Hey, I get it….You’re tired and I’m tired as well.

We are sliding into month twelve, since we began hearing about the scares of COVID-19 aka “The Rona”. At first, we were just supposed to fall back for a couple of weeks and life was supposed to be back to normal. Yet, here we are, our lives have been flipped upside down.

Many of us have been doing the most to bring back a little bit of normalcy in our day to day activities. Regardless of what’s going on many of us are feeling like we were caged birds in different levels of depression. Ready to say “eff it”, throw the Lysol and masks out the window.

I’m not saying be out here reckless and acting like a “Karen”!! But we are adults and have to be smart and mature about the reality of the world around us. Work smart within the guidelines afforded to us so that we can get back to LIFE!! But before you rush to the computer and book your travel arrangements just do one thing…

…Book Black…

As Valentine’s Day approaches and even the new/popular alternative “Galentine’s Day”. I thought as I continue my Black Owned Alternative series from the travel aspect. I decided to do some research finding black owned travel alternatives for your lodging aka hotels and bed & breakfast.

Please Note: Before booking your reservations please be sure you can meet and abide by CDC and their personal business practices to fight against the spread of COVID-19.

Black Owned Hotels, Resorts & Bed and Breakfasts

Salamander Hotel & Resorts - Multiple Locations

Owner - Sheila C. Johnson

• Destin, FL

• Middleburg, VA

• Charleston, SC

• Jamaica, WI

• Palm Harbor, FL

The Ivy Hotel - Baltimore, MD

Owners - Eddie & Sylvia Brown

NOPSI Hotel - New Orleans, LA

Owner - Sheila C. Johnson

La Maison Midtown - Houston, TX

Owners - Sharon Owens and Genora Boykins

Akwaaba Bed & Breakfast - Multiple Locations

Owner - Monique Greenwood

• Brooklyn, NY

• Cape May, NJ

• Philadelphia, PA

• Washington, D.C.

• The Poconos, PA

Copper Door B&B - Miami, FL

Owners - Jamila Ross and Akino West

Six Acres B&B - Cincinnati, OH

Owner - Kristin Kitchen

Quintessentials B&B - Southhold, NY

Owner - Sylvia Daley

Clevedale Inn - Spartanburg, SC

Owners - Paul and Pontheolla Abernathy

*Please note there are other listings but didn’t have the greatest reviews and I wanted to ensure what I list will be places I would personally utilize.

Don’t have time to search?

Check out Noirbnb to support local black property owners.

But Danie, I need my points…

Listen, I got you here too! There are many black owned hotel to name that has invested in a franchise of larger named brands such as Marriott, Embassy and Hilton, just to name a few. But as I was completing out my research, the name RLJ Lodging Trust kept popping up as owners of few hotels. With my research, I wanted to ensure I was giving the latest information on ownership. Well, come to find out, RLJ is Robert L. Johnson…YES!!! the Robert Johnson that owned BET and former spouse to Sheila Johnson, owner of multiple hotel and resort properties.

Therefore, I’d highly suggest, before you book your hotel, double-check to see if the hotel or bed & breakfast you are booking is black owned. Yes, I know it’s an extra step, but our dollars could very well go back into our communities. And this ladies and gentlemen is one of the many reasons why we support Black Owned Businesses. Grow Black Wealth!

As usual, if you know of any new black owned hotels shoot me an email so that I can update you all. 

Happy Travels!