As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, Black-owned luxury accommodations are making strides with their world-class service and cultural perspectives. The Travel Noire Awards celebrate these achievements by recognizing exceptional Black-owned properties that have redefined luxury hospitality. This year’s nominees for Best Black-Owned Resort/Hotel represent a diverse portfolio of properties that harmonize cultural heritage and luxury. From a historic mansion in Baltimore to a tropical paradise in Jamaica, these properties showcase the vision and excellence of Black entrepreneurs in the global hospitality landscape.
Half Moon Resort – Montego Bay, Jamaica
Half Moon Resort / Salamander Resorts
Set on 400 acres of manicured grounds with two miles of pristine beachfront, Half Moon Resort stands as one of Jamaica’s highest-rated luxury destinations. Opened in 1954, the resort has maintained its legacy as a luxurious retreat while preserving its roots as a Black-owned establishment. Three of the original founding families continue to guide Half Moon’s vision.
As a result, this Black-owned hotel remains a landmark for world-class hospitality with an authentic Jamaican spirit. The resort features individually-appointed rooms and suites, most with sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea, along with an award-winning spa oasis, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and an equestrian center with 28 horses.
The Ivy Hotel – Baltimore, Maryland
The Ivy Hotel
Housed in a restored 19th-century mansion in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, The Ivy Hotel is one of the few Black-owned boutique hotels in America. This Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond property offers 17 furnished guest rooms and suites, each appointed with luxurious fabrics, four-poster beds, and gas fireplaces.
The Ivy’s approach to hospitality is distinctive and all-encompassing. The entire property is at guests’ disposal. Visitors can enjoy coffee in the garden, select a book from the library, play billiards, or explore the charming streets of Mount Vernon just beyond the hotel’s doors. The property also features Magdalena, an acclaimed Maryland bistro, and a small yet exquisite spa with heated limestone floors and, in some accommodations, soaking tubs.
Jnane Tamsna – Marrakech, Morocco
Jnane Tamsna
This stunning North African retreat is the vision of Senegalese-Parisian lawyer-turned-designer Meryanne Loum-Martin and her husband, American ethnobotanist Gary Martin. Located in Marrakech’s verdant Palmeraie district, Jnane Tamsna stands apart from typical tourist experiences by offering authentic cultural immersion with its owners’ commitment to preserving Moroccan traditions and celebrating African art.
The property comprises five houses and 24 individually designed rooms, each featuring its own private terrace. The décor represents a masterful celebration of Moroccan design tradition and African artistry. With five swimming pools spread across nine acres of gardens, the hotel offers both intimacy and space. Beyond luxurious accommodations, Jnane Tamsna is renowned for its culinary excellence, featuring locally-sourced ingredients, and its innovative “Diversity Excursions” program — a model for respectful cultural tourism that introduces guests to the region’s rich heritage through camelback rides, cooking classes, and calligraphy lessons.
Salamander Middleburg – Middleburg, Virginia
Salamander Resort & Spa
Founded by Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET and America’s first Black female billionaire, Salamander Middleburg represents the cornerstone of her hospitality empire. Located in the picturesque horse country of Middleburg, Virginia, just 50 miles from Washington D.C., this Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort spans 340 acres framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, lush vineyards, and horse farms.
The Black-owned hotel boasts 168 luxurious guestrooms and suites, each offering scenic countryside views. True to Johnson’s vision of wellness and connection with nature, Salamander Middleburg houses a 23,000-square-foot spa with 14 treatment rooms. It also houses one of the finest equestrian facilities in the country, with 25 acres dedicated to riding and a 14,000-square-foot stable.
Urban Cowboy Lodge – Catskills, New York
Urban Cowboy Lodge
If you’re looking for a Catskills escape within a short drive of New York City, Urban Cowboy Lodge is one to know. Set in Big Indian, about 2.5 hours from Manhattan, the property recently expanded after taking over the neighboring Slide Mountain Inn, giving it a footprint of 200 acres and a total of 44 rooms across 13 buildings.
The accommodations aren’t copy-paste hotel rooms. Some come with private decks, hand-printed wallpaper, Pendleton robes and blankets, while the lodge penthouse has a copper clawfoot tub and double rain shower. Outside the rooms, there’s an Estonian sauna, indoor and outdoor soaking tubs, a swimming pool, a bowling alley, tennis courts, and plenty of hiking access.
We’re more than half way through this year’s best in class nominees and winners, but there’s still more to come. The winner of the 2025 Travel Noire Award for Best Black-Owned Luxury Resort/Hotel will be revealed on September 26. Visit the Travel Noire Awards hub to discover all the categories, nominees, and winners delivering next level hospitality and service in travel and tourism.
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