Hotelier, Budget Travel Expert & Author
Deidre Mathis is a hotelier, author, and world traveler. She founded Wanderstay Hospitality Group in 2018, a million-dollar hybrid hospitality brand, based in Houston, Texas. Wanderstay Hospitality Group has both a hostel and boutique hotel in its portfolio. Deidre Mathis made history as the first Black woman to own and operate a hostel in the United States.
In addition to running an independently owned hospitality company, Mathis is the Director of Wander Abroad Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization that provides passports and short-term study abroad opportunities for underrepresented college students. To date, the organization has provided 19 student scholarship programs and 6 student passports.
Having traveled to over 46 countries across all 7 continents (yes, even Antarctica), Mathis understands the importance of obtaining global experiences. Many of Mathis’ early travel experiences are shared in her book, Wanderlust for The Young, Broke Professional.
When Deidre isn’t managing business operations for WHG, she is often traveling as a keynote speaker, speaking on various topics such as budget traveling, studying abroad, how to raise funds for startups (she has raised over $100,000 from various business pitch competitions and grants) and how to live the life of your dreams.
Mathis earned 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.
She is a past Tory Burch Fellow and a Beyonce BeyGood entrepreneur grant recipient. In 2020, she earned a coveted spot as a 40 Under 40 Cohort Member for the Houston Business Journal.
Mathis is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and is married with a toddler daughter.
Accolades for Deidre include:
Winning over $100,000 in business pitch competitions and grants, including:
°1st place Bank of America/Mastercard GROW YOUR BIZ Pitch Competition
°1st place Urban League Local AND National Pitch Competitions
°1st place Houston Liftoff Competition Winner
°1st place Capital One GDTB Winner
°2nd place New Voices Fund Pitch
°2nd place Texas Black Expo Pitch Winner
°3rd place HCC Business Plan Competition Winner
°Beyoncés BeyGOOD/NAACP Small Business Grant Recipient
Professional Development:
°Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business, Houston Cohort 35
°Tory Burch 2019 Fellow
°New Leaders Council (NLC) 2018 Houston Fellow
°Leadership Houston, Class 37
°1863 Pipeline Program Cohort 2
.
