Legacy doesn’t always begin with a grand blueprint. Sometimes it starts with just a single idea. Black families are carving out a lane in an industry that isn’t represented by people who look like them. Less than 3% of all hotels in the United States are Black-owned.
Through hotels, guest houses, inns, and luxury villas, these Black families have created spaces that are welcoming to the world while securing a future for the next generation.
The Celestine Bed and Breakfast – Pensacola, Florida
Byron and Cornelia Edwards are the great-grandchildren of Celestine Elizabeth Tolliver Harrison, after whom this bed and breakfast in Pensacola’s historic North Hill neighborhood is named. The two purchased the historic home in 2020 and transformed it into a cozy space filled with their family heritage. Guests will find that the family’s renovations preserve the charm of the 1888 building and their family’s legacy, which they say is rooted in love, kindness, perseverance, faith, and care.
Every detail has a story and invites connection. Each guest room is named after one of Celestine and Vandybilt’s children and is styled to reflect each child’s individual style and spirit. For example, antique heirlooms from Celestine’s own collection thoughtfully adorn the bed and breakfast. When guests sit down for breakfast at Celestine’s table, they will dine on China gifted from Grandma Celestine’s daughter, Lois.
The Ivy Hotel – Baltimore, Maryland
You will understand why the Ivy Hotel ranks as a top luxury hotel from the moment you step inside. Located in a restored 19th-century mansion in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Ivy Hotel provides a dreamy stay in its airy-filled suites.
Eddie and Sylvia Brown created a restful space that offers luxury, personalized hospitality, art, and history. The Ivy Hotel is an ideal stay for guests who want to disconnect. Choose your muse. Book some time at the luxury spa, take your coffee or tea in the garden with a book from the library, or enjoy what Baltimore has to offer.
The Ode Hotel – Toronto, Ontario
This is truly a gem in Toronto. Ode is the city’s first and only Black-owned, family-operated hotel. Located in Little Portugal, everyone who walks through the door gets the family treatment without exception or hesitation.
The family told Travel Noire in a previous interview that they are honored to be the first Black-owned hotel in Toronto and are working on ways to bring in more events, art residencies, and curated dinners. The family’s dream is to continue to build beautiful spaces that feel like a love letter to “our people, our places, and our possibilities.”
Spice Island Beach Resort – Grand Anse Beach, Granada
The Hopkin family is from Grenada, and since at least 2000, they have worked to keep the celebrated hotel in the family. The resort honors the legacy of Sir Royston Hopkin and his unwavering pursuit of excellent service.
His daughter, Janelle, now serves as president and managing director. Together, the family has made it their mission to make Spice the ultimate Caribbean luxury experience. The resort features smaller garden suites to sprawling rooms with pools, saunas, and outdoor terraces.
Stonefield Villa Resort – Soufriere, St. Lucia
What was once a coffee, lime, and cocoa plantation owned by one of the most prominent colonial families in the 1700s became a Black and family-owned resort. Stonefield Villa Resort is owned by Canadian builder Wayne Brown and his Saint Lucian wife Anista Brown. The duo turned the property into a private resort in the late 90s.
The Browns have raised their family of five children at Stonefield Villa and have built a resort that brings that homey feel to guests, helping them escape, relax, and rejuvenate.
The Osprey – Great Harbor Cay, The Bahamas
Located on Great Harbor Cay in the Bahamas, the Osprey is a boutique, residential-style resort owned by Daphne Delaney and her husband, John. The Delaneys have a family history in The Bahamas of more than 300 years. The duo takes joy and pride in growing up in the Bahamas: a destination they say is filled with vibrant music, delicious food, and incredible art. They bring all the things that make The Bahamas a premier Caribbean vacation destination to the forefront of their resort.
Daphne and John have traveled all over the world, but when they return home, they will tell you it feels like a warm embrace. If you choose to stay at the Osprey, you are walking into an exclusive, authentic Bahamian environment.
The post From The Ground Up: Black Families Building Legacy Through Lodging appeared first on Travel Noire.