International LGBTQ+ Travel Association

International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) is an international organization and a member-based global organization dedicated to LGBTQ tourism. In 2016, the association had a global presence with member businesses in more than 80 countries and global ambassadors in more than 22 countries.

History

Founded in 1983 by a dedicated group of 25 travel agents and hotel owners, IGLTA has expanded exponentially as LGBT rights and visibility have grown around the world. The original name was IGTA; the "L" was added in 1997.

March 2019, IGLTA changed its name from the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association to the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association and introduced an all-new visual identity with new branding and logo.

Between 1983 and 2019 the IGLTA logo has changed 5 times. The current version was designed by R & R Partners, an American advertising, marketing, public relations, and public affairs firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada.They are known for creating the ad campaign "What Happens Here, Stays Here," for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

Overview

IGLTA is the world's leading network of LGBTQ+ welcoming tourism businesses. The organization provides free travel resources and information to travel consumers. IGLTA also promotes equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism worldwide. The members of IGLTA include LGBTQ+ friendly accommodations, transport, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media located in over 80 countries.

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) was the first LGBTQ+ organization to receive affiliate member status in the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in November 2010. In November 2015 the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association became an orgisational partner with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) In 2016 the IGLTA was awarded the Winq Magazine Travel Award in London, UK.

Governance

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association's leadership includes President John Tanzella; Vice President, LoAnn Halden (London, England) ; Vice President, Clark Massad (Paris, France); Vice President, Tony Warner (Fort Lauderdale, FL).

IGLTA's efforts are supported by two boards: the IGLTA Board of Directors, which is the governing body for the association and oversees the organization's strategy and direction; the IGLTA Foundation Board of Directors, which manages the foundation's finances and establishes official policies that govern the foundation. Both boards operate by a standard of by laws.

Board of Directors

2018/2019 IGLTA Board of Directors

• Juan Julia, Founder and Owner of Axel Hotels.

• Jon Muñoz, Vice President of global diversity and inclusion, Hilton.
• Felipe Cardenas, Co-Founder & CEO of the Colombian LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
• Don Skeoch, Chief Marketing Officer of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.
• Dan Melesurgo, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership.
• Earl Fowlkes, President and CEO, the Center for Black Equity (CBE).
• Apoorva Gandhi, Vice President of Multicultural Affairs, Marriott International.
• Richard Gray, Managing Director, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
• Ms. Shiho Ikeuchi, Director of Overseas Marketing, Hotel Granvia Kyoto, Japan.
• Uwern Jong, Editor-in-Chief, OutThere Publishing.
• Richard Kreiger, President, Pride World and The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands.
• Steven Larkin, Director of Sales, Delta Air Lines.
• Oriol Pamies, entrepreneur.
• Sandi Robinson, Director of Sales, the Godfrey Hotel Chicago.
• Maria G. Tuttocuore, Senior Executive of Sales & Marketing, Monaco Government Tourist Office.
• John Tanzella, President and CEO of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.

2019/2020 Board of Directors

Board Chair: Jon Muñoz, Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion, Hilton.

Vice Chair: Don Skeoch, Chief Marketing Officer of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

Treasurer: Felipe Cardenas, Co-Founder & CEO of the Colombian LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.

Secretary: Ms. Shiho Ikeuchi, President & CEO of Pink Soleil, Inc

Immediate Past Chair: Juan Julia, Founder and Owner of Axel Hotels.

Board Members:

• Albert M. Herrera, Senior Vice President, Virtuoso
• Uwern Jong, Editor-in-Chief, OutThere Publishing.
• Richard Kreiger, President, Pride World and The Isramworld Portfolio of Brands.
• Steven Larkin, Director of Sales, Delta Air Lines.
• Sandi Robinson, Director of Sales, the Godfrey Hotel Chicago.
• Apoorva Gandhi, Vice President of Multicultural Affairs, Marriott International.
• Oriol Pamies, entrepreneur.
• Maria G. Tuttocuore, Senior Executive of Sales & Marketing, Monaco Government Tourist Office.
• John Tanzella, President and CEO of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association.

International Symposium and World Convention

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) holds an annual world convention and four symposia in different tourism destinations around the world. The international symposium attracts more than 500 attendees, including destination CVB officials, travel agents, airline employees, hotel employees and tourism professionals. The foundation of IGLTA also sponsors scholarships for students to attend the international symposiums each year. Previous scholarships have been awarded to students from Brazil, Colombia, China, Curacao, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, Spain and the United States.

The 36th annual world convention was held in New York City in late April 2019, one month prior to the WorldPride festival being held in the city throughout June to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The 37th annual world convention will be held in Milan in May 2020.

IGLTA Foundation

The mission statement of the IGLTA Foundation (2019): The IGLTA Foundation supports the mission of IGLTA and its members through education, research and leadership development that benefits the global LGBTQ+ tourism industry.

Founded in 2012 with the support of the IGLTA Foundation founding partner Delta Air Lines, the IGLTA Foundation is the 501(c)3 public charity subsidiary of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. The IGLTA Foundation supports initiatives for industry organizations, leaders and communities to advance LGBTQ+ travel around the world. A Board of Directors governs the IGLTA Foundation, overseeing the organization's strategy and direction. The IGLTA Foundation Board of Directors operates by a standard of bylaws.

In 2019 The IGLTA Foundation logo has changed 3 times since 2012. The 2019 version was designed by R & R Partners, an American advertising, marketing, public relations, and public affairs firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada.They are known for creating the ad campaign "What Happens Here, Stays Here," for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

Areas of activity for the IGLTA Foundation focus on I. Leadership II. Research III. Education.

I. Leadership

The IGLTA Foundation educates governments and tourism industry leaders on the importance of making LGBTQ+ travelers feel safe and welcome. The IGLTA Foundation provides resources for IGLTA to engage with other non-governmental organizations as well as governments and tourism boards to speak on the positive economic and cultural impact of LGBTQ+ tourism. The IGLTA Foundation is also an official partner of ECPAT International (formerly End Child Prostitution And Trafficking).

II. Research

The IGLTA Foundation funds research to promote understanding of LGBTQ+ travel within the global tourism industry.

GLOBAL REPORTS:

The IGLTA Foundation funds IGLTA to collect and disseminate quality industry research from sources around the world. This research not only provides invaluable demographic information to better serve LGBTQ+ travelers but also economic data that illustrates the value of supporting the LGBTQ+ tourism market. IGLTA Foundation also funds original research on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ travel industry where no current, credible research exists. Sharing key findings to continuously improve the state of LGBTQ+ travel around the world.

(2012) UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) First Edition Global Report on LGBT Tourism. The UNWTO Affiliate Members Programme presented the Global Report on LGBT Tourism, part 3 of series of AM Reports. With the knowledge and support of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, as well as the UNWTO Affiliate Members, this report examines LGBT tourism from a social, political and economic perspective. This report is part of a series of in-depth reports on emerging markets in global tourism. Volume 1 examined the world of Tourism and Technology while Volume 2 demonstrated the Power of Youth Tourism.

(October 2016) PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Report on LGBTQ+ Tourism: The Connected Visitor Economy October 2016 LGBT Travel Authored by The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association https://pata.org/store/publications/the-connected-visitor-economy-october-2016/

St. Petersburg, FL (4 May 2017) Penn State Buyers Survey Results: https://www.iglta.org/Portals/79/PennState.pdf IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association opened its 34th Annual Global Convention today with a look at future trends in LGBTQ+ tourism, the results of a study conducted in collaboration with Penn State’s School of Hospitality Management and the IGLTA Foundation. The data was gathered from travel agents/tour operators within IGLTA’s global membership who actively book LGBTQ+ travel.

Madrid (05 May 2017) The UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) Second Global Report on LGBTQ+ Tourism: https://www.iglta.org/research http://affiliatemembers.unwto.org/publication/affiliate-members-global-reports-volume-fifteen-second-global-report-lgbt-tourism The UNWTO 2nd Global Report on LGBT Tourism was launched at the Annual Convention of the International Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Association (IGLTA) taking place on 4-6 May 2017 in Florida. The report, developed in cooperation with IGLTA, underlines the potential of this segment and how to effectively maximize its value.

Brussels (26 July 2018) HANDBOOK ON THE LGBTQ+ TRAVEL SEGMENT in Europe (ETC): https://etc-corporate.org/reports/handbook-on-the-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-and-queer-lgbtq-travel-segment/ The European Travel Commission (ETC), in collaboration with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Foundation (IGLTAF), published its first joint study on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer travel segment.

(12 May 2019) Current Trends in LGBTQ+ Travel: https://www.iglta.org/Portals/79/Current%20Trends%20in%20LGBTQ%20Travel%20Final%20Report%20doc%20(1).pdf?ver=2019-06-03-153047-810

New York City (20 June 2019) Responsible Tourism Through the Lens of LGBTQ+ Travel (A 2019 International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Foundation White Paper) https://www.iglta.org/Portals/79/White%20Paper%20-%20Final3.pdf The Leadership Think Tank, organized in collaboration with NYC & Company and NYU’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, included leaders from Destination Canada, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Cape Town Tourism, Destination DC, Italian National Tourist Board, Visit Dallas, Destination Niagara USA, Bermuda Tourism Authority, Discover Puerto Rico, Embratur (Brazil), Visit California, Milano Smart City Association, Greater Boston CVB, Destinations International, Tourism Madrid, Guam Visitors Bureau, U.S. Travel Association, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Barcelona Tourism, Visit Salt Lake City, Thailand Tourism, and Greater Miami CVB.

Daniela Wagner, Group Business Development Director, Jacobs Media Group & Director EMEA, Pacific Asia Travel Association, and Fred Mayo, MBA, PhD, CHE, CHT, Founder, Mayo Consulting Services and Clinical Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, NYU, co-moderated the Leadership Think Tank.

III. Education

IGLTAF also funds IGLTA memberships for LGBTQ+ small tourism business owners in emerging destinations lacking governmental or industry support. Since 2012, Association memberships have been funded for small businesses in Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Jamaica, Montenegro, Peru, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Vietnam.

The IGLTA Foundation also supports scholarships for students and small business owners to attend the annual IGLTA Global Convention.

Trump Controversy

On July 5, 2015, the IGLTA sent an email to its members announcing the addition of its newest member businesses. The email included three properties branded 'TRUMP': Trump SoHo New York, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago and Trump International Hotel & Tower New York.

This is not the first time the IGLTA has courted controversy by including Trump-branded properties. A Change.org petition dating to 2011 encouraged the organization to "Dump Trump Properties".

On July 7, 2017 The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association gave an official statement to Windy City Times, IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said, "IGLTA is a member-based travel association promoting LGBTQ friendly travel options. IGLTA also aims to support and educate businesses that want to better respond to the needs of LGBTQ clients. "The Trump branded properties which are current members of IGLTA (2017) are independently owned hotels and not owned by Mr. Trump."

Donald Trump has spoken out against LGBT Rights and Same-Sex Marriage. As President of the United States, he was the first President since George W. Bush to not acknowledge June as Pride Month.

Few people have expressed concern surrounding the topic, despite the differences between the President of the United States and non-affiliated, privately owned, LGBTQ-friendly travel accommodations. On June 20, Trump's Chicago hotel was briefly illuminated in rainbow colors, presumably in recognition of Pride celebrations the following weekend. NBC 5 tweeted a photo of the display.

IGLTA Honors Awards

Award recipients from the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Annual Global Conventions.

1994 Washington, DC, USA

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award:
  • Newt Dieter
  • Kevin Mossier
  • Richard Cash
  • Walter Marlowe

1996 Sydney, NSW, Australia

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award:
  • Marianne Ferrari
  • Rod Stringer
  • Dan Delbex

1999 Minneapolis, USA

• Chair Award:
  • Babs Daitch

1997 Philadelphia, PA, USA

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: Herb Harris

• Chair Award: Kevin Kailey

• Chair Award: Richard Gray

1998 Montreal, QC, Canada

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award:
  • Lynne Hocking
  • Rick Cirillo

• Chair Award: Cynthia Marquard

2001 Munich, Germany

• Chair Award: Rosemary Hopkins

2002 Fort Lauderdale, USA

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: Richard Gray

• Chair Award: Geoff Carey

2003 Manchester, UK

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award:
  • John D'Alessandro
  • Aaron Kampfe

• Chair Award: Carl Zander

2004 Vancouver, Canada

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award:
  • Kevin Kailey
  • Hanns Ebensten

• Chair Award: Mary Clark

2006 Washington, DC, USA

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: The Original American Airlines Rainbow Team (Rick Cirillo, Mike Fricke, Robin Burr)

2008 Las Vegas, NV, USA

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: Lima Tours

• Chair Award:
  • Alan Beck
  • Fun Maps

2009 Toronto, Canada

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: Andrew Stokes

2010 Antwerp, Belgium

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: Spartacus International (Berlin)

• Chair Award: Jose Sampol- TAM Airlines VP
• Community Award: Patrick Aertsen
• Corporate Award: Accor Hotels
• Pioneer Award: Madian Al Jazerah
• Innovator Award: Shannon Wentworth -Sweet
• Networking Award: GNetwork360

2011 Fort Lauderdale, USA

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: Charley Rounds

• Chair Award: Gina Gatta- Damron Guide
• Community Award: Nicki Grossman
• Corporate Award: American Airlines
• Pioneer Award: David Ryan -RhinoAfrica Safaris/ Out2Africa
• Innovator Award: SAS Scandinavian Airlines
• Networking Award: ABRAT GLS (The Brazilian Association for Gay & Lesbian Tourism)

2012 Florianopolis, Brazil

• IGLTA Hall of Fame Award: Gregg Kaminsky- R Family Vacations (NYC)
• Chair Award: Javier Blanco- UNWTO
• Community Award: Andre Fisher
• Pioneer Award: Russell Lord -Kenes Tours
• Travel Writer Award: Michael Luongo

2013 Chicago, IL, USA

• The Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award: Charles Lapointe, President/CEO of Tourisme Montreal
• Chair Award: Thomas Roth
• Community Award: Center on Halsted
• Pioneer Award: Dee Farrell
• Travel Writer Award: Manuela Kay

2014 Madrid, Spain

• The Chair Award: Bob Witeck
• Community Award: Alfonso Llopart Basterra
• Pioneer Award: ILGA
• Media Honor Award: Merryn Johns
• Ambassador Award: Alessio Virgilli

2015 Los Angeles, CA, USA

• The Chair Award: Barack Obama

• Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award: Feel Free Olivia, Olivia

• Destination Pioneer: The Curacao Tourist Board
• LGBT Event Pioneer: Doug Swallow
• Community Honor: The Los Angeles LGBT center
• Networking: Camarade Comerciantes LGBT de Colombia
• Travel Writer: Jurrian Teulings
• Ambassador of the Year: Jonathan Mountford

2016 Cape Town Africa

• The Chair Award: Desmond Tutu

• IGLTA Community Honor: Nondumiso "Ndumie" Funda

• IGLTA Networking Honor: Fitur GAY (LGBT)

• IGLTA Ambassador of the Year: Shiho Ikeuchi & Shintaro Koizumi

2017 St. Petersburg, FL, USA

• Corporate Leadership: George A. Kalogridis, President, Walt Disney World Resort.
• Community (based in the convention state/region): Barbara Poma/onePULSE Foundation. See also Pulse nightclub.
• Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award: Christina Guggenberger, founder of the Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network.
• Pioneer in Destination Marketing: Tourism Authority of Thailand.
• Travel Writer: Andrew Collins who began his career at Fodor’s in 1991 and five years later, as a freelancer, authored Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA, the first LGBTQ+ travel guidebook produced by a major mainstream guidebook publisher. He has since contributed to more than 180 Fodor’s titles and countless LGBTQ+ publications.

2018 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Pathfinder Award: Kimahli Powell for Rainbow Railroad;
• Storyteller Award: Dirk Baumgartl, Blu Media Group;
• Pinnacle Award: the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau 23rd Prime Minister of Canada. Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and LGBTQ2 Liaison to Justin Trudeau, accepted the Pinnacle Award on the Canadian Prime Minister’s behalf;
• Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award: Tanya Churchmuch, MuchPR;
• Pioneer Award: Dean Nelson, Pride House International.

2019 New York City, NY, USA

• Pioneer Award: Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), New York City;
• Vanguard Award: ITB LGBT+ Travel Pavilion, Thomas Bömkes of Diversity Tourism, ITB partner; Rika Jean François, Commissioner ITB Corporate Social Responsibility, ITB Berlin;
• Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award: George Neary former Associate Vice President of Cultural Tourism for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
• IGLTA Foundation Humanitarian Award: Terrence McNally, Tony Award-winning playwright; and theater producer Tom Kirdahy.

See also

• List of LGBT rights organizations
• LGBT tourism