Marriott Invites You to “Be You, With Us” and Enter a Sweepstakes

Can I be me with them?

Check out Marriott’s gay Pride packages and enter to win their “Be You, With Us” sweepstakes with a grand prize of a trip to New York City, San Francisco or Berlin 2013 Gay Pride Festivals valued at up to $5,000.

• NB: This is for 2013, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan, book your travel and find the perfect Pride outfit or two.

According to Marriott, A sample package is The Get a Room! Vancouver Pridepackage at the Residence Inn Vancouver Downtown in Canada including 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.

Book hotel deals and packages, get more informaton and enter the Be You, With Us Sweeps at www.marriott.com/pride

A “Descendants” Kinda Stay: Dinner For Two, a Movie and a Good Book

Gay-friendly Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa has a special kinship with Kaui Hart Hemmings, author of The Descendants, which won recognition at the 84th Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Awards in Hollywood last month.

In fact, the lovely Kaui spoke to a group of LGBT travel writers who visited this hotel property near both a gay beach and the famous gay bar Hulas two years ago about her book, then being circled around by George Clooney to possibly make into a movie. See our video interview with her here.

The Waikiki Marriott announced a fun “Dinner & Movie” package that includes a signed copy of her book. Here’s the complete package that begins at $209 per room, per night:

• Complimentary book, The Descendants autographed by Kaui Hart Hemmings
• Room accommodations – City View
• Welcome cocktails for two people upon arrival
• Dinner for two at Kuhio Beach Grill or room service
• One in-room movie
• Complimentary popcorn and soda for two for the in-room movie

Marriott offers a gay travel resource page here.

Fine print: 

For reservations or more information, visit www.marriottwaikiki.com or call 1-800-721-6996 in the U.S. and ask for the Dinner & Movie package promotional code L9Z.  Offer is valid till December 31, 2012.  Blackout dates and restrictions apply.

Marriott.com Got A Little Bit Gayer

From Marriott.com/gaytravel

When Marriott International Inc. first developed its LGBT-specific landing page back in 2010, Marriott.com/GayTravel, it was a little light on, well, gay travel.

But Marriott recently announced a fresh relaunch of their site, www.marriott.com/gaytravel, which they assert is “the first hospitality portal tailored for LGBT consumers worldwide,” available in English, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese.

There is now a good amount of there there. You will find new hotel openings, special events, destination information and ongoing deals and promotions, some of which are designed specifically for LGBT guests. The site also provides wedding and honeymoon packages in gay-popular destinations around the world.

Marriott hosts events on behalf of well-known gay organizations like HRC, so if you time your visit you may see a Marriott transformed into a very gay hotel. The imagery is, at times, daring, like the shot of the implied mixed-race gay couple and their kid to the left.

Marriott Hotels Launches Gay Microsite

Check out MarriottGayTravel.com. You’ll get 20% off weekend stays (Thursday-Sunday) at participating hotels around the world now through Jan 22. (Select resorts in the Caribbean, Latin America and Hawaii are offering up to 40% off. See MarriottGayTravel.com for details.

According to contact person, Bob Witeck of Witeck-Combs Communications, Marriott today is truly committed to communicate value and a broad welcome to all LGBT travelers at all price points and all locations – but with some special emphasis on specific markets that have most appeal to LGBT travelers including Hawaii but also popular urban destinations like NYC, DC and Philly.   They have earned and maintained a 100% HRC CEI to demonstrate their consistent strong reputation, and finally – they are likely the first major hotel company in the world that will express their welcome and outreach to gay consumers soon in 5 global languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and French).

So, if you have some budget and vacation to burn and are looking for someplace different, check out this promotion.