Davonne Reaves is redefining what ownership looks like in the hospitality industry. With a career that spans front desk operations, consulting, asset management, and oversight of more than $1B in hotel assets, she has built a reputation rooted in discipline, strategy, and sustainability. As the founder of Vesterr and Stay Black Experience, Davonne is committed to expanding access, visibility, and education around hotel and commercial real estate investing, particularly within the Black community. Her work is not about hype or shortcuts. It is about ownership, longevity, and generational impact.
Fancy: What pivotal moment made you realize you were destined for hotel ownership?
Davonne: The turning point hit me while standing in a hotel I had helped reposition. I was making ownership level decisions without ownership level equity. I had worked my way up from the front desk through consulting and asset management, advising owners on multimillion dollar moves, yet owning nothing myself. A question stopped me cold. If I can help someone else build generational wealth, why not myself? That is when ownership shifted from aspiration to inevitability in my mind.
Fancy: What is the biggest misconception the Black community has about hotel investing?
Davonne: That it is reserved for the ultra wealthy or people with insider connections. Hotels are not mysteries. They are businesses. With proper education, strategic partnerships, and smart capital planning, ownership becomes attainable. Too often we eliminate ourselves before exploring legitimate pathways like partnerships, crowdfunding, and creative financing. The barrier is not the industry. It is our assumptions about access.
Fancy: What inspired you to create Vesterr and Stay Black Experience, and what impact do you hope they leave?
Davonne: Both platforms were created to address visibility gaps. Vesterr democratizes access to hotel and commercial real estate investing for people who were never invited into decision making spaces. Stay Black Experience came from realizing how many Black owned hotels exist without visibility, support, or celebration. My goal is to normalize Black ownership not as exceptional but as standard and to permanently expand who participates in and profits from this industry.
Fancy: How did managing over $1B in hotel assets shape how you educate others today?
Davonne: That level of responsibility teaches discipline, risk management, and respect for operations. I have seen what succeeds and what collapses at every stage of the hotel lifecycle. My teaching reflects that reality. Fundamentals over flash. Realistic underwriting. Strong operators. Long term strategy. I do not sell hype. I teach sustainability because the goal is building wealth people can maintain, not just momentarily acquire.
Fancy: Which acknowledgment has meant the most to you, and why?
Davonne: Recognition like Forbes matters, but what resonates most are the messages that say, Because of you, I bought my first hotel, or I finally understand this path. Impact will always matter more than accolades. Being trusted as a guide and educator is the highest honor.
Fancy: How do you balance ambition with rest while managing so many roles?
Davonne: I reframed rest as strategy, not reward. I am intentional about creating space by blocking time, protecting my mornings, and honoring my capacity limits. As a mother and founder, I refuse to wear burnout as a badge. Longevity requires alignment, not endless hustle. Staying grounded means remembering why I am building, not just what I am building.
Fancy: How would you describe your SwagHer? What makes Davonne, Davonne?
Davonne: Quiet confidence. Knowing I belong in every room whether it is a hotel boardroom, a tech space, or a community gathering. What defines me is bridging worlds. Education with execution. Access with accountability. Vision with discipline. I lead with intention. I move with purpose.
How to Support & Connect
If Davonne’s story resonates with you, you can follow and connect here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davonnereaves/
Website: https://www.inmyempireera.com/connectwithme
