Hotel Heron in Alexandria appoints Liz Martinez as General Manager of KILN, aiming to enhance the dining experience at this flagship restaurant.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – Hotel Heron, the chic 134-room lifestyle hotel located in the heart of Alexandria’s vibrant Old Town district, announce the appointment of Liz Martinez to its executive team as the new General Manager of KILN, the property’s acclaimed Mid-Atlantic inspired flagship restaurant led by Executive Chef Matthew Maienshein, effective immediately. In her new role, Martinez will oversee all aspects of KILN’s guest service and dining operations, serving as the ideal complement to Maienshein’s pioneering hearth-inspired menu and food and beverage programming in continuing to solidify Hotel Heron as one of Alexandria’s premier culinary destinations.
With over 20 years of experience curating award-winning wine lists, training staff, and overseeing service for some of the nation’s top restaurants, Martinez brings her experience from the Detroit Foundation Hotel, also part of Aparium Hotel Group. There, she held the roles of General Manager and Sommelier for the acclaimed restaurant The Apparatus Room for nearly two years. Throughout her career, Martinez has garnered recognition from major national wine publications, including being named Food & Wine’s Sommelier of the Year in 2019. Her impact on elevating wine and service standards has been felt across a diverse range of restaurants, from Detroit’s luxury steakhouse Prime + Proper to Chicago’s celebrated Purple Pig.
Bringing with her a proven and extensive track record of success to the near-immediate acclaim of KILN just months after its official opening, Martinez’s appointment marks an exciting chapter in the culinary evolution of the restaurant. “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Executive Chef Matthew Maienshein to elevate his brilliant vision for KILN and his passion for locally sourced and inspired Mid-Atlantic flavors. In my new role as General Manager, I look forward to taking KILN to even greater heights while continuing to be a part of Aparium Hotel Group,” said Martinez.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome Liz Martinez to Hotel Heron as the new General Manager of KILN,” said Philip Blane, General Manager of Hotel Heron. “Her dedication to culinary excellence and innovative approach to food and beverage management makes her the perfect fit for this position, and further elevating Maienshein’s vision for KILN in continuing to exceed the dining expectations and overall experience of our guests.”
Steps away from King Street Mile and Alexandria’s waterfront, Hotel Heron is one of the city’s most iconic examples of Colonial Revival architecture. Taking residence in the former George Mason Inn, this adaptive reuse seamlessly blends the historic landmark with an adjacent new building, housing guest rooms, KILN and two other food and beverage outlets, and a selection of meeting and event spaces.
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