Friday, December 9, 2016

International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association receives Winq Travel Award

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association received the Winq Travel Award, presented in association with United Airlines, this week at Rosewood London. The UK-based magazine’s second annual event included nine awards: activism, culture, business, media, music, sport, travel, Man of the Year and an additional honor presented by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Suki Sandhu, CEO/Founder of OUTStanding, a network of LGBT executives and allies, presented the award: "You only need to look at the so-called rights invoked in the name of 'religious freedom' to understand the value of an organization the likes of the winner of the Travel Award,” he said. “The Florida-based organization Winq awards today brings together a disparate range of airlines, hoteliers, tour operators and service providers that will love and respect you for who you are, and assures you of a warm welcome."

The other winners are: Dan Mathews of PETA, master perfumer Roja Dove, author and playwright Jonathan Harvey, journalist Owen Jones, singer/songwriter Bright Light Bright Light, Olympic gold medalist diver Chris Mears, PrEP campaigner Dr. Will Nuttall and actor, director and writer Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Game of Thrones).

"IGLTA is incredibly proud to receive this award from WINQ alongside so many noteworthy LGBT contributors to arts, culture and activism,” IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said. “This honor is shared with all of our tourism business members, global partners and allies in more than 70 countries who are dedicated to supporting LGBT-welcoming travel."

The just-released winter issue of Winq features an interview with Tanzella about the association and its 33-year history. Read more here