Chamber Honors Employees in Arlington Hospitality Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2020

MEDIA: Morgan Mentzer

Communications Coordinator

(703) 525-2400 ext. 203

High-resolution images available upon request

CHAMBER HONORS EMPLOYEES IN ARLINGTON HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Inspiring testimonials displaying excellent customer service and dedication of award winners were shared at the 16th Annual Hospitality Awards

A Group of the 2020 Hospitality Superstar Award winners and Bob Klein Legendary Service Award winners

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Arlington Chamber of Commerce today honored 98 front-line workers in Arlington's hospitality industry at the 16th Annual Hospitality Awards at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel. These prestigious awards are presented each year to hospitality workers who deliver outstanding customer service, exhibit excellence in their roles, and continuously exceed their job descriptions.

"Tourism is crucial to our region's economy, and this year's award recipients help this industry continue to grow and flourish here in Arlington," said Chamber President & CEO Kate Bates. "The Chamber is proud to honor these hardworking people, whose dedication and willingness to go above and beyond help make Arlington an appealing and welcoming place for tourists, business travelers, and residents."

Esther Alvarenga (center) of the Residence Inn Arlington Ballston accepts her Hospitality Superstar award from Crystal Christmas-Watson of the Crystal City Marriott and Chris Raines of the Holiday Inn Rosslyn

During the ceremony, Bates read inspiring testimonials of how each Hospitality Superstar Award winner has displayed integrity and dedication in his or her work, along with examples of how they care for guests above and beyond the call. One winner, Esther Alvarenga of the Residence Inn Arlington Ballston was able to maintain a calm demeanor and friendly smile during a tense situation. A client arrived to the hotel one Saturday, his room was set per the contract, but needed a larger room because of his tournament that week. The client became upset and tensions grew. This nominee was busy working the most high demand breakfast from a holiday weekend but managed to multi-task and save the day. She went into the meeting room and spoke with the client to figure out what he needed. She was able to put together more tables, bring in more linens and made sure the client had everything he needed.

Walter "Wally" Bender of the Crystal City Marriott is another example of an employee who goes above and beyond his job requirements. Bender has assisted the hotel engineering team troubleshoot major issues with guest rooms and public spaces on multiple occasions. During his second year with the hotel, he single-handedly discovered a problem with the piping in the boiler room and installed a new drain line pipe to ensure the right amount of water was being consumed. Through this action, he helped the hotel save roughly $100,000. Bender is an excellent problem-solver who consistently goes above the call of duty regarding service expectations.

The ceremony also honored 23 individuals with the Bob Klein Legendary Service Award for their 25 or more years of service in the Arlington hospitality industry. This award was renamed several years ago in honor of Bob Klein, the late General Manager of the Holiday Inn National Airport, who was instrumental in creating the Hospitality Awards program and ensuring its success for the first five years.

Staff members of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View pose with Hattie Jones (center) of the Army Navy Country Club

Among those awarded the Legendary Service Award, Hattie Jones of the Army Navy Country Club has served the hotel for 32 years as both a front desk receptionist and a coat room attendant. She is 100 years old and continues her work with grace and service with a smile. Jones is a favorite among club members and guests who will go out of their way to see her and spend time with her before leaving the club. There were many exceptional stories shared of long-time service and dedication to the hospitality industry.

The 2020 Bob Klein Legendary Service Award winners include:

Favio Amezquita of the Crystal City Marriott	Marcos A. Martinez Andrade of the Holiday Inn Rosslyn	Musa Awadallah of the Key Bridge Marriott
Juana Bermudez of the Crystal City Marriott	Gael Manrique Lemus Cruz of Hyatt Centric Arlington	Ana Escobar of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View
Jose Ernesto Gonzalez of the Crystal Gateway Marriott	Wendy Hyunh of the Key Bridge Marriott	Hattie Jones of the Army Navy Country Club
Minerva "Minnie" Lagdameo of the Holiday Inn Rosslyn	James Lee of the Holiday Inn Rosslyn	Michael Lee of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View
Hanna Lemma of the Crystal Gateway Marriott	Edelmira "Delmy" Melendez of the Crystal Gateway Marriott	Gloria Membrano of the Westin Crystal City
Orlando Morales of the Holiday Inn Rosslyn	Muhidin "Atta" Negash of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport	Ester Pabico of the Crystal Gateway Marriott
Jose Quiroz of the Holiday Inn Rosslyn	Hiwot Semere of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View	Elizabeth Smith of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View
Chalee Thompson of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View	Yared Tibebu of the Crystal Gateway Marriott

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For access to this release and other statements by the Chamber, visit www.arlingtonchamber.org.

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ABOUT THE CHAMBER

Founded in 1924, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership organization of approximately 700 businesses committed to strengthening businesses and the economic environment for those who work, live, and do business in Arlington. The Chamber supports our members through networking, advocacy, professional development, and community engagement. For more information or to become a member, visit www.arlingtonchamber.org.