Madrid to host 2014 Annual Global Convention
IGLTA    Share   
IGLTA will bring its 31st Annual Global Convention to Madrid in May 2014. The Spanish capital presented a successful bid to host the association's premier event during the October IGLTA board meeting. "I think our first convention in Spain is going to be a huge success," IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said. "Madrid is a transportation hub, supports equality for its citizens and hosts Europe's largest gay pride event. Plus, the UNWTO, an organizational partner, is headquartered there. All of these things point to a well-run conference." To learn more, visit www.esmadrid.com.

IGLTA in Italy
IGLTA    Share   
It's been a busy few weeks for Alessio Virgili, IGLTA's co-ambassador to Italy. He represented the association 6-8 October at the 48th edition of TTG Incontri; the business-to-business trade fair, held annually in Rimini, is the largest of its kind in Italy. During the show, he also celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Italian Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, of which he is the founder and president. Prior to that, Virgili attended the NoFrills trade show in Bergamo, Italy, which attracts 7,000 travel agents. He represented IGLTA in the dedicated gay section — Expo Gay Tourism — which included 20 exhibitors; he also spoke during the press conference held in conjunction with the event, which received major mainstream press coverage in Italy (Rai Uno, Repubblica).

Member benefits
IGLTA    Share   
Check out our upcoming brochure distribution and booth share opportunities open only to IGLTA members at www.IGLTA.org/events.

• Out & Equal Annual Summit: 25-28 October in Dallas, USA. The Summit boasts more than 2,300 attendees who participate in more than 125 workshops and caucuses all designed to create an inclusive workplace. The Summit justly deserves its international reputation as the premier conference on LGBT issues in the workplace.
• Travel Gay Canada Conference: 16-18 November in Montreal, Canada. The second annual Travel Gay Canada Conference is the largest LGBT travel and tourism conference in Canada.
• NTA Convention: 5-9 December in Las Vegas, USA. NTA's annual all-member convention brings together the most diverse group of buyers and sellers of any travel industry show.
• ITB Berlin: 7-11 March, 2012, in Berlin, Germany. The world's largest trade show and convention for travel professionals.

Join IGLTA at World Travel Market
IGLTA    Share   
Please visit IGLTA 7-10 November in London at the Global Village of WTM, stand GV203. We're proud to once again booth share with our partner HotelRez/World Rainbow Hotels at this key business-to business event for global travel professionals. IGLTA also will be present in the all new Associations Pavilion of WTM, a 25m² area with lounge, meeting facilities and Internet access; a WTM receptionist will be on the stand to help visitors at the WTM Associations Pavilion. There is limited space left for IGLTA member brochure distribution at our booth, so book now! More

Gay and lesbian tourists flocking to India
TTG Asia    Share   
Rising numbers of gay and lesbian tourists, traveling as couples or in small groups, are converging on India, which was perceived, until fairly recently, as a conservative society that frowned upon same-sex relationships. More

CMI's 16th Annual LGBT Travel Survey
Community Marketing Inc.    Share   
Please take a few minutes to complete the CMI 16th Annual LGBT Travel Survey. This fun travel survey should take only about 10-12 minutes to complete. These research studies help open doors — and minds — around the world, and help create change that benefits our community. More

Emerging Italian activists Part 2: Forza Torre del Lago, Stonewall a la Italia!
EDGE Boston    Share   
Last week, we introduced you to Regina Satariano, an LGBT-activist based in gay tourism destination Torre del Lago in Tuscany who also owns popular gay nightclub Priscilla. The town is much like Provincetown, Mass., or Wilton Manors, Fla., which Wikipedia deems "a gay village." More

Returning from the moon
The Economist    Share   
Here's a nice story for business travelers frustrated by paperwork: When the Apollo 11 astronauts returned from the moon, they filled out a customs form and declared their cargo. Check it out, via Space.com and America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration. More

Tourism remedy: 10,000 free flights to Japan
The Wall Street Journal    Share   
In an effort to entice more travelers, the Japan Tourism Agency has proposed offering free airfare to 10,000 foreigners to visit the country next year. More

Josh Noel: Safety is key for women on the move
McClatchy-Tribune via The Vancouver Sun    Share   
A few months ago I wrote about "gay business travel" and the fact that it is a substantial enough demographic for the hospitality industry to track it. Little wonder, then, that there also are people mulling "female business travel." More

Gay marriage advocates to meet MPs in Canberra
International Business Times    Share   
About 60 marriage equality advocates from around Australia traveled to Canberra to meet with more than 40 MPs to discuss with parliamentarians on both sides of the house how marriage equality affects their lives, and the lives of their family and friends. More

IFT and UNESCO team up
PATA    Share   
The Institute for Tourism Studies and UNESCO further collaborate on protection and management of heritage sites. More

When geography is concerned with lesbians
Têtu    Share   
A new generation of researchers modernizes the geography, including him designating of study topics such as homosexuality. Nadine Cattan, director of research at CNRS, worked with lesbians. More

Accor expands in Asia Pacific
PATA    Share   
Accor strengthens its presence in Asia Pacific by signing on for the development of up to 100 new hotels in the region. More