Diedre Mathis, Wanderstay Hotels

Deidre Mathis has firmly inserted herself into the hospitality and travel industries with the creation of Wanderstay Houston, private and shared accommodations catering to budget conscious travelers. Mathis is the first Black woman to own a hostel in the United States, and she has built a multi-faceted brand that spans over a decade.

Having traveled to over 37 countries on all 7 continents, Mathis fell in love with the instant community and cultural diversity hostels provided. She wanted to bring that same experience stateside, and thus the concept for Wanderstay was born. The first location opened in Houston, TX in 2018.

She has included many of her travel experiences in her book, "Wanderlust: For the Young, Broke Professional", which helps people looking to enrich their lives by exploring the world.

Mathis holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree in corporate communications from Bowie State University and a graduate certificate in Tourism Management from the George Washington School of Business. 

Presentation Highlights

Hear about Deidre’s journey to opening her first hostel. Deidre is a published author and will share her struggles, challenges and successes as she navigated opening the second hostel in Houston, TX.