To commemorate Black History Month, hotels across the U.S. are welcoming guests and locals to take part in programming and pop-up events throughout February.

Ways in which hotels are going above and beyond for their surrounding communities include specially curated food and beverages inspired by icons of Black history, showcasing local artists, happy hours and live podcast listening events.

Jason Bass, director of culture and impact at Maryland-based Revival Baltimore, a JdV by Hyatt hotel, said his property is always looking to create opportunities to celebrate diversity year-round.

Revival Baltimore is in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, which Bass said is a cultural district rich with music, art and food.

"Outside of that, from a socioeconomic view of the neighborhood, it ranges [from] households that hit the median income of $40,000 a year to people who are doing pretty well for themselves, and this is the center point for them," he said. "They seem to merge really well ... so we really have to cater to both audiences in a way."

Achieving that, Bass said, requires intentionally programming each area of the hotel.

"What I do, specifically, is I'm more of a hands-on, down-to-earth community type of person, where I believe the only way that you're going to truly understand how to service people in your area is if you visit them where they are," he said. "You can observe to see what's not being told; if the [community] trusts you, they'll let you know."

For February, Bass and his team have put together a variety of special events for Black History Month, including a viewing party of HBO documentary "A Choice of Weapons" with local photographer and activist Devin Allen; a happy hour on most Thursdays during the month at its B-side bar, featuring Black-owned spirit companies; a live podcast listening event; and festivities to celebrate the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association — the oldest African American athletic conference in the U.S. — coming to Baltimore.

Some of these events also present the opportunity for revenue generation, he said.

Bass' role as director of culture and impact at the hotel is unique in a sense that it's the only one within Hyatt's hotels. The hotel's general manager, Donte Johnson, created the position.

"He had a vision for what the hotel should look like and how it should operate," Bass said. "I reached out to him once he became the GM of the hotel to see if he would be interested in having me host an event at the hotel, called the Night Brunch. From there, it grew into a short-lived consulting role ... then grew into an opportunity to create this role."

• Read more about Hotel Revival General Manager Donte Johnson

Bass said it's crucial to keep the conversation about marginalized people going beyond Black History Month.

"When it comes to Black history, being a Black person, of course this is a moment where we get to celebrate that and focus on it, but we do look to create opportunities year-round," he said, such as celebrating Women's History Month and Pride Month.

The hotel also partners with local minority-owned businesses as vendors, such as a sustainable toilet paper business and feminine products business, he said.

The Foundry Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, is rooted in history, which General Manager Larry Crosby said inspired his team to take part in historic preservation and adding vibrancy to the city.

The 87-room hotel is located in the historic African-American business and residential district called The Block, an area that was home to nearly 100 Black-owned enterprises centered around the historic YMI Cultural Center, he said via email.

"The neighborhood has undergone extensive changes from its heyday, as 'urban renewal' displaced its residents and businesses with the unfulfilled promise of return," he said. "Today, the community is focused on its rebirth through the preservation of its historic structures such as the YMI, Ashville Supply and Foundry Building, which is now the Foundry Hotel."

The Foundry Hotel itself has been designed to pay homage to the city. The hotel's restaurant, Benne on Eagle, features cuisine that is representative of the traditions that were native to The Block neighborhood. The Savoy Ballroom was named to honor the original Savoy Hotel that hosted many African Americans during their travels to Asheville, Crosby said.

Because maintaining partnerships with the community and finding ways to curate experiences with the neighborhood's history is top of mind for Crosby, he brought on DeWayne Barton, founder and CEO of Hood Huggers International, who is dedicated to programs that revitalize, protect and uplift historically African-American neighborhoods and landmarks.

The partnership between the Foundry and Hood Huggers allows guests to immerse themselves in private "Hood" tours around the neighborhood with Barton.

"DeWayne Barton has been at the forefront of telling the stories of the Black history of Asheville for a very long time," Crosby said. "Considering the knowledge he brings and invaluable insight he offers, we knew that it was important to partner with DeWayne to offer his experience to our guests. DeWayne is focused on preserving the heritage of Black history in Asheville and The Foundry needed to be a key contributor in that regard."

The hotel's concierge services also curates locally driven experiences by leading guests to the nearby PennyCup coffee shop, Noir Collective and the YMI Cultural Center, Crosby said.

This year, Hotel Zena in Washington, D.C., is hosting its Black History Month event on Feb. 26 at its Figleaf Bar & Lounge, which will showcase creations by 18 local Black female artisans, makers and businesses, Sherry Abedi, area general manager of Hotel Zena, said via email.

These creators will host a trunk show experience for guests and locals while the hotel's food-and-beverage venue, Figleaf, will have craft cocktails and a menu of snacks that guests can purchase. Vendors also have a chance to sell their items in Hotel Zena's gift shop.

The hotel opened in 2020, and this is the first year it will host an event for Black History Month, she said. Hotel Zena is known for being a cultural hub celebrating the accomplishments of women and their struggle for gender equality.

"We expect a great turnout from our guests at the hotel and also from the local D.C. community, as many of our participants have loyal customers in the area," she said.

Last year, Hotel Zena hosted a monthlong celebration in honor of Women’s History Month with virtual and in-person events, which was well-received by the community. Abedi expects a similar turnout for the Black History Month event.

"We certainly plan to continue this event for years to come, as highlighting and supporting local Black female makers and artisans is of great importance to us," she said.

"Hotel Zena's design and programs celebrate the people who work together to achieve fundamental civil rights in a warm, dynamic and inviting hotel with comfortable spaces featuring artwork, commissioned to create a message of empowerment and hope," she said. "When businesses celebrate diversity, whether it be through art, programming or diversity of staff, it showcases how a brand is incorporating different perspectives into its services and offerings. This in turn helps to create a welcoming environment for people of different backgrounds."

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