Many owners of businesses are busy deciding just how they intend to be active and profitable in this lucrative lodging industry. Our nation's government may be in an uproar, but the small businesses of this country are beginning to see many new markets in which to capitalize that offer stability and growth potential. 

When speaking recently with Donnell Thompson of Thompson Hospitality, which is based in Atlanta and is developing products in a half dozen markets, it became clear that Thompson is an example of an African-American businessperson who is showing himself adept at capitalizing on such opportunities.

In so doing, Thompson intends to work as much as possible with other African-Americans so that they too can begin to achieve benefits from the potential that is inherent by becoming a player in the travel-and-tourism industries.

Thompson said African Americans as a people and as business operators should do all that we can to support our own businesses. He said that he diligently attempts to locate black service providers as he embarks into various stages of the development of his hotels.

'There is strength in numbers, and what I'm seeing is a will and desire between people unlike ever before," Thompson said. "What now needs to happen is a willingness on behalf of the lending institutions to adopt systems that make financing less complicated. There should be more financial seminars and training systems such as the ones that NABHA is conducting."

Thompson has participated in many NABHA functions and is the first African American hotel owner to join as an allied member. While Thompson is proving himself as an owner, there is another NABHA member that particularly welcomes African-American ownership, because its businesses of architecture and engineering put the company into a strong position of being able to be an important partner from the ground up.

"The architectural and engineering firm of Williams, Russell & Johnson, based in Atlanta. has designed and supervised many hotel projects" said Pelham C. Williams, c.e.o. "We welcome this new wave of opportunities that comes along with black hotel ownership."

Williams was instrumental in providing the resources that enabled Cross Country Ventures, a small construction development firm, to win a contract to build the MicroCity Center in Atlanta.

"We are looking forward to partnering with many small minority companies, and mentoring them where applicable," Williams said.

Williams, Russell & Johnson has supervised hundreds of millions of dollars worth of construction projects and is one of the most successful minority-owned firms in the nation. It has offices in seven cities and has completed projects worldwide.

This is a perfect example of the mentoring and joint venturing that is beginning to take place in black business communities. Williams, Russell & Johnson is the first black corporate member of NABHA, and is an example of the success that many black business operators aspire to achieve.

The entire hospitality industry has seen this vision and is beginning to participate. Industry officials are beginning to understand what we mean when we say where there is no room, we shall make some. This is building now for our future.

Gary Cross is executive director of Atlanta-based national Association of Black Hospitality Allies.