RAMW ANNOUNCES MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER AS 2026 DUKE ZEIBERT CAPITAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT
Special reception, The RAMMYS Honors, to celebrate the Mayor and other dining industry changemakers in May
WASHINGTON (Mar. 3, 2026) — The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announces Mayor Muriel Bowser as the recipient of the 2026 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award. Each year, RAMW’s Executive Committee selects the recipient of the award, which recognizes an individual who has demonstrably elevated the profile and success of the greater Washington dining landscape and foodservice community. It is one of The RAMMYS Honors awards, which salutes individuals who best exemplify the spirit of the restaurant industry and some of the region’s most celebrated dining institutions.
“Here’s what I know: DC is a resilient city, we’re a persistent city, and we’re a creative city—and our restaurant industry embodies and represents all of who we are,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I’m grateful for the experiences you create for our city, the jobs you create for DC residents, and for your partnership in keeping Washington, DC the best city in the world.”
Mayor Bowser has understood how policy shapes opportunities for the District’s small business community throughout her career, from her time as an ANC Commissioner to her tenure as Ward 4 Councilmember and a decade as DC’s Mayor. She championed mixed-use developments that brought restaurants to neighborhoods beyond downtown. She expanded the Green Book to open new procurement opportunities for small businesses, while building and expanding a network of grant programs, from pandemic relief to the Food Access Fund to Great Streets, which helped entrepreneurs launch and sustain their businesses across eight wards. She has also defended the tip credit, including in last year’s Initiative 82 reform, and has stood with restaurant and bar workers and operators against policies that threaten their livelihoods.
“Mayor Bowser understands that a strong restaurant industry is essential to a strong D.C.,” said Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of RAMW. “From expanding access to capital to standing up for restaurant workers and operators, she has consistently shown up for the small businesses that power our neighborhoods. Her leadership has helped our industry tremendously during her tenure, and that impact deserves to be recognized.”
The RAMMYS Honors Cocktail Reception will be held at The Watergate Hotel on May 5, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. More Honorees will be announced soon. Tickets, reserved tables, and sponsorship information available at TheRAMMYS.org.