The Dalles made national and international hospitality industry headlines when Sara Hearn, general manager of Fairfield Inn and Suites in The Dalles was named both General Manager of the Year and Diamond General Manager of the Year for 2019. Hearn won the coveted Diamond General Manager of the year honor out of a field of more than 1,000 other national and international Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott.

In addition to the General Manager of the Year honors, the hotel also received the 2019 Gold Circle Award for outstanding guest service.