Spend any time in the US South, and it quickly becomes clear that hospitality is in the DNA around here.

The stories in today's newsletter all reflect this. We're spotlighting a Nashville hotel with a strong commitment to dignity for everyone — appropriate, given the building was once a church. Sarah Shepherd tells us how falling in love with an old house in Raleigh led to a five-year project to convert it into a seriously gorgeous boutique hotel, seen in the photo above. Another natural-born hotelier? Sarah Wetenhall, who's making new magic at an old classic in Palm Beach. 

Of course, when you're down South, you'll eat well. We have a chef's tour of Savannah and a guide to the best vegetarian and vegan spots in Charleston. Happy Sunday, y'all. - Pavia, Fathom founder

The Gospel of Hospitality, According to Russell

The Russell
East Nashville, Tennessee
Bright and Funky, $

And so the word went out around the kingdoms of all the lands, proclaiming 2020 as the year travel became a religion. When casual practitioners became the determined faithful, their measure of devotion underlining what Roman Catholics have known for centuries: There’s no motivation quite as strong as denial. And, lo, a holy trinity emerged in this brave new time — religion, travel, and destination. And into this world emerged The Russell, a warm and welcoming hotel housed in a former Presbyterian church in the cool neighborhood of East Nashville. But no backward-looking, anachronistic lodging was this, for The Russell practices two other foundational pillars — charity and technology — transforming a happy trinity into a noble pentagram, that ancient symbol of good against evil (and not the opposite, as heretics might believe).

The story begins in 1904 when Cumberland Presbyterian Church builds the brick structure (the commemorative cornerstone is still visible on the exterior), which it then sells to the Russell Street Church of Christ in 1913. In 1916, a fire destroys the community but not the church, and in 1918 the church becomes a temporary hospital to care for victims of the Spanish influenza. The church remains a house of worship and center for community care until 1998, when a damaging tornado forces its doors to close. In 2001, a developer begins transforming the building into a 23-room boutique hotel that opens in summer 2019 with striking preserved elements like the stained glass window in the lobby and a no-staff-on-site, technology-driven guest experience.

Feel-Good Factor: It's strong here, and effortless for guests. The hotel donates a percentage of every stay to local nonprofits who serve Nashville's homeless and needy. In partnership with Nashville Rescue Mission, ShowerUp, Room in the Inn, and People Loving Nashville, The Russell has donated more than 16,000 meals and beds to those in need. To put it in numbers that are easier for a guest to understand, a typical weekend stay will provide 16 nights in a bed, 100 showers, and 30 meals. The hotel's motto is Stay Here, Change Lives — and they mean it.

How I Transformed an Historic House Into a Beautiful Boutique Hotel

We knew owning and operating a hotel was going to be an always-on job, but we didn’t realize that we would never be off. But seeing our vision come to life — to have actual, live people enjoying all our hard work — is more rewarding than I can put into words. A vision for a business venture is one thing, but the reality is another. Since we opened, it has been very clear that nothing is set in stone, and how we operate the hotel changes day to day. I’m not just saying ”day to day” euphemistically. I mean it literally: We change how we operate every single day. It’s wild. One thing we changed rather quickly was our landscape sprinkler schedule after a morning yoga retreat on the lawn came with an unwelcome mid-asana shower.

In Modernizing an Iconic Palm Beach Classic, She Became a Natural-Born Hotelier

It takes a lot of work to make a hotel stand out. BBut ever since Sarah Wetenhall took over as the independent lifestyle operator of The Colony Hotel, the perfectly pink and wildly photogenic Palm Beach icon has been making the hard rounds among certain social circles — and certain social media, of course.

A Chef's Tasty Tour of Savannah, Georgia

Kyle Jacovino may be from the Northeast, but after moving to Georgia to cook, he never looked back. These are his favorite spots to eat, drink, and stroll among the Spanish moss trees.

The Best Vegan and Veg-Friendly Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina

When you think of South Carolina’s Low Country style of dining, it’s hard to imagine an absence of meat and fish and butter. But if you’re looking for vegan food — and great vegan food to boot — in Charleston, you won’t be disappointed. Bookmark these eateries chock-full of delicious options bound to satisfy both the plant eater and carnivore.

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