The Best LGBTQ Friendly Hotels For Your Next Trip

Looking for LGBTQ friendly hotels that truly make you feel welcome? You’re in the right place! This post highlights seven hotel brands that go out of their way to make gay and lesbian travelers feel welcome.

As a queer traveler, I’ve experienced the discomfort of checking into a hotel and being offered a room with two beds when I’d clearly booked one.

It’s a small interaction, but it can feel alienating—like a subtle reminder that queer couples don’t fit the “default” mold. And unfortunately, gay owned hotels aren’t always better, especially if you’re not a cis gay man. 

The good news? There are gay friendly hotels out there making a difference. While these aren’t gay hotels, owned and operated by LGBTQ people, thoughtful policies and inclusive training create a safe and affirming accommodation for LGBTQ travelers in cities around the world, from New York to Mexico City and throughout Europe. Keep reading to find out which hotel brands go beyond a Pride month post and truly support LGBT travelers around the globe.

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Marriott

Marriott has been a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ inclusivity for decades, despite the founder’s connection with the Mormon faith, which – to put it politely – hasn’t exactly been queer-friendly.

They were the first hotel group to introduce same-sex domestic partner benefits back in 1999—fifteen years before same-sex marriage was allowed in all 50 states.

Marriott has maintained a perfect score of100% score on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index for a decade, with robust nondiscrimination policies and trans-inclusive healthcare benefits.

The inclusive hotel chain partners with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, IGLTA, PFLAG, NGLCC, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Hyatt

HRC has named Hyatt a one of the “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” for 18 years in a row – a track record that demonstrates their commitment to allyship runs deep.

Hyatt scores a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, with LGBTQ inclusive policies and benefits for their employees.

The hotel brand partners with IGLTA to champion LGBTQ+ travel and ensure inclusive experiences at every Hyatt property around the globe.

The hotel company makes Pride Month special with signature cocktail specials, art exhibits featuring LGBTQ people, discounted stays, drag brunches, and extra touches that show an understanding of the queer community, and a commitment to our wellbeing.

Check out more of their innovate Pride month ideas.

Hilton

Hilton is a great place to work if you’re LGBTQ, with inclusive benefits like adoption assistance benefits of up to $10,000 per child, a policy that helps all employees plan heir families, but is especially beloved by same-sex employees that have to get creative when planning their families.

Hilton partners with global LGBTQ+ organizations like IGLTA and the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and also nabs a perfect score on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.

The hotel brand launched a marketing campaign geared toward gay travelers in 2012, called “Stay Hilton. Go Out,” with a special package available at 175 Hilton properties. In 2013, 460 properties participated in the gay friendly campaign.

Belmond

Luxury travel brand Belmond, which operates hotels and luxury tours, demonstrates their support of the lesbian and gay community in several important ways.

They offer LGBT destination wedding packages and special LGBT trips, like a “Paris to Venice” aboard the Orient Express trip, benefiting LGBT nonprofits.

They market directly to the LGBT community, so we know for sure we’re welcome in Belmond properties around the globe, including in destinations where LGBTQ people aren’t always welcome as our out and proud selves. When traveling to one of these so-called riskier destinations, a safe hotel isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential for our peace of mind.

Belmond was one of the first hotels to create an LGBT advisory board, composed of gay travel agents, tour providers, and activists for LGBT friendly travel. The boards helps the hotel brand understand our community’s needs, implement inclusive policies at their properties, and provide staff with on-the-ground training, so they can make all travelers feel welcome.

MGM

MGM Resorts International partners with LGBTQ organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and GLSEN.

In fact, MGM helped found the Las Vegas chapter of the Human Rights Campaign back in 2004, at a time when few brands were outwardly partnering with the LGBTQ community.

They’ve donated to LGBTQ causes throughout the years, helping to build a new LGBT community center in Nevada and donating for marriage equality campaigns in LGBTQ friendly states like Maryland.

Like many of the LGBTQ friendly airlines in the US, the hotel brand looks for ways to partner with diverse suppliers including LGBTQ-owned businesses! To date, MGM has directed over $3 billion of their spending toward businesses owned by marginalized groups.

Since MGM encourages its individual properties to contribute toward LGBTQ+ initiatives at their discretio, some MGM properties may be more gay friendly than others.

Red Carnation

Red Carnation, a boutique hotel brand with properties in Ireland, Switzerland, and Botswana’s Okavango Delta, celebrates inclusion in all its forms through their Red Carnation IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Action) program.

Red Carnation IDEA doesn’t just support LGBTQ employees, it supports neurodiverse employees, lower-income employees, and others that have been historically marginalized in the workplace.

Through affinity circles, inclusive policies, panel discussions and other actions, Red Carnation IDEA centers inclusivity and celebrates diversity in all its forms.

While this makes Red Carnation an amazing place to work, the benefits of inclusivity trickle down to the guest experience, too!

Accor

Accor came late to the LGBT travel space, but they’ve made up for lost time with huge strides in their commitment to fostering inclusion.

They sponsor Proud Experiences, a luxury travel conference centering LGBT experiences.

They create amazing internal Pride events for their staff.

And, to make every guest feel welcome, they were among the first major hotel brands to sign onto Booking.com’s Proud Certified training program.

Good news if you’re headed Down Under, Accor boasts the most Proud Certified properties in Australia and New Zealand!

Many companies say they welcome LGBT travelers or hang a rainbow flag during Pride month.

Accor walks the walk by investing in employee training, educating and policies that don’t just say LGBT travelers are welcome, they make us feel welcome at all point during our stay.

This is important wherever we travel, but especially in destinations where LGBT travelers don’t enjoy the same rights as in their home countries, and really need to feel seen, safe and served by the hotels they choose.

As you might expect from a brand that stands behind inclusion, Accor employees have access to supportive benefits and policies, focusing on everything from LGBTQI+ inclusion to gender-affirming leave and cultural diversity.

Staying in an LGBTQ-friendly hotel means more than just a good night’s sleep—it’s peace of mind. I know firsthand how much of a difference it makes to feel truly welcome, to check in without awkward questions or assumptions, and to know that I’m safe to be myself when using the pool, dining in the hotel restaurant, or grabbing a drink at the bar with my partner.

These LGBTQ friendly hotels go beyond surface-level gestures, creating spaces where LGBT travelers can relax, recharge, and enjoy our travels without worrying about discrimination. When you choose an LGBTQ-friendly hotel, you’re not just booking a room— you’re prioritizing your comfort, so you can spend less time worrying about how you’re perceived and more time making memories.

Looking for more inclusive brands to travel with? Check out our lists of gay tour groups and lesbian tour groups to plan your next trip!