As Pride kicks into gear and we mark one year of nationwide marriage equality, W Hotels has teamed up with Snapchat to help us celebrate. The design hotel brand has commissioned artist, Baron Von Fancy, to create an exclusive series of Snapchat filters. Whenever someone uses one of these filters during the month of June, W Hotels will donate a dollar to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The W Hotels x Baron Von Fancy Pride Snapchat filters are a part of the hospitality brand’s ongoing "Turn It Up for Change" campaign to benefit HRC which began in 2014.
“W Hotels has always been ‘out’ about our support of the LGBT community, and we see our guests share their pride from our hotels on their social media channels daily. Last year, we joined forces with HRC in the fight for marriage equality, and while they were successful with the Supreme Court’s landmark decision, the fight for true equality is far from over," remarked W Hotels Global Brand Leader Anthony Ingham, announcing the campaign. "We’re thrilled to be partnering with the brilliant Baron Von Fancy who is able to masterfully articulate what we’re all thinking through his incredible work. Our guests can show their support in a playful way as we donate money to a serious cause.”
The three location-based art overlays read “Love Won,” “I Am What I Am,” and “The Road to Equality Has Never Been Straight,” and can be placed over photos and videos via Snapchat at and around W Hotels. The original full-sized versions of Baron Von Fancy’s work will display at W New York in Union Square, June 16. From there, they will move to locations in Atlanta and Austin for their Pride celebrations. HRC and the artist will join in the celebrations to help raise awareness for the campaign.
“I’m psyched to help W show their pride this season," expressed Baron Von Fancy. "My work says what people sometimes think they can’t say out loud, but W guests are bold and audacious and don’t shy away from sharing how they feel. Having W put my work on Snapchat helps spread the message even further, and I love that.”
Artist Baron Von Fancy and his Pride Snapchat filters for W Hotels.
