(Nashville, TN – May 7, 2019) – The Hermitage Hotel is proud to announce that Managing Director Dee Patel is the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year award, presented by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. The AAHOA honored outstanding women hoteliers, independent hoteliers, and young professional hoteliers at its annual awards program, held during its annual Convention & Trade Show at the San Diego Convention Center.
The AAHOA is the largest hotel owners association in the world and boasts more than 18,500 members across the United States. The Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year is someone who has made significant contributions to her industry and community and is characterized by strong leadership capabilities and a commitment to lodging excellence.
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized by the AAHOA, and a great privilege to be a part of an amazing hotel and its team,” says Patel. “This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our owners, Robert and Molly Hardie. Their dedication to preservation, heritage and long-standing stewardship to maintaining integrity in style, grace, and service makes The Hermitage Hotel Nashville’s iconic hotel. Their vision to reconstruct the entire hotel at Keswick Hall and Golf Club, Charlottesville VA as a world-renowned destination is being eagerly anticipated for its reopening next year.”
A graduate of Johnson and Wales University, Patel joined The Hermitage Hotel in 2003 and served as room executive for nearly eight years before being promoted to Assistant General Manager in 2012. She served in that role for two years before being named the first female General Manager in the hotel’s 109-year history in 2015, and then promoted to Managing Director in 2019. Under Patel’s leadership, The Hermitage Hotel has garnered numerous awards such as the 2018 Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Award for the Top Hotel in Nashville, “Top 500 Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure, as well as “Top 10 Historic Hotels in the U.S.” by USA Today.
In addition to her work with the hotel, Patel serves as a Director on the Board of the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association; she is also a member of the 2019 Board of Directors for the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association, where she is committed to excellent service and hospitality. Patel was named Dame by the Nashville chapter of the Les Dames d’Escoffier International and now sits on the board of the organization’s Nashville chapter. Since 2008, Patel has been instrumental in forging a 10-year partnership with The Land Trust for Tennessee, which has raised almost $1 million for the preservation of historic Tennessee lands. She also sits on the Nashville Downtown Partnership Board, and recently was invited to join the Advisory Board of Lipscomb University’s Hospitality/Tourism program.
Patel was recently named a 2019 Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal and has been featured in national and local publications for her leadership at The Hermitage Hotel.
ABOUT THE HERMITAGE HOTEL
The Hermitage Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Nashville, is Tennessee’s only Forbes Five Star hotel, featuring 122 pet-friendly rooms, Capitol Grille, Oak Bar, ample meeting space and a deep history. The Hermitage Hotel is a cherished landmark in downtown Nashville and is known as the city’s first million-dollar hotel. The Hermitage Hotel has been consistently committed to the preservation of the region's heritage, including the conservation of local farms and the protection of its natural landscapes. The hotel has held a special partnership with The Land Trust for Tennessee since 2008, having raised almost $1,000,000 for the organization to directly support the conservation of over 85,000 acres of land. On its two-acre plot at Glen Leven Farms, The Hermitage Hotel is proud to run an heirloom period garden just 15 minutes from the hotel. Learn more by visiting www.thehermitagehotel.com. The Hermitage Hotel’s sister property in Charlottesville, VA, Keswick Hall and Golf Club, is currently under renovation and plans to unveil an historic restoration in 2020.
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DIANA BARTON
615.598.8230
diana@polishedpigmedia.com