Deep Dive sits at the intersection of design-forward thinking and soulful hospitality. We breathe new life to underutilized assets in emerging destinations, transforming them into quietly luxurious, locally rooted experiences that resonate with discerning guests and investors.
We Build
What Belongs
Every Deep Dive property draws inspiration from its environment—architecturally, culturally, and emotionally. We don’t impose style, we collaborate with place.
We take a deep dive into every element of each project so every detail is chosen with care, creating seamless experiences that feel effortless.
Our brand of luxury is warm, unforced, and welcoming. We favor depth over dazzle and comfort over spectacle. Guests feel it, not because we say it, but because we’ve designed it that way.
We bring clarity, creativity, and proven experience to overlooked assets in underserved markets. Our track record of thoughtful transformation generates long-term value that goes beyond returns, it builds reputation.
Our Historical Milestones
K.C. Lager
Kathryn Lager and Mihran Erkiletian founded Deep Dive Hospitality in 2019. She is currently serving as the Creative Director of The Wildset Hotel and Ruse Restaurant in St Michaels, MD and owns and operates her eponymous award-winning design studio as well as the sundry shop at The Wildset Hotel.
With a Masters Degree in Interior Design, a background in the hospitality industry, and experience working on a wide array of projects, from small, thoughtfully curated apartments to large, technically driven restaurants, K.C. brings her well-traveled eye and keen sensibility to each individual space. In tandem with the development team and food and beverage team, she seeks out unique and eclectic properties, conceptualizes the overall immersive experience for each individual brand, and develops and executes the interior design.
Working with an array of marketing strategists, graphic designers, chefs, makers, and of the moment brands, she brings our concepts to life. Not only does she conceive of the entire creative vision on all our projects from inception to completion, she also oversees our projects making sure every detail is thoughtfully accounted for. Among her many accolades, her restaurant project Henrietta Red in Nashville was chosen as the Best Restaurant Design in the World by Hospitality Design in 2018.
Mihran Erkiletian is the CEO at Erkiletian Development Company in Washington DC. Mihran has been involved in the acquisition and development of over six hundred multifamily units in the greater Washington DC area playing a pivotal role in financial underwriting, as well as debt and equity sourcing for each project. Most recently he was involved in the delivery of a 360 unit apartment building in Arlington Virginia, The Sur, a LEED Platinum building.
In 2019 Mihran spearheaded the hospitality division for Erkiletian Development in tandem with Kathryn Lager. The division currently has one hotel and restaurant in St Michaels, Maryland, The Wildset and its restaurant Ruse, delivered May 2021.
Allie Balin
Named one of the most influential sommeliers by Wine & Spirits Magazine, and one of Southern Living’s thirty women moving food forward, Allie Balin has quite the fondness for food, beverage, and all things hospitality. After spending years in different arenas of the hospitality industry, most recently, she was the Co-Founder, Co-Owner, General Manager, and Sommelier at the multi-James Beard nominated restaurant Henrietta Red in Nashville, TN, and is the Food and Beverage Director for the James Beard nominated The Wildset Hotel and Ruse Restaurant in St. Michaels, MD.
Previously at Henrietta Red, and now at The Wildset Hotel and Ruse, Allie develops and manages the wine, beer, and cocktail program, creates and enforces training protocols and service standards, and oversees the food program and the restaurant’s financial activities. She developed both restaurant’s style of service, which helped establish them as two of the premier dining destinations in America. Within the first year of operations, Henrietta Red was included as a semi-finalist on Bon Appétit’s list of America’s Best New Restaurants, was selected as a semi-finalist on the James Beard Foundation’s list of Best New Restaurants, and was chosen as one of GQ Magazine’s thirteen Best New Restaurants in America. Ruse restaurant was James Beard nominated in 2025 for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic and is included in the Michelin Guide for Maryland.
Throughout her career, Allie’s been named one of the 30 under 30 hospitality professionals in America on Zagat’s first ever nationwide list and one of the twelve chefs and restaurateurs on the rise by Restaurant Hospitality. She is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers
Jacob Stein
Jacob Stein is the Managing Director of Deep Dive, where he leads efforts in investment strategies, sourcing and underwriting new acquisitions, capital raising, debt financing, and financial and operational planning.
Before joining Deep Dive Hospitality, Jacob was a Senior Director of Acquisitions at Life House, a VC-backed hotel brand and management company, where he worked closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director to expand its growing portfolio of boutique hotels through sourcing and negotiating OpCo-PropCo structures with institutional capital. Jacob began his career in Acquisitions & Asset Management at Arbor Lodging Partners and has orchestrated and acquired over $500 million in commercial hotel transactions. Jacob earned his Bachelor’s from The School of Hospitality Business within the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, specializing in Finance and Real Estate.