Deidre Mathis was the first woman of African American descent to own a hostel in the United States. She established Wanderstay in Houston, TX in August 2018. In addition to the hostel, Mathis is also an author and world traveler. To date, she has visited 41 countries across 7 continents.

Who Is Deidre Mathis?

Deidre Mathis is widely known for her Wanderstay Houston, a hostel which offers both private and shared accommodations. Wanderstay is a budget-friendly hostel which makes it popular with tourists.

Mathis went to Florida’s A & M University where she received a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. She then went to Bowie State University, where she earned her master’s degree in corporate communications. Later she also attended the George Washington School of Business where she attained a certificate in Tourism Management.

Interesting Fact: Mathis is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, the first established sorority in the United States for black women by black women.

Deidre’s Hostel Business

In her travels, Mathis came across a rich diversity of cultures around the globe which inspired her in business. She admits that the interaction with various communities around the globe gave birth to her Wanderstay accommodations business concept where the first location was established in 2018 in Houston, Texas.

Mathis hostel business has boomed resulting in appearances in major publications such as USA Today and Forbes. She has also been featured in the Houston Style Magazine, the Houston Chronicle, Black Enterprise, and Essence. In all these publications, Deidre serves as a source of inspiration for African American women and also as a living example of female empowerment and business acumen.

Mathis is also a common figure in the various television shows in the US including First Coast Living and Great Day Houston. She has also made a cameo in the Houston Life where she talks about travel. She has also featured on WBTV and CBS.

As a writer and a publisher, she has shared her travel experiences in her book titled “Wanderlust: For the Young, Broke Professional”.

More Reasons Why Mathis’ Success Is Noteworthy?

Mathis is a successful African American woman who has made it in the hostel business. Entrepreneurs can draw inspiration from her to find their business niche, execute their vision, and thrive in business and other aspects of their lives.

Mathis is against people living in their comfort zone and believes the best way is to live on the edge. She is a firm believer in the famous quote “with great risk comes great reward”, and she places emphasis on the need for everyone to take chances.

Mathis plans to expand her hostel business to more locations after seeing the success of the Wanderstay Hostel. Mathis intends to ensure that the new locations will also be budget friendly to guests as part of her grand scheme to make traveling easier and more affordable for everyone.