2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25106887D

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 631

Offered February 10, 2025

Commending Molly and Robert Hardie.

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Patron—Laufer

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WHEREAS, Molly and Robert Hardie, owners of Keswick Hall in Charlottesville and The Hermitage Hotel in Tennessee, received the 2024 Historic Hotels of America Lifetime Achievement Award for their exceptional stewardship of the properties and commitment to preserving local heritage while providing a luxurious hospitality experience; and

WHEREAS, Molly and Robert Hardie have worked diligently to ensure that Keswick Hall and The Hermitage Hotel enrich their communities both culturally and economically; their revitalization programs incorporate modern amenities that travelers expect while preserving the unique histories of the properties; and

WHEREAS, The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, opened in 1910 and played a pivotal role in the Women's Suffrage Movement; Molly and Robert Hardie conducted a multi-year restoration that highlighted the hotel's Beaux Arts architecture and added two restaurants led by a Michelin-starred chef; and

WHEREAS, Keswick Hall in Charlottesville dates back to 1912 and is a symbol of modern elegance that is situated along the Monticello Wine Trail and provides a gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains and many of the Commonwealth's historic sites; and

WHEREAS, Molly and Robert Hardie have further enhanced Keswick Hall through the creation of a dual-level infinity pool, the Full Cry Golf Course, and the renowned dining experience, Marigold; and

WHEREAS, Molly and Robert Hardie also support several nonprofit organizations through the H7 Foundation, which focuses on education, cultural preservation, and community service; in November 2024, they worked with No Kid Hungry to lead the fight against food insecurity and hosted the inaugural Harvesting Hope weekend at Keswick Hall; and

WHEREAS, through their transformational ownership of these properties, Molly and Robert Hardie have demonstrated their vision of hospitality that emphasizes sustainability and community enrichment; and

WHEREAS, Molly and Robert Hardie received their Lifetime Achievement Award at the Historic Hotels of America Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Gala at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs on November 21, 2024; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Molly and Robert Hardie hereby be commended for winning the 2024 Historic Hotels of America Lifetime Achievement Award; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Molly and Robert Hardie as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for their dedication to historic preservation and contributions to the hospitality industry.