Delegates representing 36 countries attend International LGBT+ travel conference in St Petersburg, Florida.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s (ILGTA) 34th Annual Global Convention, brought together more than 400 tourism professionals representing 36 countries to the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club for networking and education from May 4-6. It was the largest number of countries represented in IGLTA convention history.
IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella, said: “At a time when the news is filled with talk of travel bans and closed borders, our LGBT+ travel community united to show its support for diversity and a more welcoming world.”
“Our speakers from all tourism segments sent a clear message that our industry has a responsibility to promote inclusiveness. It was especially meaningful to debut the Second UNWTO Global Report on LGBT+ Tourism at this event.”
The Second UNWTO Global Report on LGBT Tourism, created in a partnership between UNWTO, IGLTA and the IGLTA Foundation, takes an in-depth look at the increasing visibility of LGBT+ consumers and the global tourism trends that impact this market.
To download a PDF of the full report, click here:
IGLTA’s convention programming also featured a CEO panel on crisis management, the Entrepreneur Roundtable Discussion for small business owners led by HE Travel president/owner Phil Sheldon, and for the first time, breakout sessions in Spanish.
The fourth annual IGLTA Foundation fundraising event, raised more than $10,000 for education, research, and developing the next generation of LGBT+ travel professionals.
The Foundation also supported educational and volunteer activities in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area on May 6, including the creation of an original LGBT+ mural along the Pinellas Bike Trail that is now a permanent part of the convention host city.
Visit St Petersburg/Clearwater CEO David Downing, said: “We’re proud and honoured to add St. Pete/Clearwater to the list of world capitals privileged to have hosted this event.”
“We’ve been an up-and-coming gay-friendly destination for several years, but the global visibility that results from hosting 400 of the world’s most influential LGBT+ tourism professionals puts us on a new map altogether. We simply couldn’t be more pleased.”
The next IGLTA Annual Global Convention will be held in Toronto from May 9-12, 2018.
For more information about IGLTA, click here: