PRNewswire NASHVILLE, Tenn. Nov. 17 :

Only nine months after reopening its historic doors following an $18
million restoration project, The Hermitage Hotel has today received the
coveted American Automobile Association`s Five Diamond Award for 2004,
making it the only hotel in Tennessee to hold the distinction.

It`s the first time a Tennessee hotel has achieved AAA`s Five Diamond
Award since 1985, when the Spence Manor Executive Hotel in Nashville held
the rating. There are no AAA Five Diamond-rated hotels in five of
Tennessee`s contiguous states - Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri
and Arkansas - or the nearby states of Indiana, Iowa and Kansas.
Previously, the closest city to Nashville with a AAA Five Diamond-rated
hotel was Atlanta.
“We are very proud to receive this rating in such a short space of time,”
says Prem Devadas, the hotel`s managing partner. “It`s a tremendous credit
to our staff and to Greg Sligh, the general manager, who are working hard
to make The Hermitage one of the finest hotels in the world.”

The Hermitage Hotel opened in 1910 after being commissioned by 250
Nashville residents. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. It
reopened on Valentine`s Day this year after a 10-month renovation, which
saw its grand public spaces completely restored, the creation of 123 guest
rooms and suites, and the implementation of many guest services and
amenities new to Nashville.

Since announcing The Hermitage`s renovation plans in 2002, the hotel`s
owner - Historic Hotels Nashville, LLC - has expressed a desire to achieve
the lodging industry`s highest ratings, especially the AAA Five Diamond
Award. According to AAA, only 73 hotels will hold the Five Diamond
distinction for 2004. While the award is extremely rare, it is even more
unusual for hotels to attain the rating within the first year of operation
- whether a new property or a renovated one. Prior to closing for
renovations in April 2002, The Hermitage Hotel held only a AAA Three
Diamond rating.
“As all who have been there expected, our historic Hermitage Hotel has
delivered on its promise to become recognized as a truly world-class
property,” says Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell. “This award is great news
for the hotel and great news for Nashville, further adding to the luster
of our hospitality community and our reputation as a leading destination
city.”
The Hermitage`s sister property, The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA, has
retained its AAA Five Diamond rating for the 10th consecutive year. The
Jefferson is one of only 25 hotels in North America to simultaneously hold
both AAA`s Five Diamond rating and the much-coveted Mobil Five Star rating.

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