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Events DC and RAMW Set the Stage to Celebrate the 2016 RAMMY Awards

June 10, 2016

The Convention Center Will Host More Than 2,000 Top Restaurant Industry Professionals across the District’s Vibrant Culinary Experiences

Washington, DC [June 10, 2016] – As the official convention and sports authority, Events DC and partner, Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) prepare to celebrate the much-buzzed about 34th annual RAMMY Awards Gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this Sunday, June 12 for its third consecutive year.  Working together, Events DC and RAMW have created a synergy for the betterment of the District – that enhances and supportsconventions and meetings and sports and entertainment experiences paired with DC’s culinary scene for local residents and visitors to enjoy.   

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center will host more than 2,000 attendees of RAMW’s signature event with a fetehonoring the best of the region’s food and drink.  During the evening, RAMW will present 22 awards that represent the finest and most innovative in the region’s vital restaurant industry.  Favorite RAMMY Awards categories include New Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Restauranteur of the Year and more. 

The annual RAMMY Awards Gala is just the kind of DC-centric event that Events DC is so proud to be a supporter of, not just by hosting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, but as a supporter of an entire industry that is driving energy, revenue and global recognition to our region,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC. “There’s a great deal of excitement over the District’s vibrant restaurant scene and it is a shared goal of ours alongside our partner, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) to keep that buzz going as restaurants are a key part of what makes our city a world-class destination.

Guests of the 2016 RAMMY Awards Gala will enjoy interactive opportunities that include a larger-than-life-size television set which serves as a photo booth in the Heineken lounge and visit lounges hosted by Airbnb, Events DC, Washington DC Economic Partnership and Citi Open Tennis Tournament. Open Table, the online and mobile reservation site, will host a lounge with co-sponsors Taittinger Champagne and Russian Caviar House, where guests can indulge in caviar and Champagne. Unique this year, headphone listening stations around the room will encourage guests to put on a pair of “silent disco” style headphones and tune to different channels to hear stories and insight from chefs, restaurateurs, and foodies alike.

“This is a big year for the hospitality industry in Washington, DC and we are delighted to host our guests at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with our partners at Events DC,as our official Event Sponsor.” said RAMW president and chief executive officer, Kathy E. Hollinger. The industry continues to thrive and receive exciting accolades and deserved attention, like the recent announcement that Michelin will expand its guides to include Washington, DC. We are coming together at the RAMMYS this Sunday to celebrate the hard-working and talented chefs and restaurateurs, but also to celebrate a unique sense of community we have in this region that very much includes our Hospitality Alliance partners as restaurants, hotels,conventions, incredible events and tourism create a foundation for visitors and residents to enjoy this city."

The evening’s food and beverage selection kicks off with 32 feet of oyster raw bars from Congressional Seafood, each paired with wines, beers, and spirits from local DC and Virginia partners. Overall, Centerplate/NBSE, the Convention Center’s exclusive food and beverage provider will service 43 bars ― more than half of them with specialty cocktails ― as well as six major food and beverage pavilions, each with a different menu and inspiration pulled from international and embassy sponsors. The international and embassy sponsors include, the Embassy of Argentina; ProChile, which promotes the export of products and services from Chile; the Embassy of the Republic of Korea with Hmart and Young Won Trading Co. and Peru’s Trade and Investment Office in DC. These pavilions each feature a menu inspired by the unique ingredients of their sponsor countries for chefs to enjoy and explore, as well as a full lineup of Wines of Argentina and Wines of Chile, Pisco cocktails from Chile and Peru, beer, Korean rice wines and more. Local partners will highlight the best this region has to offer with dishes showcasing local seafood, Maryland crab, American Lamb, regional produce, and more. Republic National Distributing Company will feature 64 feet of bar space in the ballroom devoted to specialty cocktails, rosés, and sparkling wines for guests to sample. 

The RAMMY Awards Gala is the signature annual fundraiser for RAMW that recognizes the best and brightest in the region’s thriving restaurant industry. Events DC proudly serves as the official “Event Sponsor” of the 2016 RAMMY Awards Gala.  Guests can expect a lively awards ceremony preceding a bountiful dinner reception presented by key foodservice sponsors and prepared by Centerplate/NBSE.   

The RAMMYS

Presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), The RAMMY Awards Gala honors the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the region’s restaurants and foodservice community. Named the #1 Food & Restaurant event by BIZBASH Magazine for four consecutive years, The RAMMYS celebrate one of Metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: its restaurants.

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Established in 1920, RAMW is an advocate, resource and community for its members. The Association works to promote and sustain the growth and development of the industry while providing its members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming and events. RAMW strives to serve its members with professionalism and integrity, and provide them the training, education and support they need to grow a successful business.

About Events DC

Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, deliver premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital.  Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium.  Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. The most recent addition is Gateway DC, an innovative and versatile space featuring a covered and open-air pavilion in the center of a 1-acre park, conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com or find us on social media – Facebook (Events DC), Twitter (@ConventionsDC and @DCSportsEnt) and Instagram (@EventsDC).   

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