Davonne Reaves, Entrepreneur, Hotel Owner (photo: https://togo.hotelbusiness.com/article/qa-with-davonne-reaves-the-vonne-group)

Women and Adversity:
Davonne Reaves, Entrepreneur Hotel Owner
August is Black Business Month

Davonne Reaves has achieved recognition and success by being positive about her goals. She has said so many things that are worth quoting.
“Dreams after all do become a reality with passion—something which carries immense power beyond measurable strength.”
“If there’s anything that this experience has taught me is that with enough hard work, determination, tenacity, and perseverance you can achieve your dreams no matter what they are or who tells you otherwise!”

“I hope my story will inspire more people to think about hotel investing and ownership as more than just a daydream.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am if I listened to the people who said I couldn’t do it.”

These words should inspire the most determined skeptic.

According to National Association of Black Hotel Owner Operators and Developers, less than two percent of hotel owners are Black, and less than one percent are Black females. 

Bio

• May 1987 – Born in Philadelphia
• Family moved to Clayton County, Georgia
• Father was a firefighter; mother was a stay-at-home mom
• Graduated from Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro
• 2010 – Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Georgia State University, Atlanta

Career

• Front desk agent at Hyatt Regency Atlanta
• Intern at Horwath HTL to transition from hospitality to corporate/hotel transactions
• 2015 – CHMWarnick, Boston, asset management
• 2017 – founded The Vonne Group, to assist in helping Blacks acquire and invest in hospitality ownership
• 2020 – Reaves and two classmates from GSU partnered with Nassau Investments and bought Home2 Suites by Hilton in El Reno, Oklahoma for $8.3 million.
• 2022 – Added Hampton Inn & Suites in Scottsburg and  Staybridge Suites by IHG in Indianapolis
• 2022 – Launched The Vesterr Group, a crowdfunding platform to connect real estate developers and property owners

Personal

• Son, Jamir, 7

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIF3ehiZS-Q
https://theatlantavoice.com/davonne-reaves
news.gsu.edu/magazine/when-it-comes-to-building-a-hotel-empire-davonne-reaves-has-no-reservations

My ebooks available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com:
Honoring 23 Black Women, Recognizing 23 Notable Mothers, Saluting 23 Faithful Suffragists