Dee Patel
Managing Director at The Hermitage Hotel
A little bit about Dee…
Dee Patel is the Managing Director of The Hermitage Hotel, a property world-renowned for its impeccable service and quality experience. It is the pride of Nashville as Tennessee's only luxury, five-star hotel. Patel is responsible for running all company facets and strategic direction of the iconic hotel, as well as various real estate entities. Additionally, Patel manages the partnership with The Land Trust for Tennessee, an alliance that has raised almost $1 million for the preservation of historic Tennessee lands.
With a tenure of more than 16 years at The Hermitage Hotel, Patel started her career managing the hotel’s rooms division beforel quickly rising through the ranks. She was named General Manager in 2014 and then Managing Director in 2019 — the first female to serve in both of these leadership roles in the iconic hotel’s 110-year history.
Under her leadership, the hotel has garnered numerous awards and recognitions. Most recently, The Hermitage Hotel was designated as a National Historic Landmark (the only hotel in the state of TN to hold this distinction) and was named 2020 Historic Hotel of the Year by Historic Hotels of America. Other notable awards throughout the years include 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, among others.
In addition to her work with the hotel, Patel is a prominent and highly active member of the Nashville community. In 2020, Patel was named President by the Nashville Chapter of the Les Dames d’Escoffier International and is a graduate of Leadership Nashville Class of 2020. She was named a Woman of Influence and a Disruptor on the “Power 100” list by the Nashville Business Journal, and the Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year award presented by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
Equally committed to be an influential voice and advocate for women and diversity, Patel is a member of the International Women’s Forum of Tennessee and organized Nashville’s plans for the 19th amendment centennial celebration in 2020.
She resides on a number of civic boards, including the Nashville Downtown Partnership Board, the Nashville Civic Design Center, Centennial Park Conservancy and The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. A founding member and treasurer of the Historic Capitol Corridor Foundation, Patel aids in the protection and preservation of the historic, cultural and architectural integrity of the downtown Capitol corridor. Dedicated to providing exceptional service and hospitality, Patel is on the board of directors for esteemed organizations such as the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association and the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales, Patel was born in the United Kingdom and currently resides in Nashville. In her off-time, she enjoys traveling, exploring new cuisine, and spending time with her husband and their two children.