First conference in Spain for the LGBT travel association includes delegates from 32 countries.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association hosted its most attended and globally diverse convention outside of North America on May 8-10. Approximately 275 delegates from 32 countries gathered in Madrid for networking and education to further lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender tourism globally.
They were welcomed to Madrid by a high-level roster of Spanish dignitaries that included Isabel Borrego, Secretary of State for Tourism/President of TURESPAÑA; José Francisco García, General for Cultural Heritage at Madrid City Council; Carmen Gonzalez, Vice Minister of Tourism and Culture for the Region of Madrid; and Doña Ana Isabel Mariño Ortega, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Culture for the Community of Madrid.
The opening session also included a greeting from James Costos, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Principality of Andorra, and a keynote speech from David Scowsill, President/CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council.
IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella, said: “Spain is a longtime partner to IGLTA and the LGBT tourism community. It was an amazing conference that showcased Spanish support for gay travel and resulted in our biggest, most diverse group of attendees for a non-North American event. It also attracted the most media attention in our 31-year history. We thank the national tourism office of Spain, the region of Madrid, and the city of Madrid for doing so much to raise the visibility of LGBT tourism and IGLTA.”
The conference next year will be held in Los Angeles, California from April 9-11m 2015.
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