Black-owned bed & breakfasts

IT is an undeniable mix of heritage, culture and luxurious splendor. Designed to pamper the body, soothe the mind and cultivate the relationships that we so often neglect, Black-owned bed & breakfasts--nestled in the heart of the communities we love--offer a captivating escape for the adventurous tourist, the seasoned traveler or the romantic couple in search of a new getaway and vacation hot spot.

By combining the sophistication of a luxury hotel with the comforts and conveniences of home, these renovated mansions are creating a new oasis of sorts, designed to deliver a personalized approach--an experience, if you will--unlike any other.

"We want to make sure that our guests are getting the rest, relaxation and attention that they crave, so we really go the extra mile to spoil them," says Monique Greenwood, who, with her husband Glenn Pogue, own Akwaaba Enterprises, which includes four bed & breakfast facilities. "From personally preparing the breakfasts for my guests to checking them in when they arrive to providing them with turn-down service--lighting candles, running bath water and placing chocolates on the pillows--we provide a very high-touch experience. It is personal in every way."

The four custom-designed bread & breakfast locations include the historic Akwaaba by the Sea in Cape May, N.J., the elegantly designed Akwaaba in D.C., the award-winning 18-room Akwaaba Mansion in Brooklyn and the newly opened Akwaaba in the Bayou in New Orleans. Offering a distinct mix of amenities, including guest libraries, paved courtyards and grand dining rooms, each location is uniquely designed to reflect African-American history and culture. Greenwood, author of Having What Matters, personally decorates each of her inns and guest rooms. "It's the fellowship with other guests and the personal attention of innkeepers who know the secrets of the city that is most appreciated," she says. "The greatest reward is knowing that I've been able to bring joy to my guests."

Catering to the individual needs of each guest is the cornerstone of Quintessentials Bed & Breakfast and Spa, owned by former Wall Street investment banker Sylvia Daley and located in East Marion, Long Island. Designed to provide a "five-star approach for the body, mind, spirit, home and community," Daley says that her inn is more than a place to rest. "It's a lifestyle. Everyone can achieve their personal best in all areas of life, that is, their quintessential self. Our goal is to provide you with the supportive environment and the steps to help you achieve your personal essence."

In addition to image consulting and coaching, Daley provides personal and business development, a full-service spa, a Japanese meditation garden and Caribbean-inspired suites named after parishes in Daley's native Jamaica. With private sundecks, in-room fireplaces and Whirlpool baths, she describes the Quintessentials experience as" a one-stop lifestyle oasis."

Like Greenwood and Daley, helping people to achieve the lifestyles they desire motivated Pamela Johnson to open Bronzeville's 1st Bed & Breakfast in Chicago. She renovated a dilapidated mansion just south of the downtown area and opened its doors for business in 2001. Johnson, a real estate developer, broker and president of Bronzeville's Black Chamber of Commerce, says that her goal is to economically empower the neighborhood while catering to the well-deserved relaxation of her guests." This is not a hotel where you are one of many," she says. "Here, you are a guest and part of our family. You are treated as the king or queen you are."

The four-level mansion includes four suites, a beauty parlor, an oversized sundeck, a full-service kitchen and a dining room that is open to the public. It is part of the ambiance that Johnson describes as "the new renaissance."

It is a renaissance that combines cultural pride, history and an appreciation for the African-American experience. It is a common thread that connects the visions of Greenwood, Daley and Johnson--each successful businesswomen in their own right who left the demands of the corporate world to pursue a tailor-made dish for their entrepreneurial appetites, breaking barriers in the process.

Greenwood, who recently added the Akwaaba Home Collection (a line of handmade decorative accessories from Africa), expanded the vision of Akwaaba following the success of its first location. She purchased several blocks of surrounding property in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn and created a retail strip that has revitalized the neighborhood. Daley, owner of Quintessentials, introduced the first and only bed & breakfast to offer a full-service spa and image consulting service on the North Fork of Long Island. And Johnson, founder of Bronzeville's 1st Bed & Breakfast in Chicago, plans to expand her operations within the U.S. and abroad, while "maintaining my allegiance to the needs of our communities."