Each of the Starwood Hotels has something unique to offer guests, and all of them have been incredible hosts for our ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo Documentary and the Aloft Downtown Dallas is no exception. From the moment we walked into the sleek, hip, contemporary lobby we knew we were in for an unforgettable time in Texas.

If you’re not familiar with the Aloft Hotels, the only thing we can say is “you’ll never forget your stay.” This innovative and creative concept comes from the team at W Hotels, and they are no stranger to luxury, refinement, and world-class accommodations; but Aloft Dallas will take you to a whole new level of appreciation for what a hotel can offer when you’re away from home.

Of course, we knew from the moment the team at Aloft jumped at the chance to host our photo event and open their doors to the public for this record-breaking project that we were going to be working with some very passionate and dedicated individuals – and they did not let us down.

Everything about this hotel is current, modern, and sophisticated. From the decor to the guests, there is a cool, contemporary charm that is welcoming to all and makes being on the road and fun and social experience. Without fail, every one of our ‘I AM EQUAL’ team members agreed that they would stay at an Aloft Hotel at every event if it were possible. The rooms are unique and clever loft designs and the common areas are perfectly suited for social gatherings, small and large parties, and even just sitting and surfing the web on your laptop or smart phone.

Working with their events team was super easy and we quickly found the perfect place in the hotel to have our photo event so as many people as possible could take part in this project. Unlike other properties that open their ballrooms and meeting halls for our event, Aloft Dallas put us right in the nerve-center of the hotel  – near the bar, off the lobby, and in front of the massive windows facing the street.

During the course of our 12 hour shoot, we had hundreds of locals from all over Dallas come out for a photo, and all of them agreed that the Aloft Hotel was a spectacular location for this historic project. Being a new hotel in the area, almost every participant was experiencing the hotel for the first time and all of them had eyes as big a saucers trying to take in all the creative contemporary design elements of the main lobby and social area. Many people ended up getting their photo and then walking around the property to check it out and then get a drink at the fully stocked bar sitting in the middle all the action.

Needless to say, the Aloft Downtown Dallas is a spectacular venue for any event and we loved having them as our partners for this event stop. When in Dallas, make this your home away from home. For business or pleasure, we cannot recommend the Aloft Hotel more.

When the chips were down in Salina Kansas and we needed a central location for the community to come out and take part in the ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo Documentary, the Ramada Inn Conference Center stepped up as our partner to host the event in their huge central ballroom.

Although we were in a small city, the staff and managers at The Ramada were consummate professionals and made sure we had everything we needed to run a smooth event for the community from start to finish. Even when the 100+ degree weather caused the air conditioner to temporarily freeze during the event, they were quick to bring out giant fans to circulate the air and make sure all the participants were comfortable and happy.

Thanks to the awesome events team at the hotel, we has a great success in Salina and took photos of people from all over the community who are making a difference in everything from The Red Cross and United Way to ending domestic violence and educating people about Cerebral Palsy. There were so many different stories to tell in that quaint Kansas city that we couldn’t have done it without the generous support of the Ramada Inn and staff.

The staff at the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco made our ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo Documentary stop a pleasure from start to finish. Of course, the City by the Bay is a beautiful place to visit and there are countless hotels to choose from, but this quaint little boutique hotel from Joie de Vivre made our time in the city relaxing and comfortable.

Although the hotel is right in the middle of the city, it maintains a simple eclectic charm that made us feel like we were in a quiet corner of the world above the bustle of the city, but within walking distance of everything we wanted to experience.  the clean and simple rooms and intimate meeting space made for the perfect event venue for the photo documentary and the entire staff were welcoming and accommodating to the project participants.

We loved the boutique French feel of the rooms and the exotic design elements in the lobby. Our entire experience was fun and enjoyable and we can’t wait for another opportunity to visit this little gem of the bay for another stop in San Francisco.

If you find yourself in the area, make it a point to stay at the Carlton Hotel. Not just because they were our gracious host for the project and went out of their way to make the ‘I AM EQUAL’ event a great success, but also because you want a little piece of boutique heaven in the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan city by the bay.

When we needed a partner in Salt Lake City to feed out volunteers at the ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo documentary event, the folks at Vertical Grill and Sages Cafe stepped up and provide great food with heart for our entire team.

These world famous eateries in the heart of the Rocky Mountains are the creation of Ian Brandt and his vision for healthy, vegan cuisine that is delicious and affordable for everyone. His creativity has captured the attention of culinary artists around the world and these two Salt Lake hotspots have been featured in books and articles about the “very best” vegan food in the country.

Even if you’re not personally vegan, it’s worth a stop at either of these restaurants so you can see what vegan fare is all about.

SAGE’S CAFE will give you decadent options from escargot to stroganoff and everything in between. Certain days of the week you’ll find all you can eat pizza, and event a night dedicated completely to Raw Food creations like their famous Pad Thai Salad. After dinner, make sure to top the meal off with a slice of their Carrot and Currant Cake…a level of deliciousness everyone should experience at least once in their life.

VERTICAL DINER  is for those who love all American comfort food like mashed potatoes, reuben sandwich, fresh cut french fries, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast served all day. After tasting our appetizer (Nacho Mama) plate, we were hooked on Vertical and couldn’t wait to see what else they had to offer.  Everything we ordered was perfect and the chef in the back was meticulous about making sure everything we ordered came out perfectly.

When you’re in Salt Lake City, you owe it to yourself to stop by these great restaurants and experience what world-class vegan food is all about. Small places like these always have the biggest hearts so make sure you support them just like they supported us in our quest for the world record.

The team at the Sheraton Salt Lake City were gracious and accommodating to our event and made sure we had everything we needed to make it a smooth and enjoyable process for the hundreds of people who stopped in to take part. We could not have asked for a more attentive and motivated partner for our ‘I AM EQUAL’ photo documentary stop in Salt Lake City.

The best part about having our event at this venue was the incredible staff. Not only did they bend over backwards to accommodate us, many of the employees came out on their breaks and after their shift to join in the “I AM EQUAL” project to shine a light on the issues and causes they’re passionate about. They showed up for women’s rights, gay and lesbian issues, marriage equality, sustainable farming, and one employee came out to talk about Autism. These were great people to have working with us and their passion really showed.

It was a great experience and the entire property really suited us nicely. They recently completed a $14 million dollar renovation and every detail was perfect, from the lobby and rooms to the professional meeting space that served as our home for the 10 hour event shoot.

When you find yourself in Salt Lake City, show your support for this great sponsor and thank them for being a great partner for the ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo Documentary project. Let the Sheraton be your home away from home in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

When we needed a home-base in Santa Fe to prep for our event and relax after 10 hours of shooting, our friends at The Holiday Inn stepped up to the plate and took care of everything. Just as we have come to expect, the entire property was immaculate, organized, and well cared for and the staff had everything taken care of before we even checked in.

The Holiday Inn Santa Fe has the perfect balance of modern amenities and Southwestern charm. We loved the open lobby, rustic beam details, and open glass elevator. Coming in from the summer heat of New Mexico and into a clean, organized and comfy room gave us the peace of mind we needed to manage our HUGE public event at the local mall.

We could not have had such a successful event without the partnership of Holiday Inn Santa Fe and the entire staff who made sure when we got back after our long day that we had a fresh clean room to recharge in. Thanks for being a great home away from home.

We have to take a moment and acknowledge the great convention services team at The Red Lion on The Falls in Idaho Falls for stepping up as our hosts for the ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo Documentary stop in Idaho. When the opportunity came up to partner with our project, this community leader jumped at the chance to open their doors to the community so the world could see the diversity and commitment of this city.

The staff pulled out all the stops and made sure we had everything we needed to have a great event. The ballroom was the perfect space to host the hundreds of people who came out the join the project and shine a light on the issues and causes that are affecting this community.

Going far and beyond the call of duty, the event managers at The Red Lion reached out to the local non-profit and service organizations around the city to make sure they knew about the event and notified the media about the project so the wider community could learn more about what we’re doing.

All of this incredible service from these great partners was only amplified by the spectacular location on the very edge of the famous Idaho Falls. Stepping right out the front doors of our event would put you face to face with the picturesque rushing river and cascading falls just a stones throw away. We couldn’t ask for a better local partner than The Red Lion or a better location to have this history making event.

Spectacular is the only word that fits this contemporary hotel. We could not have asked for a more gracious, professional, and accommodating partner as our host for the ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo Documentary stop in Calgary. If you want to see what clean, contemporary luxury can be look no further than the perfectly situated Westin Hotel in the very heart of the city.

We love all of our Startwood Hotel partners and the unique professionalism they bring to every event, and our time at the Westin Calgary was no different. Our rooms were immaculate with stunning views of the city and an exceptionally modern feel that’s perfectly suited to our design taste. Every part of the property was perfection and every employee (without exception) was gracious, attentive, familiar with our project and knew why we were at the hotel.

When it came time for the photo event, The Westin pulled out all the stops and made sure our event was front and center for all to see. The Ballroom was a perfect fit for the hundreds of people who came out from the community to take part and like clockwork throughout the day, the staff came and made sure we had everything we needed to keep things running smoothly.

The best part of all was the fact that many of the hotel staff took time to come and join the documentary project on behalf of the unique issues and causes they support. We heard stories from these employees ranging from domestic violence awareness and autism, to clean drinking water in Africa and immigration reform. We learned very quickly that the team at the Westin are all passionate about their work and commitment to the community.

Once again, The Westin and Starwood Hotel Group have proven that they are strong leaders in the community who are putting their passion and commitment towards building a strong and diverse company.

Although Santa Fe may not be the first place you’d expect to see a world record-breaking photo documentary, we wanted to make sure that the ‘I AM EQUAL’ project found its way into the smaller cities so we could show off the big heart of the community. Thanks to the team at The Santa Fe Place Mall, we had a the perfect central location to capture the unique passion and commitment of this Southwest community for all the world to see.

Not only is this mall a great place to escape the summer heat and do some shopping, it’s also a leader in the community that provides resources and facilities to showcase the city’s diversity. Of course, for shopping, you have lots of options, and there are even some great food choices for a quick snack, but this mall shines in its employees – so helpful and accommodating in every way.

The whole team at Santa Fe Place Mall jumped at the opportunity to host our project and made sure that the hundreds of additional people coming to the mall that day could easy find our event, get a photo, and do some shopping without any hiccup or delay. They had our entire event space set before we even arrived and had used the common areas around the mall to advertise the project with posters and signs so the mall patrons could come out and join the project.

The best part about our stop in the Santa Fe Place Mall was how the stores, shops, and kiosks got involved in the project and made a special effort to thank all the participants with offers, discounts and deals. Just for participating, some stores were offering 70% discounts on purchases, BOGO deals, and even free food. As if that wasn’t good enough, the mall management gave away a $100 gift card to a lucky ‘I AM EQUAL’ participant from a drawing held at the end of our event.

We love our friends at the Santa Fe Place Mall and their incredible effort to be our hosts, engage the community, reach out to the media, and make sure our historic stop in New Mexico was a huge success.

We love our friends at Kimpton Hotels and the great Monaco boutique properties they manage across the United States. Each Monaco Hotel has a great charm and character all its own and the staff in Denver is a group of dedicated professionals who want to make sure everything is just perfect for their guests.

After a long trip to Denver we loved walking in to the crisp, clean comfort of our rooms at The Monaco and knowing that everything was taken care of. Lots of space, great views of the city and a perfectly central location let us experience everything the city had to offer quickly and easily. We had no problem walking anywhere we wanted to go and there were so many local food options in the area, we were never short of options.

When it came time to bring our ‘I AM EQUAL’ Photo Documentary to Denver, the great folks at the Monaco jumped at the opportunity to serve the community and host the project in their spectacular ballroom. They made sure we had everything we needed for a successful day and enough room to get photos of everyone who showed up to take part. We can honestly say that the spectacular success of our Denver event stop is thanks to the incredible support from the Hotel Monaco and the great staff.

If we ever find our way back to Denver, you can bet we’ll reconnect with our friends the Monaco to make sure the entire community has another chance to be part of this record-breaking project and speak out about the issues and causes they are supporting.

Thanks again to Kimpton Hotel Group and The Monaco for a memorable stop in Colorado.