Jordan Wren
The Brittano Group and The Rook Hotels Unveil The Cornerstone Collection: A Socially-Responsible Hotel Brand Elevating Higher Education and Economic Sustainability
Danville, VA – February 20, 2025 – The hospitality landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the launch of The Cornerstone Collection, a socially-responsible hotel brand introduced by The Brittano Group and its subsidiary, The Rook Hotels. This initiative is set to redefine upscale accommodations while fostering economic development and education throughout the United States.
A Vision for Transformative Hospitality
At its foundation, The Cornerstone Collection is designed to merge higher education with sustainable business growth. By forging partnerships with universities and community organizations, this innovative hospitality model will generate revenue for institutions, provide uncharted workforce training for students, and create new pathways for aspiring hotel owners within marginalized communities.
“We are not just constructing hotels; we are cultivating ownership, generating unprecedented opportunities, and making a lasting impact,” stated Julian Brittano, Actor & co-star to Oprah Winfrey in OWN’s hit series “Greenleaf,” a hotel owner, hotel developer, corporate alchemist and co-CEO of The Brittano Group, The Rook Hotels and The Cornerstone Collection. His wife, Karie Brittano, likewise, co-CEO, hotel owner, hotel developer, and a sharp-witted strategic business partner, a licensed Class A CIC General Contractor and former adjunct professor, emphasized, “Our mission is to transform hospitality by establishing a sustainable blueprint that empowers the next generation of industry leaders.”
Pioneering Hotel Ownership
The Brittano Group enterprise has been making rapid strides in hotel development, securing a total of 5 multimillion-dollar hotel acquisition deals since its inaugural purchase of the John Randolph Hotel, renamed The Rook at South Boston, South Boston, Virginia, in 2022. Their aggressive expansion strategy has positioned them as trailblazers across top hospitality platforms in an industry where African-American ownership has been historically very limited.
Their strategic acumen has attracted major industry players, including Choice Hotels International, which in 2023 named The Brittano Group-The Rook Hotels as its first celebrity-led soft brand partner within the ASCEND luxury collection.
The Future of The Cornerstone Collection
With its inaugural properties slated to open in 2025, The Cornerstone Collection has set an ambitious goal of expanding to 50 locations nationwide over the next decade. Each hotel in this Cornerstone Collection will feature integrated workforce training programs, media and creative production facilities, and entrepreneurial initiatives tailored for the hospitality sector, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for students, and strategic collaborative opportunities for corporations alike.
At CIAA’s Money Moves Financial Summit “Creating Generational Wealth” panel on March 1, 2025, in Baltimore, MD, Julian Brittano will participate in a distinguished panel discussing the intersection of hospitality, economic empowerment, and generational wealth-building. There, Brittano will announce the first slate of colleges and universities already under agreement with The Cornerstone Collection and the public will have its first opportunity to explore The Cornerstone Collection and strategic collaborative opportunities.
About The Brittano Group & The Rook Hotels
Established in 2018, The Brittano Group is a leading force in real estate development and hospitality, dedicated to expanding African-American hotel ownership, driving economic revitalization and workforce.
Founded in 2021, The Rook Hotels is reshaping upscale accommodations by integrating historic preservation, sustainable development, and community-focused innovation. While its major soft brand partnership for The Rook at South Boston in South Boston Virginia is with Choice Hotels International, and prepares for its grand opening in Q4 2025 after major renovations, The Rook Hotels has been on a rapid growth trajectory, establishing itself as a leader in independent luxury hospitality.
For more information on The Cornerstone Collection and to explore strategic partnership opportunities, visit www.therookhotels.com, follow The Cornerstone Collection on Instagram: @thecornerstonehotels or contact Alecia Jones, Director of Communications — Media Contact: The Brittano Group | The Rook Hotels | Block Builders Academy at [email protected].
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