Washington Dulles Airport Hilton (My Hotel Story Start)

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This is a great time to tell you about a Washington Dulles Airport Hilton hotel I worked in that started as a Renaissance (and is now the Washington Dulles Hilton hotel).

Airport shuttle close to the airport, the hotel has great character with a circular building and lobby design. It has and had a restaurant and a lounge next to the Lobby where guests checked-in. More on DC metro local restaurant options below.

Airport hotels are very different than other and city-center hotels. Airport guests are often trying to catch a flight or have “flying somewhere” else on the mind. And some of those guests are distressed passengers where the airlines put the guests in a hotel. …You probably know what I’m talkin’ about in your travels!

Back in my college days, I remember serving fast-paced breakfasts to these guests. And then at night, the same hotel restaurant transformed into a fine-dining restaurant Olives with daily special dishes and flamed creme brulee dessert on the menu.

The music and light mood changed to dim and slow, and the dark wood tables turned into white tablecloth tables often with orchid flowers, and usually multiple courses served with wine. The built-in crescent round banquettes stood out as the romantic seats in the house for the occasional local couples coming out that way (along with the hotel guests who were often dining by themselves).

And, Olives had the best Easter brunches (…and FYI, Hilton’s had been known for weekend brunches).

And then on the other side of the lobby was the cozy retro Zodiac Club night lounge with bright 70s silver rainbow shape patterned wallpaper that glimmered in the dark moody lighting. There was a disco ball at one point. 🪩

It was cool back then and would be even cooler now (since wallpaper and retro is in!). The clubby space only had about 30 dark metal chairs. I knew that space intimately. And even though guests were flying off to their next destination, it was fun to serve the visitors who enjoyed the lounge-y experience.

That cushy hospitality setting set me on my hotel journey into catering management. I got the 360- experience at that eye-opening hotel 👀, that’s now a Washington Dulles Airport Hilton. You can check in digitally if you’re a Hilton Honors reward guest. And today’s mega outdoor Reston Town Center is an Uber ride away. Now that you’re keyed in on the history, you may want to stay. 😉 It’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from DC metro area restaurants.