San Francisco landmark's "Grand Duchess of Hospitality".
SAN FRANCISCO – Visitors to San Francisco’s iconic Hotel Mark Twain are often delighted to learn about the hotel’s rich and colorful history which includes visits to the property by its namesake Mark Twain during the great depression and the arrest by federal agents of the great blues singer Billie Holiday for opium possession in the 1940’s in the now infamous “Room #203.” However, today, they might be treated to an even more intriguing and flamboyant surprise when greeted by the hotel’s General Manager, Mark Dean who is known to occasionally appear as his drag queen persona, Deena Cartier.
Dean, who has been working in the hospitality industry for nearly twenty years, joined the Hotel Mark Twain in 2010. “I’ve worked for big corporate hotels and smaller independent hotels throughout the Western U.S., but it was the charm and character of the Hotel Mark Twain and the diversity and acceptance of San Francisco that made me call this city home,” says Dean.
An openly gay man, Dean has been performing in drag for 16 years and he has personally raised tens of thousands of dollars for a wide range of charities. He is a member of The Imperial Court of San Francisco, which is one of the largest LGBTQ fundraising organizations in the world, the court was founded in San Francisco 50 years ago and on February 15, 2015 will celebrate in style with a Golden Jubilee Gala at City Hall. “Working at the Hotel Mark Twain is such a pleasure. The hotel recently completed a $3M renovation, so our guestrooms are so new the paint is still wet. Our clientele really includes people from all walks of life from corporate travelers to families just looking for great affordable accommodations in Union Square. And, there’s the gay visitor, as well. We welcome everyone and I’m lucky to work for property owners that give me the freedom to have fun…sometimes as Deena Cartier,” he says.
Dean/Deena is currently running for the official title of Empress of San Francisco with elections being held in the city’s Castro District on February 7th. Deena Cartier is already known to visitors and guests of the Hotel Mark Twain as the Grand Duchess of Hospitality. Perhaps soon she will hold the more official title, as well.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
