Black culture and the hospitality industry: The story of Akwaaba B&Bs

Monique Greenwood and her husband opened their first Akwaaba bed-and-breakfast in a black neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, back in the 1990s. Today they also have Akwaabas in Washington, D.C., Cape May, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Guests, both black and white, now come from across the U.S. and around the world. The upscale inns carry on a tradition of hospitality for everyone while celebrating black culture.

In this episode of the AP Travel podcast “Get Outta Here!” Greenwood talks frankly about the challenges of #travelingwhileblack, both historically because of segregation and in the contemporary world, where the travel industry has too often fallen short when it comes to making everyone feel welcome and included.

She also talks about how her business got started, how it’s grown and how she has used the B&Bs to connect with visitors from many different backgrounds.

Monique Greenwood and her husband opened their first Akwaaba bed-and-breakfast in a black neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, back in the 1990s. Today they also have Akwaabas in Washington, D.C., Cape May, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Guests, both black and white, now come from across the U.S. and around the world. The upscale inns carry on a tradition of hospitality for everyone while celebrating black culture.

In this episode of the AP Travel podcast “Get Outta Here!” Greenwood talks frankly about the challenges of #travelingwhileblack, both historically because of segregation and in the contemporary world, where the travel industry has too often fallen short when it comes to making everyone feel welcome and included.

She also talks about how her business got started, how it’s grown and how she has used the B&Bs to connect with visitors from many different backgrounds.