The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville (401 Korean Veterans Boulevard), has announced its opening date of August 2020 and the appointment of Rajesh Radke as General Manager and Shana Lindsey as Director of Sales & Marketing.
Overview
Of Southern heart, The Joseph brings to life an exciting narrative of Nashville, combining cultural and artistic diversity, history and welcoming hospitality. Located in the heart of the city’s SoBro district at the corner of Korean Veterans Boulevard and Fourth Avenue South, the 21-story luxury hotel is steps from Music City Center and the Nashville Symphony. The hotel brand was conceptualized by The Pizzuti Companies – a leader in developing, marketing and managing real estate for nearly 50 years. The Joseph is named after Joseph Pizzuti, The Pizzuti Companies’ patriarch, who helped shape a family respected for both its real estate expertise and commitment to art advocacy.
“We hope The Joseph will leave an impression on our guests both emotionally and intellectually,” said Joel Pizzuti, President of The Pizzuti Companies. “Whether through our architecture, design, art program, wellness commitment or culinary offerings, we are passionate about celebrating the many layers of this city and evoking a special sense of place, time and comfort for those who visit.”
With contemporary design by Arquitectonica, the 297-room property features a range of floor plans, including expansive suites. Encouraging guests to “live with art”, art is woven throughout The Joseph, beginning at the porte cochère and extending to the public areas, function spaces and guest rooms, where no two pieces are replicated. Works from the Pizzuti family’s own collection – as well as specially commissioned pieces, including those from local artists to comprise The Tennessee Collection – lend to an immersive experience.
The property includes the full-service spa, called Rose, an expansive fitness center and a vibrant rooftop pool and bar. More than 200 feet above the city, these areas showcase memorable views of the Nashville skyline and Cumberland River.
In addition, The Joseph offers approximately 26,000 square feet of versatile event space. A terrace wraps around the hotel’s eighth floor event space for a rare indoor-outdoor gathering.
The Joseph includes a fine dining restaurant and bar on the first floor and a separate, intimate lounge. To be announced soon, the hotel’s food and beverage partners guide all elements of the hotel’s culinary direction – including menus for each of the three outlets as well as gourmet in-room dining and banquet selections.
When the time came to identify leadership, it was crucial to Pizzuti that those representing The Joseph embraced the brand ethos.
“We are thrilled to welcome Raj and Shana,” he said. “Raj has worked at an impressive level of luxury worldwide. His vision for fostering a personalized guest experience while building a team of leaders is an approach I respect. And Shana has spent the past 13 years with The Luxury Collection throughout the U.S. She has her finger on the pulse of both our business segments and emerging trends.”
Pizzuti and his team recognize the rare circumstances under which The Joseph Nashville will launch. With consumers’ utmost wellbeing at heart, and with guidance from authorities, they will open with finely honed protocols, technologically advanced solutions and custom amenities and services.
“As we open our doors in a new era of travel, we are working very closely to realize and meet the crucial needs and hopes of our guests. Our executive team has the knowledge, flexibility and compassion to deliver an experience that is secure, infused with wellness and filled with special touches that will make The Joseph feel like a second home.”
About Rajesh Radke, General Manager
A conversation with Rajesh “Raj” Radke is to encounter meaningful dialogue about his passion for the hotel industry, a zest for developing leaders and a commitment that has steered some of the world’s most renowned hotels and resorts for nearly 30 years.
As the newly appointed General Manager of The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville, Radke oversees daily operational execution and standards in providing a guest experience that is personalized, refined and replete with hospitable touches.
Most recently, Radke served as the General Manager of The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte. During his tenure, he successfully led the hotel through a multimillion-dollar renovation and relaunch. His efforts to rebuild the culture through consistency, recharge staff morale and achieve substantial revenue strides led his property to win the “Hotel of the Year” award in Distinctive Luxury within Marriott International.
Prior to his time in Charlotte, Radke immersed himself in the luxury mountain experience at the St. Regis Aspen and the St. Regis Deer Valley properties in the capacities of Director of Food & Beverage, Hotel Manager and Interim General Manager, respectively. Previously, he built a foundation of expertise in the international luxury segment, spanning positions in Asia, the Bahamas and the United States. His experiences with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts worldwide led him to exclusive locales such as Bali, Singapore, Exuma, Washington, D.C. and Austin.
Radke thrives on high energy engagement with his team and hotel guests and is motivated by the promise held by The Joseph.
“This property embodies the spirit of Nashville,” said Radke, “and it is a dream come to life. From the level of detail that has gone into curating a sense of arrival and the thought put into our interiors – to our expression of culture via art, food, beverage, performance, wellness and more – this hotel is guided by an authentic love for others and enthusiastic storytelling.”
A fountain of positivity, Radke believes that leadership is borne first in kindness and attitude, and he devotes a tremendous amount of time to coaching his team and sharing the vision and tools that have allowed him to so successfully guide people, product, processes and profit for the past three decades.
A success story in his own right, Radke hails from a small mining town in India. His love of humbly serving others – coupled with sheer will and tenacity – led him to the Institute of Hotel Management in Hyderabad, India, which set the wheels in motion for the remarkable journey to follow.
Radke lives in Nashville with his wife and is the proud father of an emerging filmmaker.
About Shana Lindsey, Director of Sales and Marketing
Shana Lindsey brings more than 25 years of expertise to The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville. Having held leadership positions with The Luxury Collection for several years, she is uniquely suited to helm the sales and marketing efforts for The Joseph, which marks the Collection’s eighteenth property in its exclusive North American portfolio.
Fondly recalling travels with her family, Lindsey was mesmerized by hotels at a young age. The kindness of the staff, the magical choreography of service, exciting destinations – they planted a seed that many years later, and combined with her knack for numbers, led to a fulfilling career that married the best of both worlds.
Most recently, Lindsey served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for The Whitley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Atlanta, where she transitioned the rebranding of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel. In transitioning the hotel to a Luxury Collection property, she recruited and trained the sales, catering and conference services teams. Previously, Lindsey served as the Director of Sales & Marketing at The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Boston, one of the portfolio’s premier hotels. Her success there was preceded by time in her hometown of St. Louis, where she lent her talents to the Westin St. Louis and the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis.
At The Joseph, Lindsey enthusiastically steers a knowledgeable team in achieving revenue goals for the hotel by establishing compelling marketing programs targeting both leisure and business segments. She also oversees meetings and function bookings in the property’s private event spaces and guides partnerships and community engagement with tourism, corporate, entertainment and artistic partners in Nashville and beyond.
As the hotel prepares for its August 2020 opening, Lindsey is thoughtful about what guests will seek in a new era of travel.
“We are planning for various business demands and must remain nimble while staying true to who we are. The Joseph will be a safe, welcoming haven.”
Lindsey is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and has been widely recognized by the industry for her achievements in sales, marketing and leadership.
The Joseph is slated to open August 2020. Additional details will be revealed soon.
For additional information, visit https://www.thejosephnashville.com/ and follow on Instagram and Facebook.