Meet the Couple Behind the New Black-Owned Quality Inn in Memphis, Tennessee

This Black couple just made history after acquiring a Quality Inn hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, Black Enterprise reports.

Norland James, a veteran and realtor, founded Duke Ventures with his wife, Dr. Amina Gilyard James, in 2019. With many investments, including a Home2 Suites in Oklahoma and a Hampton Inn in Georgia, the couple was ready to add more hotel properties to their portfolio in hopes of becoming sole owners of one.

“We learned a lot as limited partners, and we just knew that we wanted to buy our very own hotel in 2022. Ultimately, our goal is to acquire more midscale hotel properties in secondary markets in the Southern and Midwest regions of the country,” Dr. James said.

Sticking to their goal, they recently purchased a Quality Inn for $3.85 million. After the financial dip in the hotel industry in 2020 due to the pandemic, the city of Memphis was able to recover economically, making it the perfect place for the couple to purchase their very own hotel.

Together, the couple has both real estate and hospitality experience, two things that will come in handy for their latest venture. “We already have plans and consultants in place to increase customer satisfaction, implement sales and marketing strategies, and enhance property conditions,” Mr. James said.

Congratulations! We know this won’t be the last one.

Photo: Yahoo News/ Booking.com