FabStayz and Drag Queen take over Portland!

Hosting Your Home - Airbnb host stories

We had an AWESOME photo shoot in Portland, Oregon directed by FabStayz founder Robert Geller, featuring airline flight attendant Danny Lee Cabrero as drag queen “Liquor Mini”, named after the little booze bottles on planes.

It could not have been more fun! Robert was working on a publicity campaign for FabStayz and wanted it to be fun and attention getting. It worked! Danny visited 10 locations dressed in flight attendant drag, and photographer Carlos Camarena caught it all. The greater Portland area, with its supportive trade organization Host2Host, is the principal launch city for FabStayz. The PR campaign is soon to be released!

Some highlights of the day:

Michelle Boyle’s Tiny House Village in Sherwood, where Danny was definitely larger than life.

Nectar, a friendly marijuana dispensary

Blue Star Donut shop in Multnomah Village, where Danny’s blue dress was a color match and the donuts were delicious

Danny doesn’t drink but still made a splash at the Sasquatch Brew Pub in Hillsdale

Olympia Provisions Melty & Meaty food truck at Pioneer Courthouse Square Travel Portland’s Visitors Center Powell’s City of Books - the largest independent bookstore in the World! Sunset was at the eTukride at the end of the Tillikum bridge

FabStayz’ mission is serving LGBTQ travelers by connecting them with hosts whom Robert terms “Fab Allies”

All hosts list on his platform with the specific understanding of acceptance for all and fostering welcoming inclusive accommodations. FabStayz travelers know ahead of time that they do not need to explain or justify or do anything but enjoy being on vacation. When Debi asked Robert and Danny if they’ve ever been discriminated against during travels, Robert gave a nuanced answer that is helpful to understanding the issue. He also mentioned the site “Destination Pride” that gives travelers an acceptance measure of a city they are considering visiting.

As FabStayz continues to evolve

Watch for the addition of bed & breakfasts, inns and properties such amenities of spas and wedding facilities. Poised for continued growth FabStayz has been featured in over 40 articles, blog posts, tv podcast appearance.

Not to be missed is the FabStayz demo video starring drag flight attendants Danny aka Liquor Mini and Esme Russell filmed on location at Tampa International Airport. Totally campy and so much fun! The demo video features launch destination: greater Portland, Oregon. You can also read about FabStayz press coverage.

Making your listing more inclusive:

Robert invites listeners to look at his listing and consider “stealing” his first few lines that include his pronouns (just tells prospective guests that you are aware of pronouns as an important issue) and include an image of a poster or welcome mat with accepting language. He correctly notes that most guests don’t read everything in our listings, so put it in as a picture!

Robert and Danny met each other through a “chance” discussion that Robert had with his hairdresser, and everything just clicked. In addition to Danny’s work as a flight attendant, in his fun but important side gig as “Liquor Mini”, he has helped raise over $500,000 for the Wings Foundation to support flight attendants in need. He is now also the Resort Director for Vacaya, an international LGBTQ travel agency that leases entire cruise ships and resorts. In that job Danny gets to show the world the charismatic leader he really is!

List of all links mentioned in the podcast:

FabStayz LGBTQ listing site FabStayz 2019 podcast episode with Hosting Your Home Host2Host, the Portland-centric STR non-profit trade association Danny Lee Cabrero’s FaceBook page

Portland Photographer Carlos Camarena’s podcast episode with Hosting Your Home Tiny House Village Nectar dispensary Blue Star Donuts in Multnomah Village Sasquatch Brew Pub in Hillsdale Olympia Provisions food truck Travel Portland visitors center Powell’s City of Books Robert’s personal listing showing example of inclusive language eTuk Tours Destination Pride, the LGTBQ international rating guide Wings Foundation Vacaya, the LGTBQ travel extravaganza provider