South Florida’s Black-Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs
It’s Black History Month! So, Vacationer Magazine is giving a few shout-outs to Black leaders in the travel industry that you may not have heard about. Even though they may not identify as LGBTQ+, they are providing queer-friendly hotels and artistic spaces for us in the United States, specifically with ties to South Florida.
Black-Owned Hotels
Raoul Thomas, Founder of CGI Merchant Group
For most LGBTQ+ folks who live in Washington, DC, we were happy to learn that former U.S. President Donald Trump sold the old Trump International Hotel Washington D.C. to Raoul Thomas, the Black entrepreneur and founder of Miami-based CGI Merchant Group (CGI). Although less than 2% of hotel owners are black, CGI’s CEO and founder Raoul Thomas successfully negotiated the acquisition of the long-term lease of the historic Old Post Office building (once Trump’s hotel) for a record-setting $375 million (equivalent to more than $1.4 million a room). CGI received the 2022 Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) award for Single Asset Transaction of the Year (Over $25 million) for the acquisition. That hotel is now Waldorf Astoria Washington DC.
Thomas is also the proud owner of The Gabriel Miami Downtown and The Gabriel South Beach and continues to redefine hospitality in South Florida with his commitment to luxury, culture, and innovation. The Gabriel Miami Downtown, a 129-room oasis in Downtown Miami, offers stylish accommodations with sweeping views and a 14th-floor pool deck featuring a serene rooftop pool and an infinity lap pool with panoramic views of the Intracoastal, Miami Beach, PortMiami and Biscayne Bay. Strategically located near numerous local institutions, the hotel serves as a cultural epicenter, fostering open interaction through its chic design. Boasting three unique restaurants, including Gabriel Restaurant, Bella’s Bar, and GBar, The Gabriel has become a culinary destination, elevating the overall guest experience.
The sister property, The Gabriel South Beach, a 132-room boutique property on Ocean Drive, captures the essence of Raoul’s commitment to blending midcentury modernism with quintessential Floridian style. The hotel is a chic retreat with an immersive atmosphere and a 21st-century reimagination of Miami’s Art Deco District. The courtyard pool, surrounded by lush landscaping, provides a tranquil escape amid the bustling city, while the showstopping glass-bottom pool, positioned six stories above the open atrium, offers a unique and captivating experience. Rooftop yoga classes and a fitness center with free weights and cardio equipment contribute to the well-rounded guest experience.
Entrepreneurs
Reyna Noriega, Artist
At 29 years old, Afro-Caribbean Latina artist Reyna Noriega has accomplished what most aspiring artists only dream about. Understanding the power of introspection, self-reflection, and healing, Noriega centers her work (illustrations, painted murals, digital prints, and product design) around aspects of people’s journeys – specifically those of women of color – as they seek to be their best, most authentic selves and experience sustainable peace and happiness. Noriega has witnessed firsthand how damaging it can be not to see positive representation. Inspired by color, tropical foliage, and a need to help people, she aims to fill the world with vibrant, joyful depictions of marginalized communities in hopes of helping people live richer, happier lives.
More than a beautiful face and a talented artist, Noriega’s business skills are unmatched. She has secured partnerships with national brands, including Starbucks; Schick Intuition and Target, where she designed a limited-edition sensitive-skin razor featuring joyful depictions of her community; Goody, a global leader in hair accessories and styling tools, for an exclusive Walmart collaboration; and Clif Family Wines, creating a custom bottle for the brand’s collection.
Noriega also used one of her most popular art prints, “Aqua Womxn,” as the featured design for Old Navy’s 2021 Black History Month Tee. Together, they sold over 50,000 T-shirts in a little over two weeks. The shirt made its way to many family portraits and vacations and was a great way for parents and grandparents to let their kids know how beautiful they are in their uniqueness.
