Ep. 30: Making history, Jamila Ross and The Copper Door B&B.
LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS | LISTEN ON STITCHER | LISTEN ON SPOTIFY | RSS FEED
The “Leading the Way” entrepreneurship series continues. Today, I’m talking to a non-traditional hotelier who has made a big impact with a small hotel in historic Overtown, Miami. It’s a neighborhood that you might not have heard of, and that’s the precisely the point. There’s a big story here. One that includes people like Ella Fitzgerald and Jackie Robinson back in the 1950s, and includes people like Jamila Ross and Akino West, today.
Jamila and Akino own and operate The Copper Door B&B, a hotel that has introduced travelers to a destination that’s rich with stories, culture, and history that’s been largely overlooked in favor of the bright lights of Miami’s more popular, tourist-driven neighborhoods.
I was introduced to Jamila at BLLA’s Digital Summit this past fall, which brought together independent hotel and lifestyle leaders from around the globe. Jamila was part of a panel discussion about small hotels and how they’ve been able to adapt during the pandemic.
From my perspective, independently owned small hotels are the ones to watch. Today, I’m interviewing Jamila Ross about what she’s built, why she built it, and what she’s learning along the way. Let’s get started.
LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS | LISTEN ON STITCHER | LISTEN ON SPOTIFY | RSS FEED
I really enjoyed this conversation with Jamila, and it was one of those throw out the scripts and go deep, chats, which means, the rest of our conversation airs next week.
Learning the history of Overtown, Miami and the history of the B&B itself, was fascinating. There are so many layers to what Jamila and Akino have built—and what they’re doing—to pay homage to the community’s past and to be a true partner in the present moment.
We’ll pick up next week to learn more about Rosie’s, which in a way, was born out of the pandemic although clearly, the seeds had been planted long ago. Jamila will also share some of the hospitality experiences that were defining moments for her, and she’s sharing the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
As always, keep sharing your stories.
Links mentioned in this episode:
The Copper Door B&B website
