IGLTA Welcomes Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants as its Newest Global Hospitality Partner

Media Contact: LoAnn Halden

Loann.halden@iglta.org

+1 954.630.1637 x 714

DALLAS (10 December 2019)—The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is proud to announce Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the original boutique hotel company, as a Silver Level global partner. IGLTA is the world’s leading network of LGBTQ+ hospitality and tourism businesses. As a Silver Global Partner, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will be positioned alongside the top global tourism companies committed to year-round support of LGBTQ+ welcoming travel and IGLTA.

Kimpton is consistently recognized for going above and beyond with comprehensive employee benefits that are LGBTQ+ inclusive. As a result, they were the first hotel company to earn a 100 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index, and have maintained that score for fourteen years running. They’ve signed employers’ amicus briefs against the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 and in support of the legal case of Obergefell v. Hodges, a case whose Supreme Court verdict lead to marriage equality in all 50 states.

Over the decades, Kimpton has supported various LGBTQ+ organizations such as The Mautner Project, The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, The National Center for Lesbian Rights and The Transgender Law Center. One of their long-term corporate social responsibility partners is with The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention to at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. As their Premier National Hotel Sponsor, the partnership comes to life through nationwide fundraising events and in-kind donations. Kimpton employees are involved in many facets of the partnership, reinforcing a legacy of grassroots philanthropy.

“Our employee driven culture is anchored in being your true self and celebrating self-expression. That directly translates to heartfelt and ridiculously personal guest experiences,” said Mike DeFrino, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ CEO. “We’re honored to be an official partner of IGLTA and to have a more visible role in helping affect positive change within the travel industry. As hoteliers, we have a unique opportunity to create spaces and experiences that welcome people exactly as they are.”

“We stand proudly with Kimpton and are excited to help promote their commitment of diversity & inclusion to LGBTQ+ travelers and business allies worldwide,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “They’ve championed the community for decades and are a welcome addition to our outstanding group of travel brands.”

For more information on Kimpton’s role and partnerships in the LGBTQ+ community, visit https://www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/content/us/en/about-us/kimpton-cares/inclusiveness.

About IGLTA

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ+ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). IGLTA’s mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ tourism globally by demonstrating its significant social and economic impact. IGLTA membership includes LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ friendly accommodations, destinations, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in more than 80 countries. IGLTA’s Global Partner program provides companies with heightened recognition and visibility among LGBTQ+ travelers with enhanced marketing and communication opportunities throughout the association’s worldwide network. For more information: iglta.org and follow us on Facebook/IGLTA or IGLTABusiness or Twitter and Instagram @iglta.

About Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is the original boutique hotel brand, which pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States in 1981. Anchored in one-of-a-kind experiences, Kimpton now operates more than 60 hotels and 80 restaurants, bars and lounges across urban locations, resort destinations and up-and-coming markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, Caribbean and Greater China. Kimpton spaces and experiences center on its guests, offering inspiring design that evokes curiosity to forward-thinking flavors that feed the soul. Every detail is thoughtfully curated and artfully delivered, so that guest experiences remain meaningful, unscripted and ridiculously personal.

Kimpton’s employees, empowered to provide heartfelt service and experiences, have built a highly regarded workplace culture that appears consistently on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. As a result, Kimpton has been awarded, “Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upper Upscale Hotel Chains” by J.D. Power three times.

In January 2015, Kimpton became part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) family of hotel brands. For more information, visit www.KimptonHotels.com.