Bringing Women’s History to Life at The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville

When Dee Patel, managing director of The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, first stepped foot inside the property in 2003, painters perched on machine lifts meticulously touched up gold ceiling accents in the lobby that would soon welcome a new generation of guests – and welcome back old ones, too. 

“I thought, ‘Wow they’ve got these little paintbrushes. They’re not spraying it; they’re not plastering and slapping on paint.’ It was just really beautiful,” Patel told Travel Market Report. “That was my first impression of the level of intensity and precision that was being taken to really restore the public spaces during that time. And here I am, a 21-year-old kid in a candy store, excited that I was asked to be part of the opening team.” 

The hotel reopened under independent ownership that year after an already storied history, playing a significant role in the women’s suffrage movement in 1920. Patel insisted she start as the hotel’s housekeeping director (“If you don’t have a great housekeeping team, I’m not sure you have a great hotel,” she said, calling it the most challenging and important department) and has quickly risen the ranks over the past 22 years. She now steers the hotel’s vision as the first woman managing director in its 110-year history. 

Notably, in 2020, Patel helped to secure the hotel’s National Historic Landmark recognition and led the property through a multi-year redesign that was completed in spring 2022. She spoke to TMR about how history and elevated experiences weave through everything that happens at the hotel. 

“Today’s luxury is really all about storytelling and that connection,” Patel said, “and The Hermitage Hotel really does honor its past.”

Women’s History Looms Large

It was the summer of 1920, and 35 states had already voted in favor of ratifying the 19^th amendment to give women the right to vote. Thirty-six states needed to approve; only Tennessee remained, and the state would decide the nation’s trajectory. 

The Hermitage had been open for 10 years, and now, it became a battleground for women’s suffrage. Pro- and anti-suffragists descended upon Nashville in the sweltering August heat, debates flaring inside The Hermitage for six weeks leading up to the vote. Dubbed “The War of the Roses,” pro-suffrage lobbyists wore yellow roses, while anti-suffragists wore red roses. 

Legislator Harry Burn walked into The Hermitage wearing a red rose – but after the 24-year-old read a letter from his mother, Febb E. Burn, encouraging him to vote for suffrage, he cast the last, swing vote that made Tennessee the 36^th state to approve women’s right to vote. 

“No one probably thought that Tennessee would ever be that final state, let alone the pivotal state, that moved the 19th amendment forward,” Patel said. “Stakes were so high. It was now, or it was going to be later. It wasn’t going to be never; it was just going to be a lot later.” 

For the centennial of women’s suffrage in 2020, Patel felt a “sense of relentlessness,” she said, to find a meaningful way to celebrate despite the pandemic. She scrambled to have the National Historic Recognition finalized by August, then held an unveiling ceremony and car parade for the once-in-a-lifetime milestone anniversary.

The hotel also honors its role in the suffrage movement with tasteful touches of yellow in its marketing and branding — and by continuing to tell the War of the Roses story. Patel’s role as the first woman managing director adds yet another chapter to that legacy. “It’s a testament to how our city and our landscape continues to evolve. I feel really proud.” 

“Today, we do get a lot of women groups, we get a lot of celebrations,” Patel said. “There’s many things like that that take place because people feel inspired. There’s something here that makes them feel special.”

“Our younger generation is looking for connection,” she added. “They want a meaningful stay. They want a place that has a sense of place. They want a connection to the city.” 

Showcasing Luxury and Legacy

The Hermitage is Nashville’s premiere boutique, luxury hotel – the first million-dollar hotel in Music City that made “Meet me at The Hermitage” a longstanding phrase among locals. It’s changed hands many times over the past century and is now owned by Molly and Robert Hardie, who also own Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Hermitage is also a member of Historic Hotels of America and Preferred Hotels’ Legend collection. 

The property’s grand foyer and stained-glass ceilings have stunned guests for generations. Its 2022 transformation brought all of that into modern day. The renovation encompassed the public spaces and 122 rooms and suites, infusing a contemporary and approachable elegance and restoring the Beaux Arts architecture. 

“We want our spaces to feel like they’re flexible. The previous version had a sense of formality, and at times formality can feel a little intimidating, so this version was really to create a sense of calmness and fun,” Patel said. “There’s this juxtaposition of the past, and then how do we serve our future guest, and how do you marry all of that?” 

The Hermitage’s Drusie & Darr restaurant delivers fine dining in a sit-down environment, while The Pink Hermit offers all-day small bites in a chic indoor-outdoor setting. Both eateries have menus curated by Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. 

Other luxuriously local touches include staff uniforms designed by Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s Southern charm-inspired wardrobe line, and an extensive bourbon collection at the bar.

“Bourbon has a connection to the hotel’s history during the suffrage movement – the antis were serving Jack Daniel’s out of our suite on the eighth floor to get the legislators drunk to sway their vote,” she said. “A great part of this hotel’s history is Nashville’s history so that’s been a lot of fun to bring that to life.” 

Patel recognizes that travel advisors are “curators of experience,” noting that she’ll always make time to collaborate with them and give their clients the best 5-star experiences possible both staying at the hotel and exploring Nashville. For example, the hotel can facilitate NFL stadium suite tickets, curated tours to the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, and more, for guests of all age ranges. 

“We really do create these generational experiences,” Patel said. “It’s more than just a building that has a comfortable bed to sleep on, it really does mean something to so many.” 

“I still get multiple times a week, ‘Oh my gosh, I was there 20 years ago, I was there 10 years ago, I was there two years ago. My anniversary, my wedding, my friend’s engagement, my grandmother brought me in when I was a little kid back in the ’70s…’ Just the many stories that you continue to hear,” she continued. “We try to encapsulate those as much as we can and share them.”