Preferred Hotels & Resorts celebrates 15 years of Preferred Pride with extensive commitment to LGBTQ+ | News
As Pride Month spotlights progress, community and inclusion, Preferred Hotels & Resorts marks a major milestone: the 15th anniversary of Preferred Pride, the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ travel program that has helped shape more welcoming hospitality experiences around the world since 2011.
Preferred Pride launched at a time when LGBTQ+ travelers had far fewer trusted resources for identifying truly inclusive places to stay. It was created to connect travelers with hotels that not only welcomed, but actively supported the community. Fifteen years later, the program has grown into a global network of member hotels, travel advisors and industry partners, united by a shared commitment to ensuring every guest feels seen, valued and respected.
Today, Preferred Pride continues to set a high standard for inclusive hospitality. Participating hotels must demonstrate meaningful support for LGBTQ+ guests and employees, offer diversity training, be actively involved in LGBTQ+ causes and operate in destinations where homosexuality is not criminalized. The program was recently revamped with enhanced standards, requiring all participating hotels to reapply and reaffirm their commitment to Preferred Pride’s guiding principles.
“This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate how far our industry has come while recognizing the work that still remains to be done,” said Rick Stiffler, Senior Vice President, Global Leisure Sales at Preferred Hotels & Resorts and a longtime champion of LGBTQ+ inclusion within the travel industry. “For 15 years, Preferred Pride has been helping travelers explore the world with confidence and encouraging our hotel partners to create more inclusive and welcoming environments for all.”
As part of the anniversary celebration, Preferred Hotels & Resorts is deepening its commitment to LGBTQ+ youth by supporting The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth.
Through fundraising initiatives and events involving guests, member hotels, travel advisors and partners, and with a matching contribution from Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the program has already raised $30,000 for The Trevor Project. The funds will support the organization’s lifesaving crisis intervention, mental health resources and LGBTQ+ youth advocacy.
The giving continues throughout Pride Month. For every Preferred Pride booking made in June, Preferred Hotels & Resorts will donate US$5 to The Trevor Project, expanding the program’s impact beyond travel and into the communities it serves.
For more information, visit www.preferredhotels.com
