Pride Month has returned to Raleigh and Wake County this June, and GRCVB is celebrating alongside other area hospitality partners. Thanks to Pride events all around the county, we’re excited to welcome LGBTQ travelers to the area especially now. The visitRaleigh.com site has LGBTQ shopping, nightlife and registered places to stay listings that any partner can share with visitors who are interested in finding dedicated, welcoming and safe places throughout the destination.

If your business is LGBTQ-owned, you can indicate that through your website listing. Updates to your listing can be done through our Partner Information eXchange Login (PIXL) or by emailing us directly.

For area accommodation partners, the Bureau offers an opportunity to inform travelers that your business has taken steps to certify that it's LGBTQ-welcoming through our LGBTQ-Welcoming Hotels Program.

To qualify for the program, lodging partners must have the following:

• Sexual orientation nondiscrimination policy
• Gender identity nondiscrimination policy
• Equal administration of personnel benefits
• Diversity/sensitivity training for staff
• Significant harm policy

After acknowledging and/or showing proof of meeting these criteria, Wake County lodging partners will have their Places to Stay listing added to the LGBTQ-Welcoming Hotels listings webpage (no additional fees or advertising rates involved). We'd love to show off the inclusive welcomes provided year-round by our professional hospitality partners even more, and we especially encourage all 160+ hotel partners to complete the program paperwork.

If you are an area hotelier wishing to participate and attract more bookings this year or you're an LGBTQ owner of another visitor-facing business in Raleigh and Wake County, let us know!

Throughout the year, not just during Pride Month, GRCVB aims for all visitors, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, to feel welcome in Raleigh and Wake County. We hope you join us in sharing the same welcomes.

Happy Pride to all!