US Gay and lesbian hotel guests spend a normal 57 per cent more on their travels than their heterosexual counterparts. That’s the results of the newest survey by Community Marketing Inc., a partner of ITB Berlin. Rika Jean-Francois, ITB Berlin’s CSR officer and member of the board of the International Gay & Travel Association (IGLTA) presented the findings on the ITB Berlin Convention and on the recently held strategy conference of Wien Tourismus in Vienna. Late last year, in a survey conducted inside the USA by Community Marketing Inc., 5,700 interviewees were asked about their travel habits. In accordance with the survey, it’s not only hotels but entire destinations that get pleasure from LGBT travellers (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).
Sunshine and relaxation the most important reasons for holidaying
According to the survey, 40 per cent of gays and shut to an identical variety of lesbians within the USA said a destination’s degree of gay-friendliness was the foremost factor influencing their collection of destination. As regarded holiday needs 67 per cent of gays and 66 per cent of lesbian travellers said warm weather was their first requirement, followed by cultural attractions, beaches and cuisine. Greater than 50 per cent of the respondents said certainly one of their main holiday interests was relaxation. For 35 per cent of gays the second one-most vital aspect was visiting family and friends, while for 32 per cent of lesbian couples it was spending time with their partners. 33 per cent of gay and 30 per cent of lesbian respondents said the placement of a hotel significantly influenced their selection of destination. For 30 per cent of both groups the second one-fundamental aspect was the worth.
LGBT travellers are comfortable using the net. When on the search for travel information 59 per cent of lesbian and 54 per cent of gay travellers inside the US said they depended on the recommendations of friends and families, and then they preferred travel websites. 41 per cent of gay and 36 per cent of lesbian travellers said they responded to advertising that targeted LGBT audiences.
Commitment to LGBT travellers
Over a long time, as portion of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concept, ITB Berlin has committed itself to supporting human rights in tourism, including tolerance and variety, and as an instance is a committed member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). Exhibitors representing the LBGT market first took part within the world’s largest travel trade extravaganza in 2003. For the last three years lectures and discussions in this subject in addition on LGBT travel topics was going down on the ITB Berlin Convention.
It has become one of many 15 officially recognised travel segments of the world’s largest travel trade event and because then has witnessed constantly rising demand. Currently, ITB Berlin has the most important range of LGBT travel products and destinations of any tourism trade extravaganza on earth. With its large Gay & Lesbian Travel Pavilion, the ITB TomOnTour Party and diverse other supporting LGBT events ITB Berlin has made a stand for tolerance and equal rights.
With its seminars on LGBT tourism in India in 2011, a data stand at ITB Asia 2012 in Singapore, an LGBT information booth at ABAV 2013 in Rio de Janeiro and international seminars and symposiums worldwide the ITB Academy is likewise showing its support for dismantling taboos and the event of this significant market segment worldwide. At ITB Berlin 2013 a strategic partnership between Wien Tourismus (Vienna Tourism) and ITB Berlin on LGBT Travel was agreed, in a bid to jointly support and extra its aims one day.
Recommended