Program Approaches 4th Year as the Ultimate Resource for LGBT Travel Planning with Worldwide Lineup of Hotels and New Pride Blog
CHICAGO — April 9, 2014 — As LGBT travelers and their families begin to map out their summer plans, the Preferred Pride collection from Preferred Hotel Group has introduced new programming to help them find a place to call home wherever their itineraries will take them. New for 2014, Preferred Pride has added 33 properties to its portfolio of TAG-certified or IGLTA-member hotels in destinations ranging from the exotic such as Mossel Bay, South Africa and Cusco, Peru to the tried-and-true such as San Francisco and Barcelona. In addition, the program has introduced the Preferred Pride blog, an inspiring resource that offers insightful looks at emerging trends and the latest news on what to do, where to stay, and how to celebrate in key destinations around the globe.
“We are so proud of Preferred Pride’s continuous growth as the world’s premier collection of gay-welcoming hotels and resorts,” said Rick Stiffler, Vice President of Leisure Sales for Preferred Hotel Group. “The introduction of the Preferred Pride blog allows us to help LGBT travelers and their families not only find the most welcoming hotels in their chosen destinations but also take advantage of insider tips to ensure their vacation is memorable from start to finish.”
Each property within the Preferred Pride portfolio offers a Preferred Pride package. Available through December 31, 2014, this special offer caters to all travelers who want to celebrate Pride, featuring the best available rate, a special property-specific amenity, and double iPrefer points.
Highlights of the newest hotels to join the Preferred Pride collection include:
Il Salviatino — Florence, Italy
The newly restored Il Salviatino is a romantic hillside retreat fit for the House of Medici, where modern indulgences are balanced with magnificent furnishings. Travelers staying at this palatial villa can enjoy daytime extravagances such as spa treatments and fireside Champagne toasts and nighttime excursions to stylish gay hotspots in the Florence city center just a quick drive away.
Preferred Pride Amenity: Tuscan Home Fragrance and a bottle of Italian sparkling wine; package rates from US$1,262.
Miramar Hotel by Windsor — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
With on-call butler service and an expansive rooftop terrace, among other captivating features, the recently retrofitted Miramar Hotel by Windsor is a glamorous choice for travelers looking to celebrate equality south of the equator. In addition to treating guests like true Rio royalty, this hotspot features a prime location just steps from the iconic Copacabana Beach where the city’s annual Gay Pride parade unfolds.
Preferred Pride Amenity: Vintage customized Rio de Janeiro–themed collector’s box with four cup holders; package rates from US$330.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa— Manalapan (Palm Beach), Florida, USA
This newly fashioned five-star resort is an inviting getaway for travelers who are looking to soak up the sun while enjoying a luxurious, yet playful travel experience. Between excursions to explore the area’s vibrant LGBT nightlife, guests of Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa can lavish in treatments at the award-winning Eau Spa, lounge along the resort’s private beach, or partake in a variety of on-property entertainment offerings.
Preferred Pride Amenity: Boxed Palm Beach Breeze candles; package rates from US$493 per night.
Hesperia Madrid — Madrid, Spain
Ideally located on Paseo de la Castellana, Hesperia Madrid is an unbeatable starting point for 2014 celebrations, putting travelers a 15-minute walk from Chueca where the Gay Pride festivities take place every July. Guests enjoy warm service and memorable experiences throughout their stay, whether enjoying a toast from a private rooftop terrace or dining at the two Michelin-starred Santceloni.
Preferred Pride Amenity: Welcome drink and late check-out (4 p.m.); package rates from US$138 per night.
Buddha Bar Hotel Paris — Paris, France
This restored 18th-century townhouse was once home to the court member in charge of the King’s “Menus-Plaisirs” and, today, continues to be one of the city’s top places to see-and-be-seen. Guests of the discreet, yet dazzling 56-room hotel can make a statement by arranging private transportation to Place de la Bastille, where a colossal dance party will take place at the conclusion of this year’s LGBT Pride March on June 28.
Preferred Pride Amenity: Bottle of Champagne; package rates from US$323 per night.
Upcoming parades and festivals where Preferred Pride hotels are located also include:
About Preferred Pride
The Preferred Pride collection launched in June 2011. To be eligible, hotels must be either TAG Approved® (Community Marketing’s Travel Alternative Group) or belong to IGLTA® (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association). Both organizations are universally recognized to set the standards for LGBT travel. Hotels that participate in Preferred Pride are offered diversity training on best practices in serving the LGBT community from check-in to check-out. For more information, visit www.PreferredPride.com.
About Preferred Hotel Group™
Preferred Hotel Group represents more than 650 of the finest hotels, resorts, and serviced residences in the world. Preferred Hotel Group’s brands include Preferred Hotels® & Resorts, Summit Hotels & Resorts™, Sterling Hotels™, Summit Serviced Residences™, Sterling Design, and Preferred Boutique™. Travelers gain valuable benefits through branded programs iPrefer™, Preferred Family, Preferred Pride, Preferred Golf™, and Preferred Residences™. For more information, visit www.PreferredHotelGroup.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Caroline Michaud
Director, Public Relations
Tel: +1 312 542 9218
cmichaud@preferredhotelgroup.com
Terri McCollin
Senior Manager, Public Relations — EMEA
Tel: +44 207 440 0316
tmccollin@preferredhotelgroup.com
Arlene Benger-Tan
Senior Manager, Public Relations — Asia Pacific
Tel: +65 6577 2487
abenger@preferredhotelgroup.com
For high resolution imagery of member hotels, please visit the Preferred Hotel Group Image Library at www.PreferredHotelGroupImages.com.