Some of the 18th Annual Hospitality Award Winners

ARLINGTON, VA - This morning, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce hosted the Hospitality Awards at the Hilton Arlington National Landing. The event, sponsored by StayArlington, honored more than 60 front-line workers in Arlington's hospitality industry. These prestigious awards are presented to hospitality workers who deliver outstanding customer service, exhibit excellence in their roles, and continuously exceed their job descriptions. 

Flavia Sampaio, General Manager of Residence Inn Arlington Rosslyn and Chair of the Arlington Chamber Hotel General Managers Committee opened the program. "This event is our celebration of the people who make a difference in the Arlington hospitality industry. Thank you for joining us today for this special event to honor those who make Arlington a great place to live, work, and visit," said Sampaio.

Following the opening remarks, Kate Bates, Arlington Chamber President & CEO and Emily Cassell, Director of StayArlington presented the Hospitality Superstar Awards. "This event focuses on those superstar employees who make Arlington County a wonderful place to live and visit by recognizing front-line workers in the hospitality industry - those who really make a difference," said Bates.

Superstar Award Winner Angelica Castillo of the Hilton Garden Inn Reagan National Airport (center), with Emily Cassell, Director of StayArlington (left), and Flavia Sampaio, General Manager of Residence Inn Arlington Rosslyn and Chair of the Arlington Chamber Hotel General Managers Committee (right)

During the awards ceremony, Bates and Cassell read inspiring testimonials of how each Hospitality Superstar Award winner has displayed integrity and dedication in their work, along with examples of how they care for guests above and beyond the call.

One winner, Abdi Nur of the Homewood Suites Arlington Rosslyn Key Bridge, took action when a departing guest had lost their wallet in a cab. Through Nur's thorough efforts, the wallet was located and returned to the guest.

Another award winner, Alfredo Lopez of ROCKLANDS Barbeque & Grilling Co., started as a fry cook and now manages and operates the smoker. Unfazed by the lunchtime rush or a large order, he always gets the job done. He is known for being consistent, kind, and a bright light. His work ethic ensures everyone is served quickly and satisfyingly, even when faced with visiting school tour groups.

The ceremony also honored 17 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 a number of 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. 

Kate Bates, President & CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce (left), Viris Gayle of the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City (center), and Emily Cassell, Director of StayArlington (right)

Among those awarded was Viris Gayle of The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City who is often recognized by guests for her dedication to go above and beyond during her 25 years of service. Once, a guest came down with a severe cold and cough during their stay. On top of our winner’s duties of cleaning the guest’s room, she also surprised the guest later in the day with a tray of hot tea, lemon, and honey. Her kind heart and thoughtful actions make her a valuable member of the team.

The 2024 Bob Klein Legendary Service Award winners include: 

Elizabeth Bekele

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Fidel Castellanos

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Maria Duran

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Mario Espinoza

Comfort Inn Arlington Ballston

Omar Etemadi

Crystal Gateway Marriott

Viris Gayle

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Fatiha Harir

Residence Inn Rosslyn

Anna Gomez

Comfort Inn Arlington Ballston

Gary Johnson

Hilton Arlington National Landing

Pi Shang Lai

Hilton Arlington National Landing

Blanca Lucas

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Blanca Barrera Martinez

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

LuLite (Luli) Mengiste

Hilton Arlington National Landing

Ayanna Moore

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Kasse Sampah

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Arturo Taboada

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

Bill Trieu

Hyatt Centric Arlington

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.