What does it take for a hotel to be truly LGBTQ+ friendly?

More companies and organizations are striving to make hotel stays more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community

There’s a practical reason why hospitality firms are keen to commit to such programs: LGBTQ+ travelers in the United States take an average of 6.8 trips per year, according to data from the most recent LGBTQ+ travel study, and are more than twice as likely to have a valid passport than other Americans.

Key takeaways

• In recent years, advocacy groups have created accreditation systems that hotels can acquire and display, usually after undergoing training of some kind. The IGLTA Accredited program, for example, uses eight data points, including training and community engagement, for a hotel to secure its endorsement.
• Then there’s Queer Destinations, a four-year-old firm that’s worked with both Marriott and Hyatt with hands-on executive training to tee up staffers to handle community needs with sensitivity; those who pass earn what it dubs its “Distinction” designation.
• Industry insiders point to a few operators that are already standouts and likely to ace such questions. Marketing umbrella Preferred Hotels & Resorts has operated Preferred Pride for 12 years.

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