For the second year running, Solotel has been named the official hospitality partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and will be hosting several events across seven of its key venues.
Robert Squillacioti, Chief Marketing Officer of Solotel is honoured to be a part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for another year.
“Solotel has a longstanding connection with the local LGBTQIA+ community through so many of our venues and our incredible team. Being a part of Sydney WorldPride last year was an unforgettable experience and so we’re thrilled to partner with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2024 and provide unique, safe, and fun spaces for the queer community to celebrate,” he said.
Solotel’s Mardi Gras campaign centres around the theme of Our Future, Your Local, mirroring the Mardi Gras theme of Our Future. Solotel’s campaign recognises the group’s continued support for the LGBTQIA+ community through its venues, and features Solotel staff members who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, showcasing how they express themselves both at work and in their daily lives.
The Mardi Gras program begins on 18 February with The Bank’s annual Fair Day party, featuring an afternoon of DJ sets and drag performances. Later in the day, Waywards will host Woody’s, a community bear night. Additionally, Abercrombie will host an all night afterparty, with event organisers Heaps Gay and Girlthing collaborating to put on the party.
Throughout Mardi Gras, Milan Swaay will host her karaoke competition, Sing it, Betch! At Goros, as well as bringing Lip Sync Battles to Kings Cross Hotel on 23 and 24 February and 1 March. Kings Cross Hotel will also host The Aftermath, an afterparty for Mardi Gras’ Sissy Ball.
In the lead up to parade weekend, Abercrombie will hold Show Us Ya Tips on 29 February, a sex and body positive show hosted by The Dollar Bin Darlings that raises money for Sex Workers Outreach Project. On 1 March, Kings Cross Hotel will host Barba Party: Venus, and Queer House Collective DJs will be at Abercrombie, with sets from Montreal’s Hadaxxh, Melbourne’s Ata2ud and Jason Conti, and Brisbane’s Venus Verified.
On Parade Night on 2 March, Goros will celebrate all things RnB, Afro and hip hop with the free Club Thique party. After leading the parade, Dykes on Bikes will host its afterparty at Waywards, and celebrations will continue at the Abercrombie until 9am the next day.
Solotel’s nightlife program has been curated by Xander Khoury, aka Xaddy Silky, and Leslie Tiku, aka Camp Minister, two multi-disciplinary queer creatives well acquainted with Sydney’s nightlife scene. Khoury’s practice is built around ballroom and community, and he is the Father of Kiki House of Silky and founder of Xaddy’s Door List. Tiku began as a club host in Sydney’s underground rave scene and has since moved on to throwing his own parties and DJing.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith is pleased to celebrate another year of Mardi Gras with Solotel.
“Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has been proud to be Sydney’s voice of pride and equality for 46 years, sharing our message of visibility and celebration globally and locally. Our 2024 Mardi Gras theme ‘Our Future’ is an open invitation to play a part in creating a more equal future, and Solotel’s campaign ‘Our Future, Your Local’ is the perfect way to connect with our local communities while coming together in celebration. We’re delighted they’ve joined us again as partners in making safe, inclusive spaces and celebrating another year of Sydney’s iconic Mardi Gras,” she said.