Industry Buzz

DDC Staff Highlights

DDC’s marketing & communications department proudly welcomed Grace Leahy as its new digital content coordinator. Grace has worked as a freelance designer and illustrator and brings experience in the film and TV industries.

 

Member Highlights 

 

DC area’s 2024 James Beard Awards finalists
Of the nominated restaurants, The Duck & The Peach, La Collina and The Wells are all members of Destination DC.

Black Pride Alliance
DC Black Pride is May 24-27

For more than 30 years, DC Black Pride has been a place for the Black LGBTQIA+ community to gather and celebrate.

DC Black Pride was the catalyst for what is now referred to as the Black Pride Movement. Since the birth of DC Black Pride, more than thirty other Black Pride celebrations now take place throughout the world, many using DC Black Pride as the model.

NATO 
Local leaders, renowned DC chefs join NATO and U.S. Department of State in Brussels
 

RAMMYs Finalists
We are proud of the Destination DC Members that have been nominated for a RAMMY. Please vote for them!
 

Cocktail Program of the Year: Mercy Me, Silver Lyan

Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Jennifer Castaneda-Jones, Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier; Ria Montes, Estuary

Favorite Gathering Place: Mi Vida

Best Brunch: Seasons at the Four Seasons, The Park at 14th

Favorite Fast Bites: Fava Pot

Hottest Sandwich Shop: Colada Shop

Employee of the Year: Jonathan Aseff, Shilling Canning Company

Manager of the Year: Janice McLean, Estuary at the Conrad Hotel; Rachid Hdouche, ilili DC; Uros Jojic, Ambar Capitol Hill; Victoria Gradia, KNEAD Hospitality + Design

Service Program of the Year: Filomena, Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

Casual Restaurant of the Year: Stellina Pizzeria, Supra, A Georgian Feast 

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Shilling Canning Company

Pastry Chef or Baker of the Year: Gregory Baumgartner, Cranes; Rochelle Cooper, The Duck & The Peach

Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Rania

Chef of the Year: Katarina Petonito, The Duck & The Peach

Restaurateur of the Year: José Andrés, José Andrés Restaurants; Kyle Bailey, Jon Ball, Jeremy Carman, Gavin Coleman, and Paul Holder, Long Shot Hospitality; Andrew Dana and Daniela Moreira, Mercy Me

 

New DDC Members

Accommodations

Arlo DC
A new 12-story, 445-room hotel incorporates the District’s oldest surviving apartment building, the 1888 Harrison Apartments.
 

Convention Services

Bridges Cinema
15+ years telling brand stories with photos and videos. Capture events and headshots flawlessly.

 

CM Event Solutions
From in-person to virtual events, our diverse team takes care of every aspect to help you create extraordinary experiences and forge key connections.

 

Community Cafe Express LLC
Aims to help customers find a whole new level of taste, fostering a deeper connection to their community.

 

EventsNoire
Specialize in crafting seamless and impactful conferences and meetings for associations and corporations.

 

Lawson Street Group
A full-service catering and events company that offers a unique and exciting experience for our clients.

 

Willwork Global Event Services
A trusted partner in event solutions. We provide top-quality labor and production services to trade shows, corporate events, retail and outdoor pop-ups.
    

Restaurants     
Palette 22    
A celebration of global cuisine, artistic innovation and historical reverence in the heart of Washington, DC’s Union Market district.

See and Do
The Atlantis
450-person capacity music venue built to support emerging artists as they connect with growing fanbases. The Atlantis is Where Music Begins.

 

DC Breeze
Secure your seats for the 2024 DC Breeze season – tickets start at only $19! Book now and don't miss a minute of the Ultimate Frisbee action.

 

Friendship Heights Alliance BID
Offers a stellar lineup of nationally recognized, high-end shopping and great restaurants.    

 

Great Falls Travel
Receptive group tour operator offering engaging, customized DC experiences. Their expert tour planning and guide services set them apart.

 

National Environmental Museum and Education Center
The museum highlights significant environmental history events and the EPA's ongoing stewardship of the nation's air, water, land and public health.

 

The Square
The name ‘The Square’ comes from ‘town square’ - a gathering place, a place where we can host everything from team meetings to team retreats.    

 

Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation
We lead the effort to develop and construct the Women's Suffrage National Monument to serve as a lasting legacy of women's fight for full equality.

 

 

American Experience Foundation

Backyard Bound with Johnson Middle School
Last month, AEF partnered with Johnson Middle School’s Mass Media Academy to explore careers in media, theater and museums across DC. Thank you to our partners:

• I.M.P. and The Anthem
• ARTECHOUSE
• The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Host an Advanced Intern
Help create meaningful opportunities for high school seniors in the Academies of Hospitality & Tourism, Culinary Arts and Mass Media throughout the year as they seek to gain experience in the hospitality industry. Through the Advanced Internship Program, interns are paid through the city, so there is no cost to your company. Internships are 8-12 hours per week and run from Nov. 4, 2024 – May 23, 2025.
Sign Up

DC Scholars to Compete Nationally
DC Academies are headed to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference to compete for the first time. The local qualifiers were held in April during the DC Career and Technical Student Organizations State Leadership Conference. Over 600 CTE students and staff explored career opportunities, participated in workshops and competed for spots in national-level events.

Root for DC's 12 competing Hospitality & Tourism, Culinary Arts and Mass Media scholars from Ballou, Coolidge, Roosevelt and Maya Angelou high schools this June at SkillsUSA.

Students from Japan Explore DC Hospitality
Columbia Heights Educational Campus’ Academy of Hospitality & Tourism welcomed 16 students from Rikuzentakata, Japan this past March. During their week in DC, the students explored how hospitality and tourism drives economic development and how communities rebuild after natural and man-made disasters. Ben’s Chili Bowl was their first stop, where they heard how the business has remained resilient in the DC community for more than 65 years.
 

DDC Careers

Check out DDC's latest job openings and share with your networks and colleagues.

 

Industry Careers

Search or add your job openings to the DC travel, tourism and hospitality careers page. Email your company name, job title and link to [email protected]. Positions will be posted for 30 days. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. Additionally, visit the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington's foodjobsdc.com for more hospitality jobs. 

 

Check out the full Destination DC Member News to learn more about what's going on this month.