Lords South Beach Hosts NYC Pop-Up Hotel for Pride

Mark Thompson READ TIME: 5 MIN.

New York, NY - Lords South Beach, the first gay boutique hotel in the country and Miami?s LGBT social & cultural headquarters, is set to open the first Pride pop-up hotel, Lords New York, when it temporarily takes over the Hotel on Rivington in New York City for Pride 2012, June 18 - 24.

Lords Founder Brian Gorman, who will be in New York to welcome Pride-goers, and Hotel on Rivington Owner Paul Stallings collaborated to create this first ever Pride pop-up. Given their respective backgrounds as non-traditional hoteliers, this unique partnership came naturally to them.

"The Lords brand prides itself on showcasing the creativity and strengths of the LGBT community," said Gorman. "What better way to do this than by hosting the first-ever pop-up hotel during New York City Pride? We are looking forward to creating a fun and unique experience for our guests in New York."

Guests will experience everything they have come to love about Lords South Beach at Lords New York at Hotel on Rivington. The Hotel on Rivington lobby will be painted the Lords New York signature hot pink, and will be displaying artwork from the Lords South Beach lobby - including a work featuring Elizabeth Taylor, whose portrait decorates every guestroom in Miami.

The familiar faces of the LSB team will be on hand to greet Pride attendees, and each guest will receive a special Lords gift bag filled with Pride essentials from Babeland, Perrier, and Out Magazine, a Lords beach ball, and more. Guests will also receive a Lords Pride itinerary, featuring the events that Lords New York at Hotel on Rivington is hosting, as well as events at popular gay nightlife spots like Industry and Party Calypso.

Guest room keys will feature the cheeky art and clever sayings that guests love at Lords South Beach. In addition, there will be a new Lords Pride art installation at the hotel curated by special guest artists. Also coming is the Lords mascot from its South Beach property - a 9-foot polar bear holding a beach ball, which will be on display in the Hotel on Rivington lobby.

Lords will be temporarily instituting a variation on its "Rooms that Matter" program. In Miami, 10% of select room sales are designated to LGBT charities, including Aqua Foundation, Lambda Legal, Hetrick-Martin Institute, The Point Foundation, and Care Resource. Upon check in at Lords New York, guests
can choose to make any "room matter" and will be given an option to donate $10 to either Aqua Foundation or Hetrick-Martin Institute. Last year, Gorman donated over $10,000 through this program, and giving back to the community that supports him has been, and continues to be, a top priority for him.

Lords will also be bringing the party. The legendary Lords Penthouse series will be occupying the Owner?s Suite on Friday, June 22nd with the Proud to Party event, hosted by Tony Ferro & Pennyback Boyz, Lauren Foster, and Ab Soto. DJ Vito Fun will be spinning, and there will be complimentary Kanon Organic Vodka cocktails and Perrier from 9 - 10pm served by Lords bartenders Leslie and Junior. Lords Brand ambassador La Donna will be on the dance floor with the Lords Gender Bender Dancers, and Christopher Richards will be on the door.

On Saturday, June 23rd, guests are invited to join Lords and Out Magazine for the Proud to Be Creative brunch at CO-OP Food & Drink, located on the ground floor of Hotel on Rivington. This $40 prix fixe brunch sponsored by Perrier and Kanon Organic Vodka will feature music by DJ Justin Dawson and a special art installation. Reservations are suggested. For guest room reservations, use the booking code "LORDS" to get 15% off at www.lordsny.com. Rates from $268.

Appropriately oriented and situated in the heart of South Beach on Collins Avenue, Lords South Beach is the first gay hotel brand to open in the US and the vanguard for the modern gay boutique hotel. Sexy, chic, affordable, and fun, it has raised the bar for what the discerning gay traveler can expect from a hotel.

With 54 rooms, three plunge pools and a variety of exciting hotel venues, including the Cha Cha Rooster Restaurant and Bar, as well as choice guest amenities like a Out-N-About, a digital concierge app in partnership with Out Magazine and the Lords Social Network, Lords South Beach has revolutionized the concept of hospitality. Community is also important to Lords; the Rooms That Matter initiative includes five designated rooms for which 10% of room sale proceeds are donated to charities that provide support for those in the LGBT community.

The hotel provides a liberal, proud, playful experience and a sense of community for guests who want to mix and mingle. Lords South Beach is conveniently located in a gay-friendly location at the center of the South Beach?s best restaurants, clubs, bars, shopping and beaches, including Miami?s famed gay beach at 12th Street just steps away.

In May 2012, Lords South Beach was named as part of the Travel + Leisure 2012 "It List" - a collection of the 50 best new hotels in the world, as selected by T+L editors. This prestigious list honors the most inventive and inspiring new hotels - places that are transforming the travel landscape. Lords is the first LGBT hotel ever to be included in this list. www.lordssouthbeach.com

Hotel on Rivington is a premier destination among LES hotels. In the epicenter of the hip and historic Lower East Side, Hotel on Rivington is an urban oasis with sleek, modern design and breathtaking Manhattan views, all within walking distance to neighborhoods such as SoHo, Tribeca, Chinatown, Little
Italy and the East Village. Enjoy modern rooms and suites that feature unique appointments such as balconies, soaking tubs, exterior-facing steam showers or floor-to-ceiling glass walls designed by renowned local NYC architects Grzywinksyu + Pons.

Dine at the latest celebrity haunt, CO-OP Food & Drink, sample the LES most popular cocktail den at Viktor and Spoils or visit Platinum Salon for fashion forward hairstyling before exploring New York City hotspots recommended by Adam, our well connected Concierge. http://www.hotelonrivington.com/

Heritage of Pride, the organizer of Pride NYC, is wholly volunteer-managed non-partisan, tax-exempt, notfor-profit corporation that organizes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Pride events in New York City to commemorate and celebrate the Stonewall riots. These Events are organized for and on behalf of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and groups, and all others who support the struggle for the liberation of these communities.

In the spirit of Stonewall, Heritage of Pride welcomes the participation of all, regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identification, HIV status, national origin, physical, mental or developmental ability, race, religion or sexual origin. www.nycpride.


by Mark Thompson , EDGE Style & Travel Editor

A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.

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