There are quite a few Black-owned resorts and hotels across the country, and some have become absolute go-to’s for travelers. However, their prevalence is not as extensive as one might wish. According to data from the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD), only 2% of hotels in the United States are Black-owned, with less than 1% owned by Black women. NABHOOD is dedicated to advocating for increased representation of Black entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry and promoting economic growth within the community. They offer valuable resources and a digital directory of Black-owned establishments for travelers.
Black-owned Hotels
Black people have been making their mark in hospitality since the late 18th century. Rachael Pringle Polgreen, born into slavery around 1753, achieved a significant milestone during the 1770s to 1780s. This was when she became the first woman of color to own a tavern-hotel, the Royal Navy Hotel in Bridgetown, Barbados. In 1871, the Wormley Hotel emerged as one of the early Black-owned hotels in the United States. Its founder, James Wormley, established a successful hospitality business, although it catered to affluent and influential white men.
During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, only a limited number of Black-owned hotels in the United States were part of major hotel chains. One example was a Holiday Inn in Tuskegee, Alabama, which opened in the early 1970s and later transitioned to the Tuskegee Inn before closing its doors. Then there was the Benchmark Hotel, started by Mabra Holeyfield and Frank Banks in 1983, which turned into a Days Inn in 1988. In 2008, this hotel was acquired by Mike Roberts, then Chairman of NABHOOD, and was transformed into a Clarion Collection property, according to the organization.
Supporting Black-owned hotels provides a simple yet effective means to empower African-American entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry and encourage greater diversity within this industry. Here is a list of six Black-owned hotels in the United States that you might want to check out.
The Oak Bluffs Inn. Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts
Rhonda and Erik Albert own a 10-room Victorian inn in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard. This inn, designed by architect Mark Hutker, features an iconic lighthouse that has been a point of interest for both locals and tourists. According to their website, some notable guests who have stayed at the inn include film director Spike Lee and jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.
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Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens, Spartanburg, South Carolina
The Clevedale Historic Inn and Gardens, located in Upstate South Carolina, is owned by Pontheolla and Paul Abernathy. This inn comprises four rooms: the Ohana Suite, The Wren, The Westmoreland Bridal Suite, and the MackRail Cabin Car. The MackRail Cabin Car is a vintage 1947 Southern Rail Caboose that has been converted into a queen-bedroom suite and is positioned near Clevedale’s English Knot Garden and Courtyard.
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The Hamilton Howell House, Atlanta, Georgia
The Hamilton Howell House is a bed-and-breakfast located in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward. Constructed in 1893 by Alexander Hamilton, Jr., a prominent African-American contractor and builder in Atlanta, this historic residence was purchased and restored by the Howell/Youngblood family in 1984, becoming the second family to inhabit it. Guests have the choice of reserving one of the four bedrooms: the W.E.B. Du Bois, the Elizabeth Catlett, the Maya Angelou, or the John Coltrane, each featuring a private bathroom. The recently updated home also includes a modern kitchen, a business center, a sunroom with a built-in spa, and a deck and patio.
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