Marriott Welcomes LGBT Guests to “Be You, With Us”

Lodging Leader Launches New Marketing Campaign and Sweepstakes.

Global lodging leader, Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) today announced a new marketing campaign aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travelers, friends and families – “Be You, With Us”.

The “Be You, With Us” campaign launches in celebration of Pride Season (often observed from June through September) in cities around the world that host gay pride parades and festivals to celebrate the LGBT community.  The campaign is filled with imagery and messages that welcome all guests to be themselves when staying with Marriott. The campaign comes to life through travel packages and amazing hotel experiences and culminates with a sweepstakes where one grand prize winner and guest will receive a trip valued at $5,000 to the 2013 New York, San Francisco or Berlin Gay Pride Festivals.  Travelers can register through www.marriott.com/pride to enter the “Be You, With Us” sweepstakes. 

Participating Marriott brands include:  JW Marriott, Renaissance, Autograph, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites.

Beginning June 7th, travelers can book attractive “Be You, With Us” hotel deals and packages through www.marriott.com/pride.  Some of the packages include:  The Rainbow NOLA offer, which features deluxe accommodations at several New Orleans hotels such as the JW Marriott New Orleans and the Renaissance New Orleans Pere Marquette; two complimentary welcome drinks and a Gay Guide map to New Orleans; The Get a Room! Vancouver Pride package at the Residence Inn Vancouver Downtown in Canada includes overnight accommodations in a king deluxe studio, full hot buffet breakfast, high-speed wireless internet, parking, two door passes to Celebrities Night Club and two cocktails in Cavino, the hotel restaurant; and The Rainbow Connection LGBT Special offer at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Hawaii that includes a $300 hotel credit for your stay plus daily breakfast for two at the resort restaurant.

“We are proud of this campaign and of our long-standing reputation for our commitment to diversity and inclusion,” says Joanna Todd, vice president, segment strategy.  “Our core strength lies in our ability to embrace differences and make everyone feel respected and valued when they visit and stay in our hotels.  Later this year, we will also launch new campaigns to reach African American and Latino audiences.”

The campaign was created in partnership with UniWorld Group, Inc., Marriott’s Multicultural Marketing agency in collaboration with the company’s LGBT communications specialist, Bob Witeck, President of Witeck Communications. 

Marriott International’s premiere hotels from coast-to- coast frequently host galas and events on behalf of LGBT community leaders including the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), GLAAD, PFLAG, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, among others. Marriott also serves as a proud sponsor for these nonprofit organizations, as well as other community-based groups.

The company remains among leading corporations earning high marks on the HRC Corporate Equality Index year after year, and for several years, it also has been a supporting member of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, committed to diverse suppliers including LGBT businesses.

For more information about Marriott’s global diversity and inclusion initiatives, visit www.marriott.com/diversity.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.  
 
EDITOR’S NOTE:  Campaign images available upon request.

Connect with felicia.mclemore@marriott.com

Comments

[Sean]

Lol @ Chantal and Francine.

Firstly Francine, Mr Marriott was a true believer in equality which back then was a huge deal especially considering his devote religious views. But he looked at the "love thy neighbor" above all else. Which when you think about it; if everyone did that one simple thing there would be absolute harmony in the world. And for the record Mr Marriott's son took over from him and he stood by his father's views. It was not until last month that Marriott Jnr retired and there have been LGBT packages at Marriott for years.

And Chantal.... Really? Do you think your children will catch being gay off the sheets? If you are worried about your family perhaps you should be more concerned that your children are being raised by someone so closed minded.

It really astounds me that the biggest point in the whole bible is that we are not permitted to judge one another and that we are supposed to love each other. The one that judges creates the greater sin. I am a devout Christian and am so disappointed in the Christians that claim "God's way" to cover their hate. I will not judge them though, nor will I not love them. (but I do freely admit I will have to go to confession for relishing in the fact that I will not be running into Chantal or Francine in Heaven.)

I am proud of Marriott. And don't worry Mr Marriott, I promise to make up the 79 dollars Chantal and Francine spend at a Courtyard a year for you.

[Wes]

From a Platinum Elite Rewards member, Thank You! I have sometimes considered changing my loyalty to other brands who in the past have better embraced equality. I'm very pleased to see Marriott being a positive, inclusive leader.

[Erick]

I'm glad most of you "disappointed" folks are leaving. If anything it'll actually elevate the ambiance.

[D]

Thanks Ingrid -

I saw the bias comments made by Chantal and Francine and decided to chime in with a more positive message to balance things a bit. I'm glad I got the ball rolling.

Growing up in Utah, I've always viewed Marriott as conservative and noninclusive. However, the news of Marriott reaching out to the LGBT community was a much welcome surprise.

As June is the official pride month where people from around the world celebrate diversity, I too am enjoying the festivities and ignore all the negativities out there. My partner of 12 yrs and I will be heading to San Diego to celebrate Pride next month. I hope Marriott in San Diego offers discounts too.. Happy Pride!

D

[Linda Harding-Bond]

Bravo to Marriott for setting the pace. As a spa consultant specializing in retail sales with a global perspective I feel that there is also a growing imperative' to teach spa therapists at hotels how to work on multicultural skin as well. All of these initiatives reflect the changing demographics and needs of the global traveler. Congrats to Marriott for showing other hotel groups how it's done.

[MJ]

Nice work Marriott!
Shame on all the close minded haters! Glad they've decided to take their business elsewhere; maybe one day they can move to planet Mars when everyone else accepts gay people for who they are....

[Ingrid Doerksen]

D:
I love your response! Thank you for that!
You make many great points - the 2 comments following must not have read yours, or else they would have to realize that what they are using now to refrain from staying at Marriott will greet them and serve them at any other hotel they chose to stay.
Eventually the people will be enlightened and those who are in the dark will simply go away - we ARE all ONE. I wish I could connect with you, D. xx

[Jeremy]

Francine & Chantal - For those of you who are so insulated from the actual world that you are still terrified that all gays are out there to brainwash your children, you probably shouldn't be travelling anyway. Keep them safe at home where they can't be exposed to anything other than the religious-based bigotry you pound into their heads. And I hope to God none of your children are gay, because if so your teachings are putting their mental health and their lives at risk.

Marriott – I find it strange that what you’re doing is still considered controversial by some on the fringe, but thanks for reaching out and your marketing will be rewarded.

[D]

Whether its for money or for doing the right thing. Being inclusive and focus on providing good service to "ALL" is what hotels are for. A waitress is suppose to serve everyone who enters a restaurant regardless of his or her beliefs or opinions. To the haters out there, I think god invented trailers for you so that you can be comfortable wherever you go and live in your own bubble without having to deal with or be near "real people". Real people are made up of tall, short, white, black, tan, handicap, gay, straight, deaf, mute, etc... By the way, the haters might not want to ever fly again, because on any given flight, there are gay people, color people, atheists, and many types of people you do not agree with... Your world just got smaller all of the sudden and now the trailer is sounding more and more like what you needed. I get annoyed with haters, but I welcome them to stay in the same hotel, just because I feel sorry for them. Life is too short to be filled with hate. A business like Marriott is wise to embrace love and understanding. For on this tiny planet, we are all connected one way or another...through our friends, our families, our colleague, the people who worked for us, whom we work for, the social workers, the wait staff, the entertainers, the nurses, the teachers, the doctors, etc... We are all here to stay and are not going anywhere... Why can't we learn to live together on this tiny planet in a tolerant manner. Forget what your preacher said...hate and discrimination is never acceptable,

[Francine Scheuermann]

We totally don't agree with your stand.
The majority of people are straight and believe that we are created to men and women.
The original owner of the Marriott was a major right thinking man.
I am 100% sure he would not stand for your decision.

I will never again stay in any of your hotels or participate in your events

[Chantal]

I'm actually very disappointed with this. We always choose to stay at Marriott hotels in the past and we were very happy with our stays until now. Because you've decided to use this as a marketing tactic, you need to realize that there are many families with children who don't support this at all. You've now lost our business and I will also be spreading the word about this to my friends.