The 2025 Ordinary Awards, which recognizes the best and brightest in Virginia hospitality, will take place on Monday, September 8 at the Richmond Marriott Downtown
RICHMOND – The Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association (VRLTA) will celebrate the best of the hospitality and tourism industry during the 2025 Ordinary Awards dinner on Monday, September 8, at the Richmond Downtown Marriott.
Each year, nominations are open to both members of the Association and non-members, and nominees are judged by a group of VRLTA members and industry professionals. The event will award individuals across 24 categories who showcase excellence in Virginia’s restaurants, hotels, lodging establishments, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), attractions and more.
Here is the full list of 2025 Ordinary Award finalists:
Attraction of the Year
Cookology Culinary School, Arlington
The Estate at River Run, Maidens
Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach
Bartender of the Year
Christopher Bulkeley, Grain (Norfolk)
John Devany, Sports Page (Goochland)
Chandler Lacerte, Vintage Tavern (Suffolk)
Brewery of the Year
Lark Brewing Company, Aldie
Lost Barrel Brewing, Middleburg
St. George Brewing Company, Hampton
Campground of the Year
Candy Hill Campground, Winchester
Fancy Gap KOA, Fancy Gap
Small Country Campground, Louisa
Charlie Buser Award for
Attraction Employee of the Year
Dennis Bickmeier, Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority
Tracy Henderson, Boar’s Head Resort
Thomas Knighton, Small Country Campground
Jon Lugbill, Sports Backers
Chef of the Year
Leah Branch, The Roosevelt (Richmond)
David Dunlap, Midlothian Chef’s Kitchen & 1870 Restaurant
Sean Huey, Hard Rock Bristol
Ami Shimanek, Culinary Concepts AB (Charlottesville)
Distillery of the Year
Vitae Spirits, Charlottesville
Hospitality Hero – Business
Coastal Fermentory, Newport News
Bryant & Stratton College, Richmond
Bedford Landings Bed & Breakfast, Moneta
Hospitality Hero – Individual
Steve Helms, Primland Resort
Carla Mullen, Charlottesville Albemarle CVB
Carlene Sharkey, Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Hotel Employee of the Year
Karima Haddaoui, Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner
Andrew Ruffin, Delta Hotels Richmond
Isaac Yemane, Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town
Hotel Manager of the Year
Debbie Dabney, Boar’s Head Resort
Megan Jackson, Hotel Roanoke
Allison Knapp, Delta Virginia Beach Waterfront
Louise McCullum, Residence Inn Arlington Courthouse
Hotel of the Year
The Bee Hotel, Danville
The Commonwealth Hotel, Richmond
The Quirk Hotel, Richmond
Hotelier of the Year
Kingdon Gould III, Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Kyung Kim, AC Hotel Arlington | National Landing
Jim Ricketts Award for
DMO Employee of the Year
Matt Bolas, Explore Bristol
Cora Gnegy, Giles County
Paige Read, Culpeper Tourism & Economic Development
Jim Wordsworth Award for
Restaurateur of the Year
Mark Litz, Massanutten Resort
Ronald Logan, Sr. The Original Ronnie’s BBQ
Restaurant Employee of the Year
Debbie Burnley, The Texas Inn (Lynchburg)
Charlie Rizzo, River Stone Chophouse (Suffolk)
Yolanda Rodriguez, Residence Inn Arlington Courthouse
Restaurant Manager of the Year
Carl Farin, The Corner Pocket (Williamsburg)
Susan Jenkins, Shula’s American Kitchen (Richmond)
Joe Scala, Boar’s Head Resort (Charlottesville)
Rebekah Snowa, Varia Restaurant (Norfolk)
Restaurant of the Year
Chix on the Beach, Virginia Beach
The Stockpot, Virginia Beach
Watermans Surfside Grille, Virginia Beach
Rising Pineapple Award for
Hospitality Student of the Year
Jesse Glauberg, James Madison University
Rafael Leonardo, Culinary Institute of Virginia
Katie Olenick, Virginia Tech
Supplier of the Year
Amtrak Virginia, Richmond
Chesapeake Bay Receptive, Norfolk
VisitAble, Charlottesville
Winery of the Year
Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville
Walsh Family Wine, Purcelville
Wolf Gap Winery, Edinburg
“Each year, the Ordinary Awards shine a spotlight on the very best of Virginia’s hospitality and tourism industries—and 2025 has raised the bar once again,” said Eric Terry, President of VRLTA. “The caliber of nominations we received this year was truly outstanding, making it no easy task to narrow down the list of finalists. On behalf of the Association, staff, and board, we commend all of our 2025 finalists for their dedication, innovation, and impact on the Commonwealth. No matter who takes home an award in September, this year’s finalists represent the very best our industry has to offer.”
The event is sponsored by Visit Fairfax, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Cirrus Vodka, E & J Gallo Winery, Keany Produce, Amtrak, Heartland, Performance Foodservice, Sysco, Toast Tab, and Virginia Spirits.
For more information on the Ordinary Awards, visit www.ordinaryawards.com.
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The Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association is the unified voice of the restaurant, lodging, travel and hospitality suppliers associations. VRLTA creates value for members by promoting the legislative interests of the industry, networking, educational opportunities, and protecting free enterprise. For more information, visit www.vrlta.org or call 800-552-2225.
Why would the awards be called…Ordinary? Chinn’s Ordinary, considered “the oldest original inn in America” (Baltimore Sun), was built around 1728 in Chinn’s Crossroads, now Middleburg, Virginia. The building was uniquely situated to serve as an inn and tavern catering to travelers. Since 1937, it has operated as the Red Fox Inn & Tavern. This history of Chinn’s Ordinary speaks to all facets of VRLTA’s membership—restaurants, lodging, and travel, while the term “ordinary” is just the opposite of the hospitality and travel industry. The true goal of these awards is to honor those in an extraordinary industry, individuals and companies, that are truly Extraordinary.