June is LGBTQ+ pride month when cities around the world host vibrant events celebrating diversity. Lots of hotels offer pride-themed packages. But what is the best way to plan a hotel stay when you really want to show support for the community?
A good strategy is to look for hotels that do more than simply slap together a seasonal vacation package. Many hotels show deeper support through charitable contributions and other philanthropic efforts to benefit nonprofit organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community. Here are 17 hotels that go above and beyond in that regard.
California Hotels
Southern California is home to numerous hotels that are making a difference. In Los Angeles, for example, The Garland is a host of the annual fundraiser for Brave Trails, an LGBTQ+ summer camp and leadership organization.
In San Diego, the Manchester Grand Hyatt makes a cash donation to San Diego Pride, which takes place July 8-16, as well as an in-kind contribution for VIPs and entertainers. Nearby, Harrah’s Resort Southern California provides year-round support for the Trevor Project, an organization that supports LGBTQ youth, as well as the Human Right Campaign, an LGBTQ +lobbying and advocacy group.
Kimpton Hotel Eventi Premiere Suite (Photo Credit: Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants)
Northeast Hotels
New York City is another hotspot for LGBTQ+-friendly hospitality initiatives. Moxy Chelsea, for example, partners with the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar and National Historic Landmark, and the nonprofit Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative , which assists LGBTQ+ grassroots organizations. In the same neighborhood is the Kimpton Hotel Eventi, which offers a pride package that includes a donation to The Trevor Project for each booking.
Intercontinental Barclay Bedroom Mural (Photo Credit: Intercontinental Barclay)
The Intercontinental New York Barclay, meanwhile, also offers a pride package with a philanthropic element; a portion of proceeds from the hotel’s signature Celebrating YOU cocktail in June will be donated to wayOUt, an organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth.
Not far from the Big Apple, in Connecticut, Mohegan Sun will host a pride weekend event on June 24 and 25, with part of the ticket sales donated to outCT, an organization that puts together a variety of events in southeastern Connecticut.
Around the Country
Hotels around the country are upping the ante when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Hilton, for example, shows its support through multiple properties — including the Hilton Columbus Downtown, which is a partner of Stonewall Columbus, a central Ohio LGBTQ+ organization, and Hilton Salt Lake City Center, which is the premier lodging sponsor for the Utah Pride Festival.
In Colorado, meanwhile, The ART Hotel Denver is offering a PRIDE Frose cocktail and a rainbow salad for the month of June, with $1 from each purchase donated to One Colorado, an advocacy organization for the state. The W Aspen, meanwhile, has launched a year-round program that makes contributions to AspenOut, a local LGBTQ+ organization, based on cocktail sales every Thursday at the hotel’s 39 Degrees bar.
Good things also come from cocktails at Alma at Hotel Zachary in Chicago, where 25 percent of June sales for its Love in the Sky cocktail will go to Center on Halsted, an LGBTQ+ community center.
Also showcasing a spirited approach is Hotel Tango Distillery, which throughout the month of June is running a program called Operation: Pride Proudly that donates $1 for every bottle of Pride Vodka sold to the Modern Military Association of America, which serves LGBTQ+ service members and their families.
Virgin Hotels Nashville Bath and Body Nashville (Photo Credit: Virgin Hotels Nashville)
In Music City, Virgin Hotels Nashville is the official host hotel for Nashville Pride, which takes place June 24-25. But the hotel has also hosted multiple events on other dates – including Bath & Body, a rooftop party with DJs and drag performances— to benefit local organizations such as the Oasis Center, which focuses on the needs of LGBTQ+ youth, and Inclusion Tennessee, which serves Nashville’s LGBTQ+ community.
Also showing southern hospitality is The Palmetto Hotel, which opened this year in Charleston, South Carolina. The property is partnering with We Are Family, a local nonprofit organization that provides safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and other youth in need.
Hotels in Latin America
Among the hotels in Latin America making a difference are Hotel Belmar in Costa Rica, which is hosting a free Pride Live & Proud event on June 17 and is donating $1 from all beer purchases throughout pride month to Casa Rara, which serves LGBTQ+ youth. In Colombia, meanwhile, Hilton Bogota is working with the Cámara de la Diversidad, an LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce, to host a public fair LGBTQ+ small businesses on June 29-30.
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