Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia (GALTA) inconjunction with the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) hosted a Mardi Gras reception at the Observatory Hotel Sydney last Friday.

GALTA Director & IGLTA Ambassador Oceania Reece Farmilo and GALTA Managing Director Rod Stringer explained that the Australian association started 20 years ago in Cairns. A few local gay businesses decided to communally promote their brands and GALTA was born. Today GALTA has 140+ member businesses Australia wide.

The association’s aim is to provide gay friendly travel information. Each year they represent their members at all the major domestic gay pride fair days and annually at the IGLTA event which this year is being held Florianopolis Brazil said Mr Stringer.

The recently refreshed website, GALTA.com.au, is the most up-to-date database of gay friendly businesses in Australia. The site is the perfect place to research gay travel in Australia added Mr Stringer.

For more information, to become a member or to sign up for their free consumer newsletter called ‘Out in Oz’ visit www.galta.com.au

Click here to view photos from the event