We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful S. Lovey Parker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with S. Lovey below.
S. Lovey, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?
After performing my master’s thesis in the Global Hospitality Leadership program at Georgetown University, I realized the barriers and lack of opportunities that exist for Black owners of independent, hotel and resort brands. I was determined to level the playing field, advocating for the proper capitalization of this emerging domestic market. Since starting Black Hoteliers & Investors Association, I’ve remained focused on championing for the true value of the independent, Black-owned hotel and resort markets, and driving meaningful change throughout the hospitality industry – the ownership echelon.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
S. Lovey Parker’s passion for hospitality and community building led her to establish BH&IA in
October 2023, following her pioneering research at Georgetown University. Her work highlights
the barriers faced by Black owners of boutique hotels and resorts and offers innovative solutions
to overcome these challenges.
BH&IA is the leading partner in boutique hospitality ownership, focusing on empowering Black
hoteliers to scale quickly and capitalize on innovation. BH&IA aims to create an inclusive
ecosystem that celebrates ownership, investing, innovation, and entrepreneurship. With a
mission to grow Black-owned hotels to $8 billion in revenue by 2060, BH&IA is committed to
cultivating equity, disrupting the hospitality industry, and embedding inclusion into everything it
does
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
I was—and continue to be—self-funded, drawing from liquid capital and credit.
As the business has grown, we have adopted a deeply ingrained collaborative approach to business, leaning into strong partnerships and sponsorships with organizations that align with our purpose and value bleisure travel as much as we do. It’s through these alliances that true impact is realized, proving that together, we can create a world where hospitality knows no limits.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Two things have shaped the path I’m on today, the first being a book I keep on my desk: Meta-Luxury: Brands and the Culture of Excellence by Manfredi Ricca and Rebecca Robins. I discovered it during my Global Hospitality Leadership program at Georgetown and completely resonated with every facet of it. It captures the essence of what it means to be a creator and curator within this space. It’s the four pillars of meta-luxury—craftsmanship, focus, history and rarity—that drive the dynamic of supply and demand. Its theme is similar to the concept of a hospitalian, which brings me to another influence in my mission.
When researching, I stumbled upon a TedTalk by Bobby Stukey, “Be a hospitalian.” The hospitality industry is all about giving people unforgettable service experiences and making them feel at home, to a point where travelers desire to come back over and over again. I look at myself—and other hospitalians—as artists, creatively and meticulously refining every detail to ensure the guest’s expectations are exceeded. Bobby’s talk focuses on this concept, of getting to understand what your guest needs before they even have to ask for it. That degree of proactive anticipation is a true testament of being receptive to your guests and designing destinations that prioritize the human value of belonging.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thebhia.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.lovey_evolved/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slovey/
