In a win for Black representation in the hospitality field, Hotel Revival Baltimore has appointed Ramon J. Sneed as its new general manager.
Of his new role, the Maryland native has expressed great excitement, as The Afro detailed that he hopes to continues building upon the legacy established by his predecessors,
“Hotel Revival has a name for itself,” Sneed said. “The
previous leadership did an amazing job of marketing the hotel, promoting what they were doing and doing great things for the community. I look forward to carrying that on and collaborating with the Revival team members, vendors, and local community partners.”However, his promotion to a management role within the hotel industry is rare for Black hospitality professionals. According to a
recent report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Castell Project, the retainment and recruitment of Black employees has dropped nearly two points since 2020. Overall, Black hotel ownership is abysmal—Black entrepreneurs make up less than 2% of all U.S. hotel ownership.Andy Ingram, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators, and Developers, also believes there is more to be done to “break the glass ceiling” for people of color in the industry.
In addition to the much-needed diversity and inclusion, Sneed brings a dedication to the wellbeing of his staff, from the front office to the housekeeping department. The 43-year-old has learned through his decades of experience in the industry that uplifting your employees is a key factor in a well-run establishment.
Sneed hopes to change the racial landscape of hotel operations, utilizing the Revival’s name and legacy to not only represent the company’s brand well, but also the Black professionals running it.
“It’s a big responsibility for me to make sure that we’re keeping that momentum going and building on Revival’s connections and initiatives that benefit Baltimore.”