8 Black-Owned Businesses Every Hotel Needs to Support
One of the first things we did as a part of our community impact strategy at Revival was run a list of everyone the hotel cut a check to in 2018. We wanted to see where there were opportunities to incorporate local, BIPOC-owned companies. Baltimore has one of the strongest BIPOC entrepreneurship scenes in the nation. So, we had a great starting point. In the wake of the tragic killing of George Floyd in 2020, hospitality companies responded to global outcry and uprisings around justice by making broad commitments to supporting the Black community differently moving forward. IHG’s website features a report detailing DEI initiatives ranging from town halls to training initiatives to community partnerships. The family behind Marriott gifted $20 million to Howard University to create a hospitality leadership center that will be named after their late CEO, Arne Sorenson. I love that this and many other initiatives across major players in the industry are accompanied by intentions and strategies to address the underrepresentation of BIPOC and women in leadership roles in an industry that is incredibly diverse at the entry level. Building on its Change Starts Here commitments, which they rolled out in June of 2020, Hyatt published its diversity data online, memorializing a starting point for the program from an internal leadership diversity perspective. Beyond addressing who gets hired, developed, and advanced, the program also has goals for community investment and Black spend. Beyond these four giants, others in the industry have made similar statements. With the operating models, internal mechanics, and composition so varied, it’s difficult to nail down how to be supportive of an industry that is, in many cases making a legitimate effort to change. The external stuff is more straightforward. And with many GMs nailing down action plans to hit Black spend targets for the year, I’ll start with a conversation about eight emerging Black-owned businesses (in no particular order) that every hotel should be reaching out to in 2022. I even threw in a couple of bonus suppliers.
1. La Fête du Rosé
Founded by Randallstown, Maryland’s own Donae Burston, La Fête du Rosé is the only Black-owned rose produced in St. Tropez. Donae brilliantly identified that there “wasn’t a rose brand that spoke to diverse audiences.” Beyond inclusivity, they’re also committed to sustainable agriculture. Wine Enthusiast awarded the 2019 vintage an outstanding score of 90. I first tried it at a Black Wines we did for BHM 2020 with the culture’s favorite somm, Tahiirah Habibi of The Hue Society (book her for lively virtual and in-person classes and tasting events). I’ve been encouraging everyone I know with a liquor license to add it to the menu ever since.
Info@LaFeteRose.com
Photo by DJ Impulse
2. Hilton Carter
Hilton Carter has quickly become one of the biggest names in the plant universe. He received his BFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art and an MFA in film from Art Center College of Design. While drawing and filmmaking became significant parts of his life, Hilton started to develop his skills in the styling and design space. Out of this passion for creating and sharing his art, Things by HC was born. He specializes in interior and exterior plantscaping, which is what we’re eagerly looking forward to working with him on. He’s a published author (we sell his books in our gift shop), he has a special on Hulu, and he launched a product line with Target that sold out instantly.
Photo by DJ Impulse
3. Dirt Don’t Hurt
Founded by sisters Kaya, Sativa, and Maritza in 2017, Dirt Don’t Hurt offers a variety of plant-based, cruelty-free products. Among them are toothpowder and bamboo toothbrushes that have sold exceptionally well on the gift shop at Revival Baltimore. The toothpowder clean is very different from that of a typical paste. But, it’s equally as refreshing and, in my experience, even more effective. It’s a standout product that offers excellent storytelling opportunities. Wholesale ordering is quick and easy via the link on their website.
info@dirtdonthurtme.com
Photo by Violetta Markelou
4. TAA PR
Because we’ve gotten such extraordinary media traction at Revival, I get asked about PR Agencies quite a bit. I've worked with some great ones over the years. One of my absolute favorites is TAA. Founder Aba Kwawu is also the president of TAA PR, a results-oriented PR, marketing, and special events agency dedicated to the fashion, design, entertainment, hospitality, and luxury lifestyle sectors. Their regional, national, and international clients span various industries and have included Cirque du Soleil, The Ritz-Carlton, Ladurée, Kering, chefs Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud, Shake Shack, hospitality for The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Tysons Galleria, CityCenterDC, the Smithsonian Institution, Mercedes-Benz, Swim Week Miami and too many more to name.
info@taa-pr.com
Photo by DJ Impulse
5. Uncle Nearest
The Uncle Nearest Awards page looks like the rafters at The Boston Garden. It’s pretty extraordinary. The whiskey named after the enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to distill was the most awarded American whiskey in 2019 and 2020. And I’d be shocked if they didn’t three-peat. The brand was founded to keep Nearest Green’s legacy alive and the master distiller is his great-great-granddaughter, Victoria Butler. We hosted her for a private 9-course dinner in August of 2021. She’s an absolute force, and the whiskey lives up to every bit of the hype.
Photo by DJ Impulse
6. Lor Tush
Another business founded by sisters focused on bringing sustainable products to the community is Lor Tush. This bamboo toilet paper company was founded in 2020 and has been growing ever since. Based in Baltimore, they’ve been featured in The Robb Report, Baltimore Sun, and the CBS Saturday Morning show detailing how they gave away 15,000 rolls during the great tp shortage in the height of the pandemic. Their branding and packaging are playful and engaging, making it a perfect addition for lifestyle hotels and brands that lean into green tourism. We have them at Revival. They’re also at several other Hyatt hotels and some Kimpton properties, as well.
cs@lortush.com
Photo by Blachwood Photography
7. Fréres Branchiaux Candle Company
Frères Branchiaux was founded in Washington, D.C., by three brothers (Ryan, Collin, and Austin) ranging in age from 11 to 16 who were looking for a way to boost their allowance. Their candles are hand-poured and vegan. The brothers design their brand of unique one-of-a-kind scents over a base of soy and wax. Beyond growing their pocket money, they donate 10% of their profits to programs supporting people experiencing homelessness. We looked at adding them to the gift shop last year. But, we had previously committed the slot to 228 Grant St, another phenomenal Black-owned supplier.
8. McBride Sisters
The largest Black-owned wine company is yet another sister act. The McBride Sisters’ incredible story begins with them growing up on opposite sides of the globe only to come together and build an emerging wine empire. We’ve featured their wines in our “by the bottle” program in Revival’s restaurant, Topside, and even found a home for their super fun SHE CAN canned wine products in our lobby Intro Lounge. All have received rave reviews on a consistent basis.
Photo by DJ Impulse
Another One…Black Acres Roastery
Black Acres Roastery is an artisan coffee roaster located in the Station North community of Baltimore. I met the founder, Travis, a couple years ago and instantly got the sense that there’s more to the story than just the beans. I was right. Although the beans are legit and ethically sourced, Travis has a mission to make great coffee accessible and approachable for everyone. I love all things oriented toward inclusion. So, here we are. We partnered with them to create an all-in-one pour over coffee setup for our in room coffee experience. They also have steepable coffee pouches which we carry, as well. Teabags filled with coffee is one of those things that should’ve always been a thing. Black Acres is in several hotels and Trader Joe’s locations all over.
https://www.blackacrescoffee.com/pages/contact-us
I have no formal ties to the companies above (although if Donae needs a taste tester for the next vintage I wouldn’t say no to a trip to St Tropez). I just love their stuff. The list goes on and on and on. But, I hear from many of the folks I know in the industry that they’re having a tough time finding the right vendors for their operations. So, I’ll set aside some (as in a finite amount) time every week to spend 15 minutes with anyone in the industry who’s struggling to figure this out regardless of geography, brand affiliation, or property size.
