Davonne Reaves

The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) named Davonne Reaves as the recipient of the sixth annual Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting during its annual conference. Reaves received a one-year associate membership to the ISHC to further professional relationships and experience all that the Society has to offer through planned events and interacting with top hospitality industry consultants from around the globe. The organization also announced its 2020 Rising Star & Young Leader category award winners.

Reaves is the founder and chief hospitality strategist of The Vonne Group, a firm specializing in travel market research, asset and operational management and brand development for boutique hotels. She is an award-winning hotel consultant, hotel asset manager and published author, with over 14 years' experience in the lodging industry. Prior to founding The Vonne Group, Reaves held positions at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Blair Management Consultants, Horwath HTL and CHMWarnick. She is regarded by industry peers as an innovator, entrepreneur and supporter of those looking to get into the hospitality industry. Reaves co-authored "Tidbits for the Emerging Pineapple Professional," a guide for hospitality industry newcomers, and co-founded Epiq Collective, a commercial real estate investment fund targeting millennials investors seeking hotel and multi-family ownership opportunities. Reaves created a signature system called The Pathway to Hotel Ownership and has educated over 3,000 individuals on the hotel acquisition and investment process, successfully guiding many to becoming hotel owners. She has held numerous industry positions and has volunteered her time and expertise to organizations including Urban Land Institute, AH&LA Under 30 Gateway Council, Chair Emeritus; National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD), Chair, Women in NABHOOD; Hospitality Industry Professionals (HIP-Atlanta), President; Association of Young Real Estate Professionals, Member; National Society of Minorities in Hospitality Georgia State Chapter, Industry Advisor; and co-founder of the professional network, the Next Generation in Lodging. She also was selected as Hotel Management Magazine's "Top Hospitality Young Professional" in 2016 Reaves is a graduate of Georgia State University and serves as an advisory board member for the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality.

The Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting represents one of four annual ISHC-sponsored awards recognizing next generation leaders in hospitality, this one specific to consulting. The Rising Star Awards highlight emerging talent specific to the Asia Pacific and Caribbean regions, while the Young Leader Award honors future hospitality leaders worldwide. This year's award winners include:

  • Davinia Cisier, Director of Development Luxury Hotels, Accor (IHIF Young Leader Award)
  • Creasha-Dine Thompson, Event Planning Manager, Hyatt Ziva & Zilara Rose Hall (Rising Star Award, Caribbean)
  • Corey Hamabata, Senior Vice President, Asia, Hotels & Hospitality, JLL (Rising Star Award, Asia)
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