Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association presents statewide awards

The National Conference Center and Williamsburg Winery were among the winners Monday night at a hospitality and tourism awards presentation.

The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) announced its 2017 VRLTA Ordinary Awards at a dinner held at The Westin hotel in Richmond.

The National Conference Center in Leesburg was named Hotel of the Year, and Williamsburg Winery in Williamsburg was the Winery of the Year.

Wicker’s Crab Pot Seafood in Chesapeake was honored as Restaurant of the Year.

The Brewery of the Year was Blue Mountain Brewery + Blue Mountain Barrel House in Afton/Arrington.  The Distillery of the Year was Copper Fox Distillery in Sperryville.

The Attraction of the Year was the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company’s Chincoteague Pony Penning.

During the event, VRLTA presented retiring Speaker of the House William J. Howell with the Legislator of the Year Award and Tony DiFilippo, president and CEO of VisitNorfolk with the 
Golden Pineapple Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other individual honorees included:

Bartender of the Year: Mary Garriques, Capital Ale House Downtown Richmond

Charlie Buser Award for Attraction Employee of the Year: Dana Staniunas, Massanutten Resort

Hotel Employee of the Year: Rocqui Camm, Delta Hotels by Marriott Richmond Downtown

Restaurant Employee of the Year: Connlan Hogan, Capital Ale House Harrisonburg

Chef of the Year:  Tony Cochones, Glory Days Grill restaurants

Supplier of the Year: Jo Diedrich, LeisureMedia360

Hotelier of the Year: Geoff Lawson, The National Conference Center

Jim Ricketts Award for DMO/CVB Employee of the Year: Dan Cook, Discover Prince William & Manassas

Jim Wordsworth Award for Restaurateur of the Year: Tony Stafford, Ford’s Fish Shack restaurants

Rising Pineapple Award for Hospitality & Tourism Student of the Year: Lauren Schlenker, Virginia Tech

Virginia Business was a sponsor of the event.