Booking.com is to be the headline sponsor of Manchester Pride for the second year in a row.
The online travel company, which has its headquarters in the city, will lead the parade in a travel-themed float, with more than 100 of its staff.
“At Booking.com, it’s our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, and we believe that everyone should be able to experience the world as themselves. Our sponsorship of this important charity and the essential work they do to ensure LGBTQ+ people are free to live and love in a world without prejudice, aligns with our own commitment to enabling truly inclusive travel experiences in even more places around the world,” stated Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com.
“While visibility, understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people has come along way in recent years, we know that there is much more to be done to meet the needs to LGBTQ+ travellers and to make welcoming experiences the norm for everyone, no matter who they love or how they identify.”
The sponsorship is an extension of the firm’s Travel Proud programme which was launched in 2021. This provides free inclusive hospitality training to accommodation providers.
“It’s so exciting to welcome Booking.com as our headline partner for the Manchester Pride Festival. The support they give us helps to keep the charity and our events flourishing,” added Mark Fletcher, CEO at Manchester Pride.
“They understand the additional challenges queer people face when travelling both here and around the globe, and are actively working to help make the world more inclusive for our communities. This authentic engagement makes them a perfect partner in supporting the charity’s mission and celebrating queer culture in the coming years.”
The parade and other celebrations take place between 25 – 28 August.
