Izzy Sanchez

Holiday Inn San Jose – Silicon Valley: A welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community

Izzy Sanchez has worked over the past two years to make the Holiday Inn San Jose-Silicon Valley a safe and comfortable space for the LGBTQ+ community and, as the catering sales manager for the downtown hotel, expects to expand that effort in 2024.

After more than two decades in the hospitality industry, Sanchez came to the San Jose hotel in December 2021 and immediately saw an opportunity for growth.

“I went after a market – our LGBTQ+ market – that no one had gone after,” the 44-year-old Sanchez said. “It is my community, and it’s a market that no other hotel was pursuing. They are very loyal. They are repeat business that leads into other opportunities.”

Sanchez began displaying the Pride flag during Pride Month shortly after coming to the hotel. He is a member of the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley. The organization is an affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber, which supports members through development, education, promotion and advocacy.

“We do a variety of events for our LGBTQ+ community such as pool parties, conferences, galas, dances and drag brunches,” he said. “The sky is the limit for us. We are also a home for Rupaul Drag Race Queens when they are in town. Drag queens come and they can get ready in drag and stay the night here. They don’t feel threatened or made fun of like they might in other places.”

A native of Salinas in Monterey County, Sanchez has an associate degree in hospitality management and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He came out as gay while in high school and has seen that as an act of self-expression.

“When I was younger, I had to fight to be who I am today,” he said. “In my 20s, I was gullible and made mistakes; during my 30s, I didn’t know what to do; but in my 40s I got an education and took control of my life.”

After he came to the Holiday Inn San Jose-Silicon Valley, Sanchez said, he met with someone from Silicon Valley Pride, and they wanted to do a mixer at the hotel.

“I said ‘OK, let’s do a mixer.’ And from that it just evolved from a mixer to a pool party to a winter ball. Once we did a lot of events with them, I met with the Rainbow Chamber, and things grew from there.”

Sanchez said he relishes his role in providing services for the LGBTQ+ community and sees those opportunities expanding as he looks for new activities in the months ahead.

“I’m very grateful for where I am today and, at the same time, I’ve only just begun,” he said.