Tuesday, May 25, 2010

IGLTA celebrates leaders in LGBT travel

The annual global convention of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association is not only the gay travel industry's premier networking event, but also an opportunity to salute individuals and companies that have helped to make the world a more welcoming place for LGBT travelers. At this year's event, 23-27 June, in Antwerp, IGLTA will hold two awards presentations, honoring both longtime travel contributions and new concepts that are putting gay travel on the map.

More after the jump.

IGLTA's gala dinner (25 June) features the presentation of two established awards, chosen by the association's board of directors:

· The Chairman's Award: Jose Sampol, TAM Brazilian Airlines, Director of North American Operations and a dedicated friend to the LGBT travel community

· The Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award: The Spartacus International Gay Guide, which celebrates its 40th anniversary of helping LGBT travelers find their way in 2011

The IGLTA Honors premiere this year (during the 24 June convention luncheon) to recognize leaders in LGBT tourism across a wide range of categories:

· Community: Antwerp's own Patrick Aertsen, the manager of the leading gay club in the Benelux, Red and Blue, and the founder of major LGBT event Navigaytion, a travel agency and other local businesses

· Innovator: Shannon Wentworth, CEO and founding partner of eco-minded lesbian travel company Sweet

· Networking: GNetwork360, the top Latin-American LGBT marketing event, which unites more than 700 attendees in Buenos Aires each year

· Partner: Accor Hotels, an IGLTA Platinum Partner with more than 4,100 hotels in 93 countries and promotion of LGBT travel as a top priority

· Pioneer: Gay business owner Madian Al Jazerah, who established the LGBT-friendly gathering place Books@cafe in Amman, Jordan, despite persecution – and now has six other cafes providing a warm welcome for all

Convention registration is still open. Individual tickets to the gala dinner are US$125 and will go on sale June 1. For more information on IGLTA's convention, which includes admission to the Honors luncheon and gala dinner, and registration, visit www.igltaconvention.org.