Whoever you are, wherever you are, you’re welcome at W Hotels. With inclusiveness at the heart of W since it debuted over 20 years ago, the global, trailblazing lifestyle hotel brand is teaming up with Australia’s longest running LGBTQI organisation, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, to celebrate equality and inspire travellers to love out loud. For the first time, W Hotels will be a major part of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras celebration, showcasing its first-ever float in the 2020 Parade taking place on February 29.

Uniting hundreds of thousands of revelers for Sydney’s biggest night, the iconic march down Oxford Street will feature about 200 dazzling floats. The W Hotels float will feature special guests, international drag superstar Alyssa Edwards (RuPaul’s Drag Race, Dancing Queen) and Australian singer songwriter Vera Blue, joined by local influencers Alfie Arcuri, Megan Dijkman, Michael Finch, Brandon Kilgour, musician KYVA and Lola Van Vorst.

“Since day one, W Hotels has been committed to inclusivity and equality and that sense of acceptance remains at the core of the W DNA,” said Bruce Ryde, Vice President Luxury Brands & Brand Marketing, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “We are excited to take part in this year’s parade for the first time as both organisations aim to be global leaders lead in promoting diversity, inclusion, equality and social justice through culture and creativity. I cannot wait to see my co-workers, guests and friends of the brand marching, dancing and loving out loud and proud.”

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, Albert Kruger added: “With engaging LGBTQI initiatives worldwide and new properties opening around Australia, Mardi Gras is delighted to have W Hotels join us as our new hotel partner. Each year travellers come from across the globe to celebrate with us and we know they’ll be welcomed enthusiastically at W Hotels.”

Known for defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury, W Brisbane opened its doors in June 2019, with W Melbourne expected to follow suit later this year and W Sydney slated for 2021.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.