 years here and I worked in 4 other hotels that never provided nearly as much learning experience as I’ve received here. My boss is the most encouraging, supportive and understanding boss that I have ever worked for. I love it!
In a press release, Hilton said it has worked to create a “strong global culture” and invested in “programs and benefits that support inclusion, wellness, growth and purpose.”
“Hilton’s culture of people serving people engages and inspires team members to create great stays for our guests, which drives guest satisfaction, strengthens Hilton’s business and creates continued economic opportunity for communities around the world,” the company said.
Headquartered at Park Place II (7930 Jones Branch Drive) since 2009, Hilton employs about 460,000 people, including 4,300 people in the D.C. area. The company has over 7,500 properties and is currently angling to build a new, dual-branded hotel in Tysons’ Scotts Run neighborhood.
Ten of the D.C. region’s best restaurants can be found in Fairfax County, according to a newly unveiled round-up by Washingtonian.
Acknowledging that “some of the year’s coolest spots…debuted in the Virginia suburbs,” Washingtonian ranked Joon at no. 23 on its 2024 list of the “100 Very Best Restaurants” in the region. Opened on June 13, 2023, the Tysons-based Persian restaurant was the only Fairfax County spot to be ranked.
Located in Fairfax Square (8045 Leesburg Pike), Joon is led by chefs Najmieh Batmanglij and Christopher Morgan, who blend traditional Iranian cuisine with contemporary western elements. It also contains the pop-up, The Kitchen Collective, which serves food from other concepts by Joon co-founder Reza Farahani.
Farahani says it’s “an honor” for Joon to be recognized less than a year after its launch in an area that boasts “a vibrant and innovative restaurant scene.”
“Our vision has been to showcase a modern approach to the ancient cuisine of Iran and the Middle East, while using local and seasonal ingredients and innovative techniques to create a one-of-a-kind experience,” Farahani told FFXnow. “Our wine list and craft cocktails have been developed with distinct Persian flavors such as saffron, rose and pomegranate and are an homage to Persia’s contribution to the earliest spirits and wines known in history.”
Washingtonian praised Joon for food “that’s both homey and beautifully presented,” singling out the “warm pita” offered to patrons when they arrive, dips and sour-cherry rice as highlights.
“Whole platters sized for two and up are stunners, whether a whole rotisserie chicken with apples, apricots, and honey or a strapping feast of kebabs,” the magazine’s staff said in a capsule review.
Joon’s inclusion on Washingtonian’s annual list continued a good day for Batmanglij and Morgan, who were also named semifinalists yesterday (Wednesday) for a James Beard award.
Other Fairfax County establishments that made the list, which is unranked after the top 25, include:
- A&J Restaurant in Annandale (4316 Markham Street)
- Aracosia in McLean (1381 Beverly Road)
- Ingle Korean Steakhouse in Tysons (8369 Leesburg Pike, Suite A)
- Kirby Club in Merrifield (2911 District Avenue)
- L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls (332 Springvale Road)
- Mama Chang in Fairfax (3251 Old Lee Highway)
- Marib in Springfield (6981 Hechinger Drive)
- Padaek in Seven Corners (6395 Seven Corners Center)
- Parc De Ville in Merrifield (8296 Glass Alley)
Several restaurants — A&J, Aracosia, L’Auberge Chez Francois, Mama Chang and Marib — also appeared on Washingtonian’s “100 Very Best” list for 2023.
In the case of A&J, the family-owned dim sum eatery has been recognized every year that the list has come out since 2019, though the magazine paused the yearly round-up in 2021 and 2022 in response to the Covid pandemic. A&J originated in Rockville, Maryland, in 1996 before adding the Annandale location in 2000.
The District dominates Washingtonian’s 2023 survey of its readers’ favorite restaurants, but a couple of the highlighted establishments can be found right in Fairfax County.
Looking at eateries that came out on top in the poll’s 21 categories, readers picked Andy’s Pizza as their favorite place for pizza in the D.C. area and Call Your Mother as their favorite spot for breakfast.
A bagel shop and deli with a flagship location in D.C.’s Petsworth neighborhood Call Your Mother is expected to open a brick-and-mortar location at Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean next year after launching a mobile truck there in May.
In its survey, Washingtonian lauds Andy’s Pizza for serving the “best New York–style slices and pies you’ll find in these parts.”
The pizzeria has eight locations across the region, including ones in Tysons and Old Town Alexandria. After five years, the Tysons Galleria location still seems to be going strong, the one constant in a food hall that has otherwise struggled to take off.
Speaking of food halls, The Block was voted no. 3 in the region by Washingtonian readers, behind Union Market and The Roost in D.C.
Claiming to be Northern Virginia’s first food hall, The Block launched at 4221 John Marr Drive in Annandale in 2016 and expanded to Bethesda in 2019. Focused on Asian cuisine and snacks, its current Annandale tenants are Bold Dumpling, Balo Kitchen, Pokeworks Co. and SnoCream Company.
“These Asian food halls pack a lot into their smaller spaces, including stops for bubble tea, hibachi, and dumplings,” Washingtonian said.
Other restaurants with Fairfax County ties that showed up in Washingtonian’s poll include:
- Tatte Bakery & Cafe (no. 3 for Favorite Breakfast) recently opened a Reston Town Center location
- Han Palace (no. 3 for Favorite Chinese Restaurant) debuted in Tysons in 2020
- Kogiya (no. 3 for Favorite Korean Restaurant) “grills up quality beef and pork” at 4220-A Annandale Road
Voters also recognized Ellie Bird and Rice Paper in nearby Falls Church City among the best new and Vietnamese restaurants, respectively. Ruthie’s All Day in Arlington, Thompson Italian in Falls Church and Alexandria, and The Inn at Little Washington were voted as Virginia’s top three restaurants.
Published on Monday (Dec. 11), this was the 46th iteration of Washingtonian’s annual reader poll.
The Reston Holiday Parade has been selected as one of the 20 best holiday parades in the U.S. — and it has a chance to join the top 10.
Set to return next Friday, Nov. 24, the annual Reston Town Center tradition is competing against such high-profile events as Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, to be named one of the country’s 10 best holiday parades by USA Today’s 10Best, which provides travel and lifestyle advice.
The 2023 Readers’ Choice Award nominees were initially submitted by the expert panel and then narrowed down to 20 choices by the 10Best editors.
Public voting for the top 10 is currently underway. Voters must be at least 18 years old and can cast one vote per day until the poll concludes at noon on Nov. 29. The winners will be announced on Dec. 8.
Now in its 32nd year, the Reston Holiday Parade previously ranked at no. 8 in the USA Today 10Best poll in 2019, and it currently sits in that spot on the leaderboard for this year’s Best Holiday Parades ranking.
Starting at 11 a.m. on Market Street, the hour-long, half-mile parade features Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage, antique cars, dances and floats carried by guests. There will also be live entertainment, including the Herndon High School marching band.
The festivities will conclude at 6 p.m. with the Clauses lighting a tree on Market Street.
The parade also came in at no. 60 in a poll conducted in October by Mixbook, a photo book brand, on the country’s most cherished Thanksgiving traditions. Events were ranked based on celebrations that respondents most wanted to experience.
Philadelphia’s 6abc Dunkin’ Parade topped the list, followed by Detroit’s America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Missouri’s Thanks-for-Giving Parade came in third.
“As we embrace these cherished Thanksgiving events, we’re not just celebrating traditions, but also enjoying what makes each community across America so special,” Mixbook Director of Brand Leslie Albertson said.
The best place to work in the world can be found right in Tysons, according to a new Fortune magazine ranking.
Hilton, the hotel company headquartered at Park Place II (7930 Jones Branch Drive), topped the 2023 World’s Best Workplaces list released yesterday by Fortune and Great Place to Work, a research and data platform that bills itself as the “global authority on workplace culture.”
Employing 4,300 people in the D.C. area and 460,000 people globally, Hilton has appeared on every iteration of the annual list since 2016, but this is the first time it’s snagged the no. 1 spot, the company said. It’s the first hospitality company to top the list.
“At Hilton, we are building a fully human experience at work, where our team members feel like they are seen, they are welcome, and they are part of something greater than themselves,” Hilton Chief Human Resources Officer Laura Fuentes said. “[This] recognition reinforces what employees are looking for — a workplace culture that helps them reach their full potential.”
The 25 companies on the World’s Best Workplaces list were identified based on surveys of 18 million workers from around the globe, according to Great Place to Work. Hilton is one of 13 U.S.-based companies to make the list.
To be eligible, businesses needed to have at least 5,000 workers, at least 40% or 5,000 of them based in a different country than their headquarters, and to appear on at least five of the Best Workplaces lists that Great Place to Work has released for individual countries.
Hilton appeared on 35 national lists, including the one for the U.S., where it came in at no. 2 both this year and in 2022.
Great Place to Work says the 2023 World’s Best Workplaces list was its most competitive since the tradition began 13 years ago, reporting that 28% more companies participated this year than last year and 40% more employee surveys were submitted.
The recognized companies were united by overall employee satisfaction, with 90% of workers calling them a “great place to work” compared to a little over half for a “typical” workplace. Employees also said they got fair pay, support for a healthy work-life balance and a say in “decisions that affected their lives.”
“This global list followed a rigorous process, one that assures that employees have spoken about what they think are exceptional workplaces where they feel trusted, empowered, and energized to do their best work,” Fortune editor-in-chief Alyson Shontel said in a statement.
Hilton says its benefits for both hourly and salaried employees, including expanded parental leave, adoption assistance and a Go Hilton travel program that gives workers discounts at its hotels and resorts.
The company announced last year that it had renewed its lease at Park Place II, where its headquarters have been located since 2009. It planned to add 350 jobs over the next five years and upgrade the office space and common areas.
Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta says the company is united by founder Conrad Hilton’s goal of filling “the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.”
“[The] recognition by Great Place to Work and Fortune is validation that our team members were the people he imagined in his bright vision for the future,” Nassetta said. “It is their dedication, hospitality and passion for the stays they create that has made Hilton the No. 1 best place to work in the world.”
An information technology consulting firm based in Reston is growing faster than any other company in the D.C. area, according to the Washington Business Journal.
Goldschmitt and Associates topped the newspaper’s 2023 ranking of the 50 fastest-growing companies in the region, as determined by the average percentage of revenue growth it saw from 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022.
Headquartered at 11601 Quail Ridge Court, Goldschmitt and Associates reported $115.81 million in revenue last year — a whopping 573.4% increase, on average, from $5 million in 2020 and $10.1 million in 2021.
Though aware that the company has been evolving recently, its leaders say they were still shocked to come out on top when the WBJ announced the list at an awards dinner held at The Ritz-Carlton in Tysons on Oct. 20.
“It’s been so busy given our recent growth that we honestly had no idea where we would be in the ranking,” Laura Kelmelis, director of special programs and security, said by email. “Every time another group was announced we were completely shocked…To be #1 is a huge honor, and one we are extremely proud of.”
Kelmelis and Vice President of Finance Nancy Jones attended the dinner and live-texted their reactions to President and CEO Marc Goldschmitt and Chief Operating Officer Rachel Sutler. The messages escalated throughout the evening from “Our name hasn’t been called yet” to “We are in the top 10!” and culminating at “#1!!!, Omg,” according to Goldschmitt.
Founded in 1998, Goldschmitt and Associates provides computer programming, business management, data analytics, system training and other IT services to government, educational, private and nonprofit clients, according to its website. It has 206 employees and an office in Leesburg in addition to its Reston headquarters.
The firm has also been ranked among the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. by the Inc. 5000 three years in a row. For the 2023 list, it came in at no. 34 overall, no. 1 among Virginia companies and no. 2 in the IT services category.
“We had a lot of help and guidance to enable our growth,” Goldschmitt said. “As we continue to grow, it’s important that we pay it forward and help other small and emerging companies to learn from both our successes and mistakes.”
Including Goldschmitt and Associates, a total of 19 Fairfax County-based companies made the WBJ’s list of the area’s 50 fastest-growing companies in 2023, an accomplishment highlighted by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in a newsletter on Friday (Nov. 3).
4. Shiftmed (Tysons)
5. Turn2Partners (Herndon)
12. Shirley Luu and Associates (Tysons)
13. Metaphase Consulting (Reston)
17. Modus Create (Reston)
22. IT Concepts (Tysons)
23. Trustar Bank (Great Falls)
24. PBG Consulting (Tysons)
29. Vika Cos. (Tysons)
30. Inalab Consulting (Fair Oaks)
33. The Alliance Group (Tysons)
34. Omega World Travel (Fairfax)
36. Hive Group (Tysons)
39. Avertra (Herndon)
42. Unissant (Herndon)
44. Bogart Wealth (Tysons)
47. Steampunk (Tysons)
50. Hitt Contracting (West Falls Church)
To be eligible for the ranking, companies had to be private and independently owned. They also had to have a local headquarters and “sustained revenue growth for three years in a row,” making at least $2 million in 2020 and at least $10 million in 2022, according to the WBJ.
This year’s list had 51 companies total as a result of a tie between Hitt Contracting and Largo, Maryland-based Apex Petroleum Group for the final spot.
“Making it any place on the List is a big accomplishment,” the WBJ said in its announcement. “And some of this year’s winners have fought especially hard over the past few years to recover from the pandemic, including several from the hospitality and restaurant industry.”
The best place to eat in Northern Virginia right now is an upscale restaurant tucked away in an office building outside Merrifield that also houses the U.S. headquarters of defense contractor BAE Systems.
At least that’s the designation bestowed upon 2941 by Northern Virginia Magazine’s food critics, whose ranking of the 50 best restaurants in the region for 2023 hit newsstands on Friday (Oct. 27) as part of its November issue.
While the full list can only be found in print, reviews for the top 10 restaurants are online, led by 2941. Located at 2941 Fairview Park Drive, the restaurant impressed the magazine’s critics with the artistry of both its cuisine and setting, which features landscaping, a koi pond and a view of an artificial lake.
“Inside the soaring space, a talented contemporary American kitchen staff transforms top-flight ingredients into culinary art,” the review said, highlighting a five-course tasting menu curated by Executive Chef Bertrand Chemel as well as a la carte dishes like a “grilled rib-eye with crisped potatoes.”
Self-described on its website as “one of the most celebrated restaurants in the metropolitan area,” 2941 previously topped Northern Virginia Magazine’s annual rankings in 2021 and came in second last year. It has also been recognized in the past by Washingtonian, Eater DC and the Washington Post.
“We’re ecstatic to share that we’ve been ranked as the #1 restaurant in Northern Virginia!” the restaurant said in a Facebook post. “This recognition wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team and the support of our loyal customers. Thank you for making…us the best in the region.”
2941 isn’t the only Fairfax County restaurant to place in the top 10. It was joined by Nostos in Tysons (No. 6), L’Auberge Chez François in Great Falls (No. 8), Trummer’s in Clifton (No. 9) and Trio Grill in Merrifield proper (No. 10).
Praised for proving that there’s “much more to Greek cuisine” than gyros, Nostos (8100 Boone Blvd) was among Washingtonian’s “very best restaurants” in 2014, 2017 and 2018. Its owners are behind Vienna’s incoming Yellow Diner, which is expected to open at 501 Maple Avenue West early next year.
L’Auberge Chez François has been operating at 332 Springvale Road since 1976, when it moved from its original home in D.C. Also recently lauded by Washingtonian, the French establishment is a “captivating destination for celebrating life’s special moments” with “masterful cuisine” and “exquisite service,” according to Northern Virginia Magazine.
Trummer’s (7134 Main Street) originally opened as a fine dining restaurant in 2009, but it has been steadily evolving into a more casual American bistro, dropping the “on Main” portion of its name in 2019. Northern Virginia Magazine highlights its “skillful” blending of “Austrian and regional American traditions.”
Near the Mosaic District at 8100 Route 29, Trio Grill comes from Metropolitan Hospitality Group, which is also behind Open Road, Circa and El Bebe. When it opened a decade ago, Northern Virginia Magazine dinged the eatery for not taking more risks with its menu, but it now says Trio Grill offers “a night of fine food and camaraderie.”
Falls Church was also represented with Ellie Bird at No. 5 and the Vietnamese restaurant NUE coming in seventh. Both restaurants opened earlier this year in the city’s new Founders Row development on West and Broad streets.
Six of the 10 best high schools in Northern Virginia belong to Fairfax County Public Schools, as newly declared by Northern Virginia Magazine.
For its recently published October issue, the magazine’s editorial staff ranked the top 25 top public high schools in the region based on graduation and chronic absenteeism rates, Standards of Learning test pass rates, and other data from the 2021-2022 school year.
Unsurprisingly leading the way is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ), the competitive magnet school near Lincolnia that has mostly made headlines in recent years for the political and legal battles over changes to its admissions policies.
Despite the ongoing debate over admissions and the diversity of its student body, TJ “remains the leading high school both in our region, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a statement to FFXnow.
In addition to topping Northern Virginia Magazine’s list, TJ was named the fifth best high school, the number-one magnet school and the fourth best science, technology, engineer and math-focused high school in the country by U.S. News and World Report, which released its annual, nationwide public high school rankings in August.
In an interview with Northern Virginia Magazine, TJ principal Ann Bonitatibus said the school has focused increasingly on student wellness since she arrived six years ago. Three-quarters of students reported experiencing a stress-related health issue in a survey conducted in 2018.
“Being mindful of overall wellness has become a natural part of the fabric of TJHSST, so we are now turning our attention to innovative practices,” Bonitatibus said. “TJHSST has been known as a leader in academic and extracurricular arenas, so it’s important we remain contemporary as we equip our students with skills that will be transferable in their future.”
TJ wasn’t the only Fairfax County school to make a splash in the magazine’s rankings.
FCPS swept the top three spots, with Langley High School and McLean High School coming in at no. 2 and 3, respectively. Oakton High School followed close behind at no. 5, though Loudoun County’s Freedom High School prevented FCPS from fully taking over the top five.
Other Fairfax County schools to make the list include:
- Vienna’s Madison High School (no. 6)
- Robinson Secondary School (no. 10)
- Woodson High School (no. 17)
- West Springfield High School (no. 20)
- Chantilly High School (no. 22)
- Lake Braddock Secondary School (no. 23)
- Marshall High School in Idylwood (no. 24)
TJ, Langley, McLean, Oakton, Marshall and Woodson were also ranked among the top 10 public high schools in Virginia for 2023 by the U.S. News and World Report.
Reid said she was “honored to learn that Northern Virginia Magazine ranks our high schools as among the best in Northern Virginia.”
“Overall, the rankings reflect FCPS’ commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity as we launch our seven-year Strategic Plan, which will ensure every student has the chance to meet their greatest potential from now through 2030,” Reid said. “With this plan, I am confident FCPS will remain Virginia’s education leader for years to come.”
The fastest-growing company in Fairfax County is a Tysons-based cybersecurity firm whose stated goal is to “fundamentally change” how organizations get technical expertise.
MOXFIVE claimed the 39th spot overall and the top spot for the security industry on the latest Inc. 5000, an annual ranking of the country’s most successful privately owned companies based on their revenue growth.
This is Moxfive’s first time on the prestigious list, and among the 120 Fairfax County companies that got included this year, it has the highest ranking, according to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.
“Our overall and security industry rankings on the Inc. 5000 list are an acknowledgement of our team’s determination and success in maintaining an unwavering commitment to changing an industry by obsessing over delivering a superior customer experience,” MOXFIVE CEO and founder Mike Wager said in a press release. “Appearing on the Inc. 5000 list is also validation that our Platform…is the future of the industry.”
Founded in 2019, Moxfive describes itself as a specialized technical advisory firm that assists other businesses with responding to cyberattacks and bolstering their information technology capabilities.
Headquartered in The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center (1751 Pinnacle Drive, Suite 600), the company has seen its revenue grow 9,622% over the past three years, according to the 2023 Inc. 5000. It was also included on Inc.’s 2022 Best Workplaces list.
In a comment to the FCEDA, Wager lauded Fairfax County as “a fantastic area” to raise a family and start a business.
“We have been fortunate to achieve a great deal of success and I attribute much of that to the business environment in Fairfax County, which includes a tremendous amount of cybersecurity talent,” he said. “This has allowed us to find the people we need more easily and scale more quickly.”
Per the economic development authority, Fairfax County had 15 companies in the top 500 of this year’s Inc. 5000 and accounted for 44% of the 274 Virginia companies to make an appearance. The top 500 companies were featured in Inc. Magazine’s September issue, which hit newsstands on Aug. 23.
Last year, the county had 113 companies make the rankings, led by Integrated Managment Strategies — a Springfield-based small business consulting firm — at no. 76.
A Reston-based pub was voted as the best place to get a drink in the D.C. area.
A WTOP poll by readers and listeners ranked Makers Union, which is located at 1811 Library Street in Reston Town Center, as the best restaurant to get a drink. The pub beat out hundreds of other bars in the area.
Clyde’s — a chain that has locations throughout the region and is bringing a new one to Reston Station — and Bethesda, Maryland-based Caddies On Cordell came in third and second respectively.
Also named a runner-up for best brunch, Makers Union describes itself as a pub for the people. It has two new locations in the works at The Wharf in D.C. and at Metropolitan Park in Arlington, which are slated to open this summer.
According to its website, the pub uses local ingredients “whenever possible” and showcases destination drinks from local makers.
The poll also ranked restaurants and establishments across several other categories, including best bakery, brunch, burger, coffee shop, international cuisine, seafood and comfort food.
Other chains also ranked high on the lists. For example, Big Buns Damn Good Burger — which has locations in Reston, Herndon, Vienna and Fairfax — was voted as the best burger spot, and Ledo Pizza was named the best pizza spot.
Outside of Reston, Fairfax City’s High Side — an Asian street food restaurant and bar located at 4009 Chain Bridge Road — topped the list for best international cuisine. L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls and Our Mom Eugenia, which has restaurants in Great Falls and Merrifield, also made the top 10 for that list.
Photo via kazuend on Unsplash
