Nationwide — Three years after opening the doors to Wanderstay Boutique Hotel, entrepreneur Deidre Mathis continues to break barriers in an industry where Black women remain dramatically underrepresented. As the only Black woman known to own a hotel in Houston, Texas, she is celebrating the property’s third anniversary by offering guests who book during the month of July a complimentary second night with every paid night. The anniversary promotion is available for the first 100 reservations made between July 1 and July 31, 2026.
Long before becoming a hotel owner, she built a life around travel. An HBCU graduate of Florida A&M University, Bowie State University, and The George Washington University School of Business, she has visited more than 46 countries across all seven continents. Those experiences introduced her to boutique hotels and hostels around the world and inspired a vision to create accommodations that combine thoughtful design with genuine hospitality. After relocating to Houston in 2014, she left her career to pursue that vision full-time.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2018 when she opened Wanderstay Houston Hostel, becoming the first Black woman to own and operate a hostel in the United States. Rather than relying on traditional investors, Mathis pieced together funding by winning more than $200,000 in business pitch competitions, securing an SBA loan, and investing proceeds from her book, Wanderlust for the Young, Broke Professional. She expanded the company in 2023 by opening Wanderstay Boutique Hotel, becoming Houston’s first Black woman hotel owner.
Beyond hospitality, Mathis is committed to expanding opportunities for others. She founded the Wander Abroad Foundation, a nonprofit that helps underrepresented college students obtain passports and participate in study abroad programs. Her work has earned national recognition, including honors as a Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient, a Tory Burch Fellow, a BeyGOOD entrepreneur grant recipient, and one of Hotel Management Magazine‘s Influential Women in Hospitality.
“For me, this anniversary is about much more than celebrating a hotel,” said Mathis. “It’s a celebration of perseverance, representation, and showing what’s possible. I hope more Black women see this and realize there’s room for us in every industry, including hospitality.” To commemorate the milestone, Wanderstay Boutique Hotel is offering a Buy One Night, Get One Night Free promotion throughout July. Guests may redeem their complimentary stay anytime within one year of booking, excluding select holidays and major event dates, by using the promotional code SUMMER50.
For Mathis, the third anniversary represents more than the success of a single business. It reflects the growing presence of Black women in an industry where ownership remains rare and highlights the impact entrepreneurs can have by creating spaces that welcome travelers while inspiring future business owners. Through Wanderstay Boutique Hotel, she continues to demonstrate how vision, persistence, and a global perspective can create lasting opportunities in Houston’s hospitality industry.
Learn more about WanderstayBoutiqueHotel.com
For press inquiries, contact (281) 214-2661 or deidre@wanderstayhotels.com