Nashville, Tennessee, United States, October 2025 — The Hermitage Hotel, one of Nashville’s most iconic luxury establishments, has announced the appointment of Ann England as its new Director of Human Resources. With more than three decades of experience in human resources, organizational development, and hospitality leadership, Ann brings a distinguished record of driving people strategy, fostering culture, and building high-performing teams in the hospitality and service sectors.
In her new role, Ann will lead the hotel’s HR function with a focus on talent development, employee engagement, and organizational excellence. Her leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening The Hermitage Hotel’s legacy of Southern hospitality, service distinction, and community connection while ensuring a culture that aligns with its heritage and values.
Before joining The Hermitage Hotel, Ann served as Director of Human Resources at DZL, a Nashville-based commercial real estate firm with a diverse portfolio that includes the city’s largest independent music venue, a licensed Starbucks, and a luxury co-working space. At DZL, she oversaw compensation, benefits, recruitment, and performance management, successfully leading HR integration across multiple business holdings. She was instrumental in achieving a 486% year-over-year growth in employee headcount in 2024, establishing foundational HR infrastructure, and designing employee experience programs rooted in the company’s mission and values.
Prior to DZL, Ann was the Vice President of Human Resources, Training & Development at GolfSuites Inc., where she led HR, talent acquisition, and learning initiatives in a dynamic start-up environment. She played a key role in developing strategic HR plans and policies, enhancing diversity and inclusion, and boosting group sales revenue by 17% through cross-functional collaboration between HR and marketing teams.
Ann’s distinguished three-decade career at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store further highlights her expertise in people and organizational development. As Director of Operational Strategy, she led enterprise-level projects to enhance efficiency, spearheaded the company’s COVID-19 recovery initiatives, and managed a portfolio of strategic operational programs. Earlier, as Director of Organizational Development, Training, and Internal Communications, she built the company’s leadership development, compliance, and training infrastructure, developed company-wide onboarding programs, and managed internal communications for over 80,000 employees across the United States.
Ann began her career with a strong focus on employee engagement and development, pioneering key programs in succession planning, diversity awareness, and workplace culture that continue to influence HR best practices within the hospitality industry today.
About The Hermitage Hotel
Opened in 1910, The Hermitage Hotel has stood as a timeless symbol of Southern charm and elegance, serving as Nashville’s first million-dollar hotel. Deeply rooted in Tennessee’s heritage, it remains committed to preserving the region’s traditions of hospitality and sustainability. The hotel has raised over $1 million in initiatives to protect the state’s scenic and historic landscapes. In 2021, it welcomed Drusie & Darr by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, a world-class restaurant featuring locally sourced ingredients that reflect the hotel’s commitment to community and culture.
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