Gay Market News

International LGBT2020 Homophobia Report released for IDAHO Day

2013-05-16T11:57:00.000+02:00

New report reveals homophobic discrimination and violence is endemic in many countries around the world

- International LGBT2020 Homophobia Report reveals widespread homophobia, violence and harassment of LGBT people in countries all over the world

- Most LGBT people globally are not out at work due to fears of harassment and bullying

- Over half of LGBT people in most countries believe that there are issues of homophobia and transphobia in their own workplace

Sydney, Australia (OUTNOW) - May 16, 2013 -- Data released from the world's largest research program into the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people has revealed the extent to which LGBT people suffer harassment, discrimination, refusal of goods and services and violence because of their sexuality. The LGBT2020 study measures these data on a global scale for the very first time.  The findings released in conjunction with IDAHO day (The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia http://www.dayagainsthomophobia.org) which is held annually on the 17 May, give the clearest picture to date about the widespread levels of harassment and discrimination that LGBT people face on a daily basis in countries right around the world.

The 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' research http://www.outnowconsulting.com/media/1332/Idaho-discrimination-report-global-V7.pdf was conducted by the worldʼs leading LGBT consulting firm Out Now Global as part of the 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study'. This groundbreaking project is the largest global research project into the lives of LGBT people that has ever been undertaken, and to date the LGBT2020 study has collected data in 12 languages from almost 100,000 LGBT respondents in 21 countries around the globe on a variety of topics, include workplace and discrimination issues.   Countries sampled during 2012 for the LGBT2020 research report include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay. (Those in bold are included in the report released by Out Now for 2013 IDAHO Day.)

The results highlight several key global trends for LGBT people among findings that are relatively consistent across the various countries tested, including the countries in the LGBT2020 study not included in this new report. These data reveal the prevalence of homophobia, which is still endemic and appears to be culturally ingrained in societies globally.   The new 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' highlights that discrimination, harassment and violence is occurring to LGBT people because of their sexuality all over the world, and shows that even in the most progressive western countries not everyone who identifies as being either LGB or T is able to be completely 'out' or open about their sexuality either at work, with friends or with family.

The research also reveals that more than 50% of respondents tested believe there are problems of varying degrees of severity for LGBT people in their own workplace.   While these findings highlight the extent of discrimination and harassment of LGBT people they may only reveal part of the problem. The research shows that even in a country as socially progressive as the Netherlands for example, the percentage of LGBT people who are able to be out to everyone at work (65%), with family (77%) and with their friends (83%) is not total showing that issues in coming out are real and affect interpersonal relationships across society. This ability to be 'out' drops to just 17% (at work), 21% (with family) and 26% (with friends) in Japan, where cultural norms make it far more 'unacceptable' for LGBT people to be open about their sexuality or gender identity.   The new LGBT2020 homophobia figures reveal the true lack of visibility for LGBT people in society, particularly in the workplace, where even in a country as reportedly accepting as the Netherlands - more than one in every three (35%) of all LGBT respondents feel that they are unable to completely be themselves with their colleagues at work.   This lack of visibility because of reluctance amongst many LGBT people to come out about their sexuality or gender identity is explained by another finding of the research.

There is a very real threat that out and open LGBT people risk harassment, discrimination and violence - both verbal abuse and physical assaults - in the societies in which they live, all over the world due to their sexuality or gender identity.   The 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' shows that there is a particular lack of visibility (known as 'being in the closet') for LGBT people globally which is especially prevalent in certain countries including Japan, Turkey, Mexico, France and Brazil. With fewer visible 'out' LGBT people in these countries the actual levels of homophobia could be far higher than reported as people who feel unable to be out are often adopting this tactic as part of a strategy to minimise homophobic and transphobic incidents against themselves.   There is a strong correlation with how out people are in a particular country in their places of work, with how well they feel LGBT people generally are treated in the workplace, indicating that countries where people are less likely to be out at work are also those countries where LGBT respondents feel LGBT people in the workplace are treated poorly.   Issues of homophobia and transphobia are not defined by levels of development within nations.

The findings of the new 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' show that countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, France and Germany (amongst others) all have significant cultural issues affecting how open LGBT people can be in all levels of society, and respondents from these countries also report worryingly high levels of harassment, violence and discrimination which they suffer because of their sexuality or gender identity.  In the USA for example, 59% of respondents believe that there are issues of concern to them regarding how LGBT people are currently treated while at work, which may go some way to explaining why only 44% of LGBT respondents from the USA are out to everyone in the workplace.

Similarly in the UK, only 52% of respondents said that they felt able to be 'out to everyone' at work, and 15% of respondents indicated that they had suffered harassment in the workplace during the past year.  It appears that no matter where LGBT people live in the world today, too many still run very real daily risks of suffering harassment, bullying, violence and intimidation solely on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now Global was keen to add context to the research. "The findings of this 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Homophobia Report' show that we have a long way to go in achieving a society which is truly welcoming and accepting of sexual and gender diversity," Johnson said. "Out Now hopes this data goes some way to helping highlight the very real problems of homophobia and transphobia which many LGBT people encounter every day, in all parts of the world. Of course one of the most important things we say at Out Now is that averages mask diversity. There is no such thing as a 'typical' LGBT person. There are just individuals. At Out Now one of our touchstones is that 'LGBT' spells people. People around the world living diverse lives - yet all having at least one characteristic that unites them - being a member of the minority group within societies known as LGBT."

Joel Bedos from the IDAHO Committee said: "The Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study will no doubt provide renewed momentum for companies to increase their commitment to Human Rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Not only within their companies, but within the societies at large that they live and work in. By supporting local LGBT advocates who work every day to fight against stigma and discrimination, companies are proving vital in implementing a core component of their broader corporate social responsibility." 

Media contact:
Darren Cooper, Out Now darren.cooper @ OutNowConsulting.com

About Out Now

http://www.outnowconsulting.com/media/1332/Idaho-discrimination-report-global-V7.pdf

Established in 1992, Out Now is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization and has for two decades been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands, organisations and tourism bodies for specialized gay and lesbian marketing insight and expertise. Services include research, training, strategy and communications. Out Now clients include IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, TUI, Lufthansa, Berlin Tourism Marketing, Vienna Tourist Board, Visit Manchester, Stockholm Visitors Board, Barclaycard, Barclays Bank and Lloyds TSB Banking Group.

About IDAHO

http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/about/

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to this issue.

It is not one centralised campaign; rather it is a moment that everyone can take advantage of to take action.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization's decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia is now celebrated in more than 100 countries, in all world regions and in places as diverse as Australia, Iran, Cameroon or Albania.

It has received official recognition from several States and such international institutions as the European Parliament, and by countless local authorities. Most United Nations agencies also mark the Day with specific events. LGBTI organizations, governments, cities, human rights organizations, corporations and celebrities have all taken action on May 17th to:

Draw media attention to the issue of homophobia and transphobia
Organise events which mobilize public opinion
Demand attention from policymakers and engage in lobbying activities
Network with like-minded organizations and develop new partnerships, at home or beyond
Mobilize existing constituencies and address new audiences

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands.

New Brazil LGBT2020 Report Released

2013-04-22T16:45:00.001+02:00

World's Second Biggest LGBT Tourism Market Comes Out For World Travel Market Latin America

LGBT2020 Report on Brazil LGBT Tourism - 2013 Edition

- Out Now Global LGBT2020 tourism spend reveals Brazil to be the second highest value LGBT tourism market globally
- Value of LGBT consumer travel in the region to be revealed at WTM Latin America by Out Now

São Paulo, Brazil (OUTNOW) - April 22, 2013 -- Brazil’s LGBT tourism market is worth USD$22.9 Billion, reveals Out Now’s LGBT2020 Study which will be discussed at WTM Latin America this week (23-25 April).

Brazil is now one of the leading inbound destinations for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) tourists from around the world, with cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo ranking in the top 20 global destinations for LGBT travellers during 2013 (Data source: Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study), delegates at WTM Latin America will discover on April 25.

The new research - undertaken by the world's leading LGBT consulting firm Out Now Global http://www.OutNowConsulting.com - reveals for the first time that the value of Brazil’s own LGBT tourism market is USD$22.9 billion dollars. This figure is a significant percentage of the total annual global value of (LGBT) leisure travel spending, which is on course to reach a record USD$181 billion during 2013.

The new 'Brazil LGBT2020 Travel Report - 2013 Edition' - released today contains the findings from more than 2,000 Brazilian respondents to Out Now's LGBT2020 study.

Furthermore, Out Now will release additional LGBT2020 market data for six more countries across the Latin America region during a special LGBT education workshop at WTM Latin America WTMLatinamerica.com on April 25 in São Paulo, Brazil. An additional ten countries of new LGBT market data will also be released free to members of the Out Now Business Class program http://www.OutNowBusinessClass.com - the world's leading networking association to promote LGBT tourism.

The new report gives the clearest-ever picture of the immense scale and potential of Brazil’s LGBT tourism market.

With a per-capita annual travel spend of $2,583 Brazil’s nearly nine million LBGT people represent a large opportunity for companies and destinations willing to show their commitment to this market through appropriate staff training, effective tailored communications and the delivery of products and services that reflect the concerns of this growing tourism market.

The LGBT2020 research reveals that 79% of Brazilian respondents would either definitely, or probably choose to buy from a company that actively markets their products or services to LGBT customers.

84% of respondents said that a company sponsoring LGBT events or community groups would also either definitely, or probably motivate them to prefer that company's products or services.

Darren Cooper, Senior Consultant
Out Now Global

Training of staff to better understand the needs of LGBT people was also shown to be a strong motivating factor for Brazil’s LGBT population. 92% of all respondents said that effective LGBT-sensitive customer service delivered by well-trained staff can motivate them to prefer the products or services of that supplier.

Darren Cooper, Senior Consultant with Out Now, said: “Brazil’s LGBT population has revealed that there is much that can be done by companies looking to gain their attention, and positively motivate their product selection choices and brand loyalties through a range of strategic steps.

"Communications to this market are always most effective when they are tailored to speak directly whilst avoiding clichés and negative stereotypes - but the research also reveals that companies need to demonstrate product credibility, and this can best be achieved in tourism through staff training.

"LGBT people have grown weary of the number of destinations, hotels and airlines all claiming to be gay-friendly," Cooper said. "LGBT people do not experience tourism when they view an advertisement. Whether an LGBT person has a great holiday is directly correlated to how welcomed they feel when they stay with a hotel and visit a destination - and it is the tourism industry staff who serve them during their holiday who have the most direct bearing upon how well-respected LGBT people feel.”

The global LGBT tourism networking association ONBC - Out Now Business Class is exhibiting at a special LGBT pavilion (Stand E33) at WTM Latin America, the region's newest trade show by the world's leading event for the global tourism industry - World Travel Market.

All members of Out Now Business Class receive special LGBT sensitivity staff training in four languages to help tourism workers better understand how to meet the travel concerns of their LGBT customers.

CEO of Out Now Global, Ian Johnson, will be presenting the latest LGBT2020 research from Latin America at a special education Masterclass on world's best practices for LGBT tourism development.

That WTM workshop will include special presentations from the CEO of LGBT Confex http://www.LGBTConfex.com Ruben Sandoval on the Latin American LGBT market and Pawari http://www.pawari.pe by Viajes Pacifico of Peru.

Pawari is a dedicated LGBT tour operator serving clients from the region and LGBT Confex is the world's leading provider of specialist B2B and B2C conferences and exhibitions to reach LGBT people.

Copies of the 'Brazil LGBT2020 Travel Report - 2013' can be downloaded here. The data in this press release can be quoted freely provided mandatory data credit is included: "Data source: Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study http://www.outnowconsulting.com ."

Additional LGBT2020 research data will be released by Out Now on April 25 at WTM Latin America.

The Out Now Business Class LGBT pavilion is located at Stand E33 at WTM Latin America which takes place from April 23 - 25, 2013 at Transamerica Expo Center – São Paulo. The ONBC Masterclass workshop on global LGBT research and marketing best practices is presented on April 25 from 5pm in Conference Theatre 1.

About Out Now

Established in 1992, Out Now is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization and has for two decades been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands, organisations and tourism bodies for specialized gay and lesbian marketing insight and expertise. Services include research, training, strategy and communications. Out Now clients include IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, TUI, Lufthansa, Berlin Tourism Marketing, Vienna Tourist Board, Visit Manchester, Stockholm Visitors Board and Lloyds TSB Banking Group.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands.

Travel Agents Board LGBT Confex

2013-03-15T17:43:00.002+01:00

Travel Agents Get On Board New LGBT Confex Latin America Events  

LGBT NEWS: Friday March 15, 2013

3rd International LGBT Business Expo

GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO -- (OUT NOW) -- March 15, 2013 - The most important trade association for travel agents in Mexico has announced their support for the International LGBT Business Expo's Travel Show taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico in September this year.

  The Asociación Mexicana de Agencia de Viajes, A.C. (AMAV) presided by Jorge Hernández Delgado, has joined forces with LGBT Confex - http://www.LGBTconfex.com - the leading organizer of conferences and exhibitions focused on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) market segment.

  The LGBT market is made up of more than 20 million consumers across Latin America who spend each year more than USD$36 billion on travel. In Mexico alone LGBT travelers will account for more than USD$9 billion travel spending in 2013. (Data source: Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study - 2013 Report.)  

AMAV was founded in 1945 and accounts for more than 2,000 travel agent members selling to customers right across Mexico.   

In announcing the support of this industry-leading representative association, the CEO of LGBT Confex, Ruben Sandoval, said his organization was pleased to enjoy the support of this industry leading organization.

  "LGBT Confex works very hard to ensure that we deliver world-class quality business events which connect our delegates and exhibitors with education, networks and other resources to allow them to better understand and meet the needs of the LGBT consumer market," Sandoval said. "To gain the support of this leading association - who are leaders in the Mexico travel industry - is much appreciated by us and we will be working hard to help their members benefit from this connection with our events."  

The latest LGBT2020 market research from Out Now http://www.outnowconsulting.com suggests that the decision to support the LGBT Confex travel show is a strategic one.

Latest figures from the LGBT2020 study show that in many markets around the world, around one in every four travel sales for hotels among gay and lesbian travelers is purchased through a travel agent - either online or at a retail store. In Mexico this figure is 23%.  

According to Jorge Hernández Delgado, President of AMAV, the partnership with LGBT Confex and its events is a smart one for the association's members.   

Guadalajara, Mexico - September 5 - 7, 2013

"AMAV is committed to delivering the best for our members - and the continuing growth trend in global LGBT tourism markets is one that we know to be a very important one," Mr. Hernandez Delgado said. "With around 6% of all our members' customers being lesbian or gay it makes good business sense to support this market. It is also demonstrably the right thing for us to do to support equality for all people in Mexico in 2013."  

CEO of Out Now, Ian Johnson, said that these new developments are a sign of the rapidly accelerating progress of change taking place in Latin America in relation to LGBT equality.

"Out Now tracks LGBT business and consumer data all across the world and the pace of change and integration taking place in countries such as Mexico and Brazil in the Latin America region is faster than any other single country has yet seen," Johnson said. "LGBT people are today more open about their sexual orientation than ever before and more people now know someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. As societies we are learning how to live amongst - and respect - the diversity that has always been there in our communities. Whereas once this was hidden it is now known - and people of all kinds can become more comfortable living in a more open society. The AMAV travel agents association of Mexico is an important part of a social and business wave of change that is good for their members - as well as for Mexican society generally."  

The 3rd International LGBT Business Expo http://www.LGBTbusinessExpo.com and the International LGBT Travel Show are being held in Guadalajara, Mexico from September 5 - 7, 2013.

In 2013 LGBT Confex also manages the Out Now Business Class LGBT pavilions for exhibitors at World Travel Market events in São Paulo and in London.

Exhibitor, sponsor and delegate bookings are now open for all events.

For more information contact andres@lgbtconfex.com

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved, for the world, by Out Now - any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Launch - visitBerlin pink pillow

2013-03-11T15:55:00.000+01:00

LGBT NEWS: Monday March 11, 2013

visitBerlin launches new LGBT hotels collection - pink pillow - during ITB travel trade show in Berlin.

The city of Berlin has been a leader in the field of LGBT tourism market development for over ten years now.

Last week at the ITB travel trade show, Berlin Tourismus & Kongress raised the bar even higher - with the successful launch of their new LGBT targeted hotels collection - pink pillow.

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now attended the launch and reports on how Berlin is demonstrating leadership in the area of LGBT tourism.

Join Out Now's Gay Market News on Facebook.

The pink pillow initiative

Three years ago I attended a workshop in Berlin as the guest of visitBerlin at which a small number of local hotels discussed the potential to create a tailored initiative for Berlin properties specifically geared to the needs of the LGBT travel market.

It was encouraging to see such joined-up thinking, as Out Now's LGBT2020 research program has shown that for a strong majority of LGBT travellers, their number one concern is 'will I feel genuinely welcomed' during their holidays.

In the case of hotels, the key determinant to this is the staff working at the hotels.

As a result of these initial discussions a comprehensive consultation and development process was commenced, led by Jan Schmitz of visitBerlin and Philip Ibrahim of Accor Hotels.

A project takes shape

During the past three years a number of things happened. It was decided that for an LGBT collection to make sense membership had to mean something.

There are already far too many 'tick-box' LGBT targeted hotel listings websites in the marketplace.

The pink pillow collection has at its centre five key aspects which participating hotels commit to:

all guests are treated with same courtesy, dignity and respect;
staff at the hotel contribute actively in LGBT social projects;
create a work environment of respect and tolerance;
offer their guests information about the LGBT scene; and
participate in visitBerlin’s semi-annual LGBT information days.

Market Day - Berlin February 2013

Burkhard Kieker, CEO, visitBerlin

It is always a sign of likely success organisationally when a CEO participates in an LGBT-oriented project such as pink pillow.

On Monday February 18, Burkhard Kieker, visitBerlin CEO, was the Keynote speaker at the Market Day for hotels held at the Radisson Blu, Berlin.

This event was attended by more than 60 managers from Berlin hotels.

The day succeeded in increasing membership in the pink pillow collection - from 23 to a launch total of 40 hotels.

(L to R) Ian Johnson, Out Now; Ralf Ostendorf,
visitBerlin; Philip Ibrahim, Accor Hotels

I was invited to present Out Now Business Class training content and research data from the LGBT2020 study to help inform those attending.

ONBC membership and staff training online is included for all members of the pink pillow Berlin collection - in German and in English.

Also presenting were project manager Jan Schmitz, long-time LGBT marketing manager Ralf Ostendorf, and comms specialist Anja Seugling, of visitBerlin.

They were joined by Philip Ibrahim of Accor who has been a driving force for the industry side of the project since its inception.

The next stage for the project was to bring the collection to market.

ITB Berlin and Grand Hotel Esplanade Berlin launch

The first public outing of the pink pillow collection took place over the past week during Berlin ITB travel trade show.

(L to R): Marco Seitelmann, Abba
Berlin Hotel; Darren Cooper, Out Now

From March 6 - 10 the pink pillow collection featured in a pink pillow island near the Berlin Tourismus & Kongress main stand.

On March 9 a special LGBT breakfast was held at the Grand Hotel Esplanade Berlin hotel attended by leading LGBT tourism and media.

The details of the project were shared with those attending and the response was strongly positive.

Below is the official press release for the pink pillow Berlin collection.

This initiative sets a new standard for LGBT hospitality and is at the forefront of leading LGBT market development over the past decade.

Well done visitBerlin - and all forty of the pink pillow hotels. That number looks set to rise as a result of last week's successful launch.

pink pillow – New Network of Hotels in Berlin

Nhow Hotel, pink pillow collection member

Berlin, 4 March 2013 | The ITB will be the official launch of the pink pillow Berlin Collection. This new initiative from visitBerlin and the Berlin hotel industry invites hotels to come out as especially welcoming to gay and lesbian visitors to Germany's capital. The pink pillow Berlin Collection provides further evidence that Berlin is a tolerant and open metropolis and one of the world's leading gay travel destinations. That´s why visitBerlin and the Berlin hotel industry wanted to strengthen the city's reputation as an attractive destination for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.

The pink pillow Berlin Collection for the first time sets standards to be identified as especially welcoming. Each participating hotel of the pink pillow Berlin Collection stands for the right that everyone can be the way he wants to be and that every guest should feel safe and welcome. This unique project makes Berlin the first city in the world with a long-term LGBT tourism programme.

Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, remarks: "In Berlin, tolerance is practised and all people are free to be themselves. The city has now created something new for the gay and lesbian travel market and has established a unique hotel network."

Kicking off with 40 hotels in the pink pillow Berlin Collection

The 40 hotels who have joined the pink pillow Berlin Collection at its launch include the nhow Berlin, the Grand Hotel Esplanade Berlin, the Novotel Berlin Am Tiergarten, the Radisson Blu Hotel Berlin, and The Westin Grand Berlin. The hotel collection will continue to be expanded as more and more hotels join the effort. The latest list can be found at pinkpillow-berlin.com.

A pledge to our LGBT guests

The hotels of the pink pillow Berlin Collection welcome LGBT guests always with professional and courteous service. All participating hotels have signed a special welcoming charter which must be displayed in the hotel. It commits the hotel to value all guests equally. They must also engage in social projects for the LGBT scene and be prepared to offer guests information on the LGBT scene in Berlin.

Schwules Museum - LGBT history museum, Berlin

To make visitors more aware of the pink pillow Berlin Collection, visitBerlin is undertaking various marketing activities in Germany and in selected foreign markets.

A road show through the Scandinavian capitals of Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm is planned for April. The pink pillow initiative will also be present during the CSD festivals in Cologne (5–7 Jul) and Munich (6–14 Jul).

Berlin recognised the gay and lesbian traveller segment as one with enormous international market potential. Estimates indicate that LGBT guests currently represent about 6% of the overnight stays in Berlin. visitberlin is actively working to attract LGBT visitors to Berlin and has been coordinating with various organisations for eleven years on this project. The pink pillow Berlin Collection is a concrete initiative which sets Berlin apart from other popular LGBT destinations (such as New York, San Francisco, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv, Rio and São Paulo).

For more information on LGBT-friendly Berlin and all of the hotels participating pink pillow Berlin Collection, as well as hotel booking and special Berlin tips, go to: pinkpillow-berlin.com.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved, for the world, by Out Now - any unauthorised use is prohibited.

IGLTA Board Policy Tested

2013-03-06T09:13:00.000+01:00

LGBT NEWS: Wednesday March 6, 2013

A policy put in place by the IGLTA is to be tested by one of the harshest critics of that policy.

Rick Hurlbut, IGLTA Board nominee

Mr Rick Hurlbut has been a member of the IGLTA LGBT travel association since 1989 and was responsible for a campaign that saw a reasonably large number of members that voted - more than one in four - rejecting recent Bylaws changes championed by the Association's Board President, Tanya Churchmuch and their CEO, John Tanzella.

In championing the move from an IGLTA Board that was directly voted for by the general membership to one that is chosen by a Board sub-committee in concert with Tanzella, both the CEO and Churchmuch urged members to vote for the change because:

"This will allow us to recruit board members from more diverse regions of the world and sectors of the travel industry. It also will enable us to target board members with areas of expertise that are crucial to the association's future success."

Rick Hurlbut would seem to fit this bill perfectly. He is passionate, committed to the success of the IGLTA and seeks a voice on the Board for the more than one in four members who voted against the change to the organization's Board election process.

Committed to success

Hurlbut told Gay Market News he is running to seek to ensure the association's future success.

"While it may now seem hypocritical to seek appointment to the board, it is also perhaps the only way to ensure that the 26.4% of the membership who rejected the changes continue to have a voice."

His experience seems to more than meet the selection guidelines set down by IGLTA, and Hurlbut outlined a specific program of initiatives he seeks to bring to his tenure on the Board - including outreach to small business members - a group who were traditionally the lifeblood of the organization, but many of whom have previously complained that the IGLTA has lost sight of their needs.

Gay Market News fully endorses the candidacy of Rick Hurlbut for Board member of IGLTA. We encourage those readers who would like to support this initiative to email the IGLTA selection committee, at the email address listed below.

Hurlbut's statement - released today - appears in full below.

Rick Hurlbut, IGLTA Board Nominee, Seeks Endorsements

Earlier this week I submitted my name for consideration for appointment to the IGLTA Board of Directors. Let me tell you why and how you can help.

Since board elections have now been abolished and replaced with an appointment process, I can no longer run for office. My suitability will instead be determined by a selection committee instead of the membership. However, I believe you can still play a part in the selection process by endorsing my nomination. You’ll find details at the end of this message.

It is no secret that I have been critical of a number of IGLTA programs and policy decisions, including the bylaw revisions which resulted in an appointed board. While it may now seem hypocritical to seek appointment to the board, it is also perhaps the only way to ensure that the 26.4% of the membership who rejected the changes continue to have a voice.

To that end, here are the policies and programs I intend to pursue:

Outreach to small GLBT businesses - principally travel agencies, tour operators and accommodations – through a mix of appropriate membership fees and tailored benefits, in order to encourage and retain an important base of IGLTA membership.
Seek greater transparency and improved communications between the administration and membership. Options include: an online member forum; the regular and prompt posting of minutes and committee reports to the member area of the IGLTA website; and online ‘town hall’ meetings.
Improve member participation through regional meetings and mini-conferences, in conjunction with local/regional/national DMOs, GLBT tourism bodies and IGLTA Ambassadors.
Establish continuing education through in-house and sponsored webinars; including destination and product knowledge; marketing strategies; and IGLTA programs.
Re-establish the IGLTA Membership Directory, preferably in print, but at least digital.

Here are my qualifications:

BA in Recreation and Leisure Studies, with a specialization in Community Development, from the University of Alberta
Certification as a Travel Consultant from Grant McEwan Community College
IGLTA Member since 1989
Travel Consultant from 1991 to 2011, including work as a travel agent temp, full-time agency employment and outside sales positions.
Owner/Operator of Red Rocket Travel, 1999 – 2004
Volunteer advisory committee member with Tourism Vancouver and Tourism Toronto.
Many volunteer board positions, including: Vancouver Pride Society; Gay & Lesbian Business Association of BC; Bob Loblaw Queer Arts Society. Founding member of Ryerson Lesbians & Gay Men in Toronto, and Gays & Lesbians on Campus in Edmonton.
Founder of Travel Queery, a B2B news sharing service focused on GLBT travel and tourism.
Self-employed for the past 15 years.

My resume is available on request.

I have met all the requirements of board appointment, which are:

An IGLTA member in good standing for at least two years and have attended at least one IGLTA convention.
A role model of IGLTA values, with the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the organization, its members, partners, and the LGBT community.
Willing to devote at least 4 hours per month to IGLTA matters (including an hour long monthly conference call).
Available to attend two in-person Board meetings per year that require travel (travel costs covered by IGLTA), one in October/November, a second right before the annual convention. You must also be available to stay for the duration of the convention.
Available to chair and to prepare for and participate in regular meetings of at least one committee.
Willing to commit to at least one two year term.

You can find more information here: http://www.iglta.org/media/939507/bod_application.pdf

If you believe that I can represent your interests, and have the skills and dedication required to fulfill a board position, please send your endorsement to: nominations@iglta.org. And please also send me a copy: rickhurlbut@uniserve.com.

The timelines of the selection committee are unknown, so it’s important that you respond quickly, and no later than the end of March.

Since there is no vote, you do not need to be a current IGLTA member to submit an endorsement. Indeed, if you find my platform appealing, and would consider membership with these programs in place, your opinion will carry just as much weight.

I will be in attendance at the Chicago IGLTA Convention in May and hope to see you there. If you have any questions before then, please email me.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved, for the world, by Out Now - any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Amazon Kindle Gay Ad

2013-02-25T09:58:00.000+01:00

ONBC - TV Commercial

Online retailer Amazon is a company that has for a number of years now chosen to stand with LGBT people in favor of equality.

Now, they have taken their support one step further - with a new television commercial that includes strongly positive support of Marriage Equality.

Ian Johnson

CEO, Out Now Global

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Kindle Paperwhite 2013 TVC

The Kindle product has for two years now included an advertisement on TV that showed a woman reading at the beach.

But whereas last year this ad included an ending where the man asking the Kindle-reading woman for help was left disappointed when she told him that her husband was due back any moment, this year's ad features a quite different ending altogether.

Growing LGBT Visibility

Out Now Business Class features a number of examples of commercials which feature LGBT people.

This ad for Australian airline Qantas was the world's first gay tourism commercial and was made by Out Now way back in 1996.

Members of ONBC can view that unprecedented tourism ad in full online now.

Over many years now, there have been varying levels of LGBT representation in advertising - much of it unsupportive - so when a brand as significant as Amazon takes a stand that is strongly supportive, and founded in principles of equality and acceptance, then the world takes notice.

Tipping Point

Out Now has been saying for more than a year that the tipping point in relation to support for the equal rights in society for LGBT people has been reached and probably passed in many of the larger western-style democracies we work in.

That means that companies have come to realize they have more to gain than to lose by being seen to be unambiguously supportive of their LGBT customers and staff.

The reason for this is simple mathematics. In most countries there are now more people that support their LGBT family, friends and work colleagues than those who oppose them. This makes the decision to stand for LGBT equality not just a responsible social choice - it is also increasingly smart business.

The new Amazon Kindle gay commercial for their Paperwhite e-book reader is a great case-in-point.

Take a look and see what you think of it.

And here's a tip - you can expect to get used to seeing more gay people in more companies' mainstream advertising.

You're going to be seeing a lot more lesbians, gay men and, yes - transgender people - in print, online and TV advertising for a growing number of mainstream brands.

And Out Now thinks that is a very good thing.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved, for the world, by Out Now - any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Stockholm's Stylish Lesbian Moves

2013-02-19T12:15:00.002+01:00

ONBC - Case Study

LGBT marketing is advanced by leadership.

It is one of the hallmarks of Out Now that we create some of our best work when our client is one which is pleased to work on that marketing leading-edge with us.

The most successful lesbian-specific social media marketing campaign is a good case-in-point - it was for Out Now client Stockholm Visitors Board and Visit Sweden - two organisations that have been responsible for seeing Stockholm place highly in the annual LGBT2020 research data.

LGBT marketing success does not just happen.

It takes imagination, commitment and implementation - and the 2011 'Stockholm's Leading Ladies' campaign targeting the UK lesbian market is a textbook example of the results able to be derived from the liberal application of all three of these marketing ingredients.

Lesbian marketing does not have to be done with a little L

There has been a lot of recognition over the last few years that the LGBT market is not just one single market.

'Homosexual, not homogenous' - is a term that Out Now Consulting coined a few years ago, and it is a position that is now fairly well established within LGBT marketing circles. One quarter of the acronym LGBT probably has more reason to celebrate this shift in thinking than any other, and that is the lesbian market.

For a long time companies, destinations and brands that wanted to reach the LGBT market did so with advertising that only portrayed gay men in their attempts to woo both the gay and lesbian market. However this approach quickly became passé, and non-representational ads of young chiselled men with very few clothes on increasingly run this risk of looking clichéd - and showing no real insight into the lives of real LGBT people.

The plus side of this for advertisers looking to engage with an L,G,B or T audience, is that by embracing diversity in their campaigns they can also showcase a much broader range of aspects of their products, which will appeal to all segments of this diverse community.

Stockholm's Leading Ladies

One such campaign that Out Now was delighted to work on over the last two years was Stockholm's Leading Ladies campaign. Stockholm is of course one of the most committed and consistent cities in the world when it comes to a forward-thinking LGBT marketing strategy. Over a number of recent years Stockholm has built a solid reputation as a progressive and tolerant city, where the LGBT community is celebrated and supported, and seen as a real asset to the city's international image as a truly diverse and modern metropolis for the new millennium.

As well as hosting frequent visits by journalists from the world's leading LGBT media, Stockholm has also utilised a well-planned international marketing strategy, and a solid and innovative social media platform to communicate the many desirable qualities that the city has to offer for everyone, including of course, LGBT visitors. The success of this activity is evident in the number of people who are expressing an interest in visiting Stockholm, which consistently ranks highly in LGBT2020 research amongst other prestigious European cities vying for the attention of this attractive segment.

So what does a destination that has done so much in terms of their engagement with the LGBT market do next? Well - in the case of Stockholm, a destination that has always looked to do what is next and set the trends, not follow them, a dedicated lesbian campaign seemed not only logical - but inevitable. As anyone who has visited this beautiful city will tell you it has a feminine power that is hard to miss. Simultaneously at one with nature, yet also modern and energetic, safe and progressive, yet still retaining an air of the wild and a sense of unpredictability, Stockholm nurtures its lesbian community - which is why it made perfect sense to include them in a campaign about what makes Stockholm such a fantastic 'Lesbian with a capital L' destination.

"Ladies" starts with the letter 'L'

The Leading Ladies campaign took it's theme from Sweden's eminent actresses including the likes of Ingrid Bergman and Greta Garbo, whose style and timeless grace exemplify Stockholm's own personality so well. By using social media, a platform that Stockholm Visitor's Board has used so successfully in the past, the campaign was able to be bought bang up to date, and so highlighted the modernity of the city as a destination.

Stockholm continued to innovate with the delivery mechanism of the campaign, which sought to engage with the target lesbian audience in a fun and engaging manner - and which also successfully communicated an authentic invitation for lesbians to visit the city. Stockholm was able to find eight lesbian residents of the city who each described online what they loved most about the city that they called home. These 'perfect Stockholm weekends' were able to be voted on by the target audience, who then had the chance to win their own city break for two people to Stockholm.

By partnering with leading lesbian magazines, blogs, and online and social media communities, the campaign managed to effectively reach and engage with lesbian communities across the United Kingdom.

The uptake and engagement with this campaign was beyond all expectations - generating excellent results but also a great deal of kudos from the lesbian community that Stockholm saw them as a valuable market within its own right.

During and just after the campaign the resulting traffic to Stockholm's official blog increased by 86,7 %, traffic to Stockholm's Lesbian Guide has increased by 167%, and the competition gained 126 entries from the UK alone.

Just on these metrics alone the campaign was judged to be a huge success - but we think that Stockholm's accomplishment here goes much, much further.

At Out Now we believe that marketing is so much more than just pictures and words on a page. It is about establishing and defining the leading edge, and understanding how best to communicate with credibility, empathy and sensitivity - three qualities that we believe Stockholm got absolutely right with this forward-thinking campaign.

Hats off to stylish Stockholm for a brilliant case of marketing leadership.

The 'Stockholm Leading Ladies campaign ran for two months in 2011 and was the most successful lesbian-specific marketing campaign in the world to date. The campaign was conceived and implemented by Out Now for our clients Stockholm Visitors Board and Visit Sweden. Members of Out Now Business Class can view details of this campaign on both video and as a case study in the Education section of ONBC - visit BetterLGBT.com for membership information. Check out Stockholm's LGBT Facebook page.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved, for the world, by Out Now - any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Guadalajara Gay Market Central

2013-01-29T22:28:00.002+01:00

Mexico's Second City Revealed To Be Home To First Rate LGBT Market

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO (OUTNOW) -- JANUARY 29, 2012 -- New research released this week has revealed that the Mexican city of Guadalajara is home to one of the world's most significant consumer markets comprised of its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) residents.

The findings are part of the world's largest ever LGBT community market research survey - the LGBT2020 Study. This project is sampling hundreds of thousands of LGBT people in countries around the world over a ten year period.

The latest LGBT2020 data - collected in 2012 from respondents in Mexico - reveals that Guadalajara, which is Mexico's second largest city, is also home to one of the world's most significant LGBT markets.

The research shows that a total of more than 192,000 people in the Guadalajara metropolitan area are LGBT and that they earned a combined total income of more than USD$2.9 billion in 2012.

LGBT2020 data also revealed that Guadalajara's LGBT community accounts for 74 new automobile purchases every week in the city - and spend USD$354 million annually on travel.

The research findings show that 45,000 Guadalajara LGBT residents plan to buy a new smartphone during 2013 and 81,000 use their mobile devices to access the internet for more than an hour every day.

According to Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex, the strength of the local LGBT community is an important reason why his specialist events company has chosen to bring their 3rd annual International LGBT Business Expo to Guadalajara in September 2013.

"We always knew that the local Guadalajara community is a large one," said Sandoval. "These new LGBT2020 findings are strong as they help us to quantify the scale of the business opportunity that local LGBT people present for those businesses willing to learn how to understand how to connect with this substantial consumer group. That is what LGBT Confex events are all about and we are delighted to be bringing our 3rd annual International LGBT Business Expo to Guadalajara this September."

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now Global - the world's leading LGBT consulting organization who undertake the international LGBT2020 study - said the findings contained some surprises.

"Out Now tracks LGBT lives all over the world and we think that a lot of organizations and businesses in Mexico are going to be surprised to discover just how significant the value of the LGBT market is in Guadalajara," Johnson said. "LGBT people are an increasingly important part of many companies customer base and their workforce so this research and the forthcoming LGBT Confex event in Guadalajara this September should prove to be of great benefit to all, most especially to the local LGBT community. When business takes the trouble to understand and meet the needs of their LGBT customers they can expect to be rewarded with brand loyalty and added sales. This is a genuine win-win situation - with the LGBT community having their consumer needs become better met by the companies that serve them."

Sandoval said that the LGBT2020 population estimates of 6% of the adult population in Guadalajara being LGBT is most likely to be an underestimation, with the true percentage being somewhat higher.

"In reality, Guadalajara serves as a center of attraction not only for its own existing residents but also the many thousands of LGBT people who choose to move there from more conservative towns and cities across the whole northern half of Mexico," Sandoval said. "This fact makes the market impacts of the LGBT population in the city even more important for government, business and organizations to understand. The LGBT community is a very large and significant group of Guadalajara residents."

Guadalajara is a major business center with many international corporations having representative and head offices located there.

The city is home to many of Mexico's lesbian and gay bars and large mall-based retail shopping developments which attract large numbers of non-local LGBT people who visit Guadalajara throughout the year as a result.

ABOUT LGBT CONFEX:

Latin America’s leading LGBT conferences and Exhibitions Company is LGBT Confex www.lgbtconfex.com . Established in 2011, the organization quickly demonstrated its capabilities to put together a professional team with staff who bring many years in event management expertise. Following the success of their inaugural event in 2011, LGBT Confex doubled in scale with 2012's even more successful event in Cancun. Plans are now well underway for three events by the organization in 2013 – the 3rd International LGBT Business Expo www.LGBTbusinessExpo.com and the 1st International LGBT Travel Show www.LGBTtravelShow.com in Guadalajara, Mexico, as well as managing sales and logistics for the Reed Exhibitions LGBT space - Out Now Business Class at WTM - to be held in April in Sao Paulo, Brazil at World Travel Market Latin America.

ABOUT OUT NOW™

The world’s premier LGBT marketing organization is Out Now. Established in 1992 in Australia, Out Now has grown to reach more than 20 markets worldwide. Its work covers strategy, communications and training as well as managing the world’s largest and most extensive LGBT market research program LGBT2020 www.LGBT2020.com . Many of the world’s leading brands including IBM, Volvo, Toyota, Citibank, Barclays Bank, Time Inc Magazines, Doubleday Books, Hilton Hotels and German National Tourist Office rely upon Out Now Global. The agency also provides the world's best LGBT business networking program Out Now Business Class www.OutNowBusinessClass.com - and delegates to the LGBT Confex event are being provided with complimentary membership in this world's best B2B initiative.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved, for the world, by Out Now - any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Gay Men Spotted In Times Square

2012-12-19T15:03:00.001+01:00

Advertising targeting gay men is currently on billboards in Times Square, New York City.

You Better Watch Out!

If you go down to Times Square today you may be in for a big surprise. A new advertising campaign for Manhunt - a gay online hook-up site - is causing waves in mid-town Manhattan.

Big, bright, shiny billboards are part of what helps give Times Square its dynamic energy - but one of those billboards appearing there today has got more than a few hearts racing it seems.

The campaign in question features three rotating images on a large billboard showing several bare-chested men - like these guys:

And this one:

The ads have caused quite a stir.

Many commentators claim the advertising is 'not appropriate' for the area - which, since a major clean-up instituted by former NYC Mayor Giuliani, has seen gay men largely whitewashed out of what has become a 'family-friendly' mainstream - read 'heterosexual' - destination.

Of course time was when Times Square was one of the places where gay men would meet and hook-up in person - with many of the now long-gone adult movie theaters which used to make up many of the local businesses catering to a specifically gay clientele.

For or against?

In their coverage, the Huffington Post included an online poll asking their reader whether these ads belonged there.

The results might just surprise you.

Almost half of all respondents thought the ads should not be there.

But is this just a case of a convenient double-standard?

Gay Market News on Facebook

Out Now posted the top image on our Gay Market News Facebook page - and some of the comments were interesting.

Many were supportive:

I love it!

Fantastic.

Another was rather cleverly analytical:

Broadway Theatre + Spectacle + NYC @ Christmas

= Captive Gay Male Audience

And one final comment makes a strong point:

If it were a Victoria's Secret ad with mostly naked women,
nobody would say a thing. I think it's great.

Indeed.

Out Now™ Global is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization. For two decades we have made sure our clients stay on the leading-edge of global development of LGBT markets - right around the world.

The world's best LGBT B2B networking association is Out Now Business Class - join today for just USD$195 and take your LGBT marketing to the Next Level.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

More Trouble For IGLTA

2012-12-17T15:27:00.001+01:00

More questions faced by IGLTA - this time about their membership numbers.

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association has careered from one crisis to the next this year - but the troubles appear to be far from over. Concerns have been raised for the very survival of the IGLTA.

2012 has seen an almost continuous sequence of serious problems. Here are just a few of those:

continuing resignations of important IGLTA personnel
IGLTA's disastrous consumer outreach program
members being stripped of voting rights
ongoing corporate governance problems
members goaded into paying a fee for a report available for free from a partner organisation
ethics allegations against the Board which are unanswered - and unresolved.

Now, new questions are being raised as to the veracity of IGLTA's claimed membership numbers.

The escalating series of bad management decisions is causing many to wonder how the association they once cared about has become such a shambles. As 2012 draws to a close that is sadly the situation faced by what was once the premier organization representing global LGBT tourism. This year has seen a slow and continuing decline result from a series of poor management and Board decisions.

How many real members?

A new question has just been raised, one which may prove to be among the most serious problems faced by IGLTA as it enters 2013: how many active members does the association really have?

IGLTA's website describes themselves as "the leading member-based global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism". That claim might possibly hold water if all the members found on their website actually were current members. However it is not hard to find that some listings currently appearing on the IGLTA official website are for businesses that are no longer members of the association.

Given that IGLTA charges members a fee of up to USD$3500 to advertise in their newsletter as part of their "marketing" program - this unknown number of lapsed members being included in the 'official' count of IGLTA members would appear to raise serious ethical questions regarding the organization's claims about the number of members being reached.

The IGLTA media kit for these advertising charges even goes so far as to claim advertisers can "reach 3,000 LGBT tourism industry professionals every week" - a number far exceeding the IGLTA's own claim to have "over 2400 member businesses in over 80 countries". Their own website later further inflates this claim to: "reach 4,500 LGBT tourism industry professionals every week". There is the prospect of course that the newsletter may be sent to a number of non-members as well as members.

Of still greater concern though is that a simple search on the IGLTA website today suggests that - even including an unknown number of lapsed members in their count - only 1,224 total member listings actually appear.

The question has to be asked - where are the missing 1,200 members, being the difference between the member listings appearing on the IGLTA website compared to the "over 2,400 member businesses" which are supposedly IGLTA members?

Only a little over 1200 members are listed...

Could it be that this many members failed to upload a listing on the IGLTA website? If that is so, why have there been no calls made in recent IGLTA communications to remind these members that they need to create and update their own listings?

Or could it be that when the latest version of the IGLTA website launched in April of 2012, for the first time in a long time, the actual member database was used, rather than an out-of-date printed directory which, over time, had perhaps included ever increasing numbers of lapsed members - leading to what became a large historical over-inflation of claimed members?

It does seem very odd that any Association would only list half of its paid members online in a members directory.

The issue seems to resolve down into one of two possibilities - either the IGLTA is simply incompetent, or else they are actually being dishonest.

...but IGLTA's site encourages advertisers
that there are twice as many members.

Neither prospect seems likely to fill IGLTA members - however many of them there actually currently are - with great confidence that they are members of a robust, reliable and representative industry body.

Given that some 600 or 700 listings are believed to be memberships paid for as Expedia-sponsored hotels, that could mean that the IGLTA may actually have as little as just a few hundred bona-fide, engaged, dues-paying members.

As to the ethics of charging advertisers in their newsletters rather exorbitant fees to reach what in reality may prove to be a much lower number of tourism professional "member businesses" each week than is claimed by IGLTA - that is a matter between IGLTA management, its Board, their members - and, most importantly, the paying advertisers relying upon IGLTA's claimed newsletter reach.

Resignations

One of the things that typifies the IGLTA's continuing decline has been the steady stream of resignations by key staff and Board members. This started last year and has continued through 2012.

The last Board of IGLTA saw three Board members resign - Darren Cooper, Cordey Lash and Bryan Herb - all highly respected LGBT business professionals. This was out of a total of just eight directors - with the most recent resignation related to failures in corporate governance and breaches of IGLTA's own bylaws by members of its Board.

The longest serving IGLTA staff member, Director of Global Business Development, Tom Nibbio - was an eminent tourism industry professional whose position was reportedly redefined by management during 2011. Nibbio left IGLTA in October 2011.

This followed the hiring of a new VP of Marketing, Deborah Sas in August 2011, a decision which was lauded as the answer to so many of the problems that faced the organisation at that time. Ms. Sas was responsible for sponsorships and a proposed direct-to-consumer marketing change for the organization, a direction that has been discovered to be clearly at odds with the IGLTA's original purpose of being a business-to-business focused representative trade association.

Consumer outreach debacle

On October 17, 2012 the IGLTA newsletter announced to members that: "IGLTA is officially launching a business to consumer outreach program to complement our respected business to business operation. This initiative is a technology-driven partnership with Out Escapes, a dynamic company that offers handpicked travel and event packages for LGBT travelers. The Out Escapes collaboration provides opportunities for all of our member business types to participate and directly engage gay travelers."

Deborah Sas was the person nominated as key contact in that email for the scheme, however both the project - and Ms Sas - were both soon destined to no longer be part of IGLTA.

The initiative was one which, initially at least, clearly enjoyed the strong support of management - including the organization's President/CEO John Tanzella.

According to a follow-up October 18 email to members, this project involved IGLTA attempting to convince members that they should pay money to sell their own product through a single IGLTA member - Out Escapes.

It seems IGLTA was looking to profit from an unknown share of the hefty fees and commissions that would have been levied on IGLTA members for every sale they made through the scheme.

Those whom Gay Market News spoke to at the time were astounded that IGLTA appeared to be angling to compete with its own members, or at the very least, profit from its own members simply for helping them with their businesses. One former member of IGLTA that Gay Market News spoke with described the planned Out Escapes scheme by IGLTA as "utterly bonkers".

Member backlash

Many members of IGLTA's membership - the engaged core of which has always comprised travel agents and tour operators - appear to have gone ballistic.

On October 23, President/CEO John Tanzella wrote again to members, trying to reassure them that - despite what the earlier communications from IGLTA had seemed to suggest - "this (initiative) was designed to promote a potential new benefit to all IGLTA members, but was not meant to imply that it is our sole means of consumer outreach, nor that IGLTA is competing against its members with travel sales. Out Escapes is offering our members priority listings and discounts." He still seemed committed to seeing the scheme implemented, despite the protests members had obviously made.

Tanzella in that email made no mention of the associated fees and commissions that the scheme had intended to charge IGLTA members, nor how much of those revenues were destined to end up with the IGLTA organization itself.

Cancelled

On October 31 Deb Sas left IGLTA and in an email sent to a selected list of recipients she advised: "I am leaving my position at IGLTA as of October 31st to transition as the Vice President of Business Development for Out Escapes" - namely the same organisation that was supposed to charge IGLTA members to sell their own travel products to LGBT consumers, generating various fees and commissions in the process.

A week later Tanzella bowed to mounting pressure and finally pulled the plug on IGLTA's scheme which it seems had, by then, turned into a fiasco.

He wrote: "I would like to follow up with you on the pending IGLTA partnership with Out Escapes, which you provided me your feedback (sic). We attempted to craft the partnership to engage the entire membership, including travel agents. After careful consideration, we were unfortunately unable to find an amicable resolution for the products and services and since cancelled the partnership (sic). We wish the team at Out Escapes well. IGLTA looks forward to continuing to work closely with you to continually improve the Association and enhance the benefits available to you."

Given that the most active component of IGLTA's membership has always been made up of travel agents and tour operators - the very members that the scheme was seeking to charge, to sell their own products and services, to financially benefit IGLTA - it seems management was asleep at the wheel, at best.

Or perhaps IGLTA management had become so out of touch with what IGLTA members really want from their Association that they thought they could push such a bizarre scheme onto their members - and a compliant membership would just accept it.

In yet another worrying development, any hopes IGLTA members might have had to vote for new Board members - to try and change the directions currently being adopted by the organization's management - is just about to be removed from them.

Members stripped of Voting Rights

On October 24, 2012 IGLTA announced that a vote held to change the organisation's bylaws had been passed on the votes of barely 250 of the Association's "over 2,400" claimed members. Despite an objectively poor voting turnout, this was a majority of the 343 votes which were reported to have been cast.

One result of these changes is that from next year IGLTA members lose the right to vote for the Board members who will represent them. The appointment of Board members will be made by a Board sub-committee.

Controversially, this sub-committee is to include the President/CEO - a paid staff member whose performance and conduct those appointed to the Board are meant to judge.

As well as depriving members of a vote in the direction of "their" organization, there are clear conflict of interest issues which arise when any CEO is made part of the process of appointing those who will judge whether that person is the best for their role.

In practical terms, the risks of cronyism, nepotism and undue influence connected with making such appointments clearly exist.

This recent decision may well be one that the current members of IGLTA will come to regret.

Continuing ethics problems

The claimed number of IGLTA members is not the only ethics issue faced by the organisation.

In February 2012, a longtime member of IGLTA noticed that the organization was trying to sell members a printed copy of a United Nations tourism report for USD$95 - even though a PDF of that report was freely available to general members of the public, totally free-of-charge. After this became known, management of IGLTA reportedly instructed their personnel to remove links on Facebook to this free PDF download - presumably as they still hoped to sell some printed copies of the report to members.

A number of questions put to the President/CEO John Tanzella at that time, about his claims that the $95 charge to IGLTA members was necessary to cover postage and printing of the report, remain unanswered. It was later discovered that the report itself contains an acknowledgement of "thanks (to) NYC and Company for sponsoring the printing of this report."

In April 2012, a newly elected IGLTA Board member was accused of theft from a former IGLTA member - with extensive documentation evidencing the alleged thefts being posted online.

No rebuttal of these allegations and the contents of those documents has ever been made by the IGLTA. No statement has ever been made by the accused Board member, nor by IGLTA management, refuting the evidence presented online in those documents.

Sources close to the Board of IGLTA tell Gay Market News that the Board member in question - Pablo De Luca - has close business connections to the Tourism Ministry of Argentina - and that Tanzella is reportedly hopeful that Buenos Aires may soon bid to host an upcoming IGLTA annual convention, perhaps accounting for why De Luca still remains on the Board today. Evidence of those new allegations is yet to be released.

What future for IGLTA?

2013 needs to bring better times for the organization, or there could exist the real risk that the IGLTA may cease to be.

At the very least, based on the above litany of decline, the IGLTA has arguably lost the right to any claim to be "the world's leading global travel network dedicated to connecting and educating LGBT travelers and the businesses that welcome and support them."

It really is almost impossible to see how any organization making such a claim could have taken so many poor decisions in such a short space of time in pursuing its "mission". So many of the IGLTA's decisions - and mistakes - in 2012 appear to have been detrimental to the interests of its own members.

Questions about actual numbers of current IGLTA members is a serious professional ethics issue that ought to be addressed by management.

Perhaps the most pertinent comment to sum up what has turned out to be a disastrous year for the IGLTA was made to Gay Market News by a lesbian who is a former IGLTA member, back in April 2012, when she wrote:

"The IGLTA downhill spiral (death roll?) goes agonisingly on. Wish their directions were ones I found supportable but bad decision compounded upon bad decision is now simply too much to be bothered with."

Out Now Global is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization. For two decades we have made sure our clients stay on the leading-edge of global development of LGBT markets - right around the world.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Two New LGBT Travel Shows

2012-12-04T22:42:00.002+01:00

New momentum as LGBT market steps up two more notches in Latin America

LGBT Confex Launches Two New LGBT Tourism Initiatives

- LGBT Travel Show premieres in Guadalajara, Mexico
- New exhibition space "Out Now Business Class" launches in Brazil at WTM Latin America

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - December 4, 2012 (OUT NOW) -- Latin America's leading business events and conference company targeting one of the region's increasingly visible and fastest growing group of consumers - the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) consumer market - has announced the addition of two new events to its 2013 program.

LGBT Confex has previously been responsible for producing the region's leading LGBT business forum event - the International LGBT Business Expo - attracting brands of the likes of American Express, IBM and American Airlines.

In 2013 the company adds two new travel related initiatives - the launch of the International LGBT Travel Show and the marketing of a dedicated LGBT exhibition space at the inaugural World Travel Market Latin America to be branded 'Out Now Business Class at WTM'.

The International LGBT Travel Show will run in Guadalajara, Mexico during the last two days of the International LGBT Business Expo - and both events are taking place in that city's premier hotel conference facilities at RIU Hotel, Guadalajara in September 2013.

The Business Expo focuses on business-to-business connections with particular emphasis on LGBT consumer target marketing as well as new emphasis in 2013 on workplace diversity and inclusion issues faced by LGBT employees at work. Industries to be featured include alcohol, automotive, technology, banking, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.

The Travel Show delivers targeted content specific to the needs of the global tourism industry - including world-class education workshops and conferences. The event also includes exhibitor spaces for tourism businesses to connect - as well as reach LGBT consumers directly.

This video shows the impact of the most recent LGBT Confex International LGBT Business Expo event, held in Cancun Mexico in September 2012:

The most recent LGBT market tourism spend data released earlier this month in London at World Travel Market by Out Now™ - the leading international LGBT market consulting firm - shows that, in 2013, LGBT consumers in the most important global markets will spend more than USD$181 billion on leisure travel.

According to Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex, the new travel show is a logical extension of the company's work to date. "LGBT Confex is a regional events expert located in heart of the fastest growing LGBT markets in the world," Sandoval said. "Our unique skills set and commitment to quality are driving the launch of this new global LGBT tourism initiative. It is part of our professional ethos to extend and build the development of international LGBT market opportunities to connect companies with LGBT consumers. Our new travel show does this for the tourism industry - on a global scale."

Both events are now open for Early Bird discounted registrations and a range of Sponsorship Packages have been released.

Second New LGBT Tourism Event

In April 2013 a further tourism opportunity is being marketed by LGBT Confex.

'Out Now Business Class at WTM' is a new initiative providing exhibitor space, education and valuable market research data on the LGBT market to delegates attending the new World Travel Market Latin America event that takes place in São Paulo from April 23 - 25, 2013. This event is produced by Reed Exhibitions and will feature a dedicated LGBT exhibitor space which will be marketed by LGBT Confex.

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now said his organization is pleased to be partnering with LGBT Confex and World Travel Market in Latin America. "Out Now has been part of World Travel Market in London for seven years now, so we are really pleased to be involved with their new exhibition in Brazil next April," Johnson said. "Reed Exhibitions are the WTM organizers and LGBT Confex is the specialist Latin America event organizers and Out Now is pleased to work with both these great partners to bring our award-winning communications, education and strategic consulting insights to help the growth of LGBT tourism in Brazil - and right across the Latin America region”.

This video shows the impact of Out Now Business Class at WTM in London, in November 2012:

Sandoval added: "This year we are able to provide new and powerful emphasis at our events in a number of key areas. There will be workshops and conferences focused on tourism, as well as events specially to connect travel agents and tourism operators to other travel businesses as well as LGBT consumers," Sandoval said. "In our Business Expo we are adding new industry-specific workshops and exhibitors focused on a number of key industries including technology, alcohol, automotive, telecommunications and banking."

World Travel Market Latin America includes dedicated LGBT exhibition space being presented by Out Now Business Class and managed by LGBT Confex. The event is to be held in São Paulo Brazil, April 23 - 25, 2013.

International LGBT Business Expo runs from September 5 - 7, 2013 and the International LGBT Travel Show runs from September 6 - 7, 2013 and also includes a special consumer expo public event on its closing day. Both events will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico in the city's leading international venue The RIU Hotel.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

First LGBT Exhibitor Space - London WTM

2012-11-16T12:00:00.000+01:00

Some of the exhibitors at the Out Now Business Class LGBT Pavilion at World Travel Market, London.
November 8, 2012.

First LGBT Exhibition Space at London World Travel Market

The world's premier business-to-business networking association for LGBT tourism has just hosted the first dedicated exhibitor space focused on the LGBT tourism market at the WTM World Travel Market in London.

WTM attracts almost 50,000 delegates and is the leading global event for the travel industry.

The presence of a dedicated pavilion specifically to promote LGBT tourism at this year's World Travel Market is a significant milestone in the development of the global tourism industry.

Growing focus

This initiative was a first for this leading travel trade show and represented an extension of the relationship built between WTM and the world's leading LGBT research, consulting and training firm - Out Now Global.

Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now™ said his firm was delighted with the outcomes of the initiative.

"We worked hard with all our exhibitors to identify ways that their participation could benefit their business," Johnson said. "Out Now does not see these relationships as limited to this one event. We work hard for all our partners all year to make sure their trust and engagement with Out Now Business Class is an increasingly valuable relationship that yields ongoing benefits for them. This cannot happen without the support of our partners and it is them who we most want to thank for making this year's LGBT pavilion at World Travel Market such an outstanding success."

In previous years, Out Now has presented an annual LGBT Marketing Masterclass - which was also presented again this year.

The presence of the new LGBT pavilion was substantial with high-visibility above-stand banner branding, route-planner listing and a strategic location nearby the main entrance of the trade show - all helping to attract large numbers of delegates and footfall traffic to benefit those exhibiting at the stand.

In total, twelve exhibiting organisations from regions across the world took part in the LGBT pavilion exhibition space at London WTM 2012 - with the event running over four days, from Monday November 5 to Thursday November 8.

LGBT is global

The Out Now Business Class LGBT pavilion at WTM provided a reflection on one of the most significant trends of the past twenty years. Whereas what is today referred to as 'LGBT marketing' started in just a handful of countries a little over twenty years ago - including the US and Australia - this trend is now truly global with the increasing interest from companies all around the world being reflected in the diversity of the exhibitors at the Out Now Business Class pavilion.

The exhibitors in London included representative tourism destination marketing offices for the nation of Mexico, and the cities of Helsinki, Antwerp and Berlin.

Tour operators from Israel (Pridetours), Mexico (GayFriendly.travel) and Peru (Pawari.pe) took part.

Resort accommodation from New York (THE OUT NYC) and Mexico (Yucatan Holidays) exhibited.

Thousands connected with the LGBT pavilion at WTM.

Latin America's leading LGBT conference and exhibitions company - LGBT Confex - also took part.

Out Now Global - who are the founders of Out Now Business Class - are based in the Netherlands.

And the most important sporting and cultural event of 2013 - World Outgames - was an important community exhibitor at this major global tourism trade show.

"This initiative has a B2B focus that always has one most important group at the heart of all we we do," Johnson said. "LGBT people are at the very centre of our efforts. They are the customers of these businesses - and it is by helping our members of Out Now Business Class better understand the needs of LGBT people as their customers that our network achieves such great success for our members. This new LGBT pavilion at WTM is just the first in a raft of initiatives we are bringing to market - to help grow connections between businesses that want to connect in the most effective ways possible with LGBT people."

During the course of four days the exhibitors met with more than a thousand delegates to the trade show and thousands more saw the presence of the LGBT market on a scale not seen before.

As well as many meetings with delegates during this major trade event, the exhibitors with the LGBT pavilion at World Travel Market gained significant ongoing benefits from their membership within a powerful online global B2B network.

Better LGBT

The importance of B2B connections in developing effective business opportunities to understand and meet the consumer needs of LGBT people is at the heart of the world's most important LGBT tourism trade network - which is Out Now Business Class.

In essence this network provides critical strategic ongoing benefits all year, opportunities that can normally only be achieved by attending a trade show but - thanks to this B2B market-leading initiative - are now able to be accessed by Out Now Business Class members year-round.

The network is branded Better LGBT www.BetterLGBT.com in recognition of the fact that past efforts to serve the needs of business in the tourism market have become largely unfit for purpose - and the tourism industry needs a better set of strategic tools and solutions to advance the successful development of meeting LGBT consumers' needs globally.

Here is a four minute video showcasing the success of ONBC at WTM.

The Out Now Business Class LGBT pavilion at WTM ran from November 5 - 8, 2012 in London at World Travel Market - the leading global event for the travel industry.

To become a member of Out Now Business Class - visit BetterLGBT.com and fill in an online Application Form. Members grow their business through access to the world's leading LGBT market education resources, latest market research data, a detailed suite of conference papers and webinars as well as the power to connect and do business directly with other members of the network globally - all through a simple click.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Out Now Business Class

2012-10-16T11:22:00.000+02:00

It is always nice when something in life gets better.

A new business-to-business global trade network for LGBT tourism market development has just been announced.

The network is Out Now Business Class and Out Now describes it using the description 'Better LGBT'.

Do better

For quite some time, Out Now has felt that the global tourism industry deserves far better than the limited business-to-business trade options that have been available for so many years.

There has been a lack of innovation and imagination as to what doing better for clients and members really looks like.

We believe that helping business to connect and better understand LGBT issues in marketing ultimately helps LGBT people - which is the entire basis upon which we have built our global consulting practice.

We are delighted to bring to market the new way for the global tourism industry to connect and network to do business with LGBT people.

Being in the business of helping our clients to connect with LGBT people globally, wherever they may live, we have spent more than a year developing what we think is now the best global trade network for LGBT tourism market development that there has ever been.

What's inside?

The Out Now Business Class network delivers three core benefits to members.

These revolve around what we think are the most important aspects to doing business with LGBT people.

In essence, what this network does is to bring you the kinds of benefits you might ordinarily associate with attending a trade show – right to your computer screen.

Each member has their own individual account and password and receives their own customizable listing online in the Out Now Business Class network.

They are then searchable by other members worldwide.

Wherever you are looking for an LGBT business connection from – airlines, tourism CVB offices, tour operators, travel agents, media partners and more – you can find them in Out Now Business Class.

Basic membership in Out Now Business Class is also set at a standard cost per year of just USD$195 – to make this network as widely available as possible, to benefit all members.

Educate

In this part of the website, members get to educate themselves and their team with the world's leading LGBT market research from Out Now's groundbreaking global LGBT2020 study.

Conference papers, webinars, case-studies, learning videos and research reports are all available, to every member.

Network

Here is where business meets business.

With our own proprietary networking system, we make it easy to find that essential business partner – wherever they may be in the world.

With search based on location, business type and keywords, our network functionality makes doing better LGBT business so much easier – and more effective.

Update

With the latest information and updates to hand, Out Now Business Class members benefit from always being aware of the key LGBT market developments globally.

You will benefit from key industry insights delivered by Gay Market News and Next Level Thinking newsletters.

We also partner with leading global business event partners – such as LGBT Confex and World Travel Market - giving members privileged access to the most important B2B event opportunities globally.

Getting started is easy

You can learn more about Out Now Business Class and then it is very easy to Apply for membership.

Then just wait a few days and we will contact you.

Once your application is accepted, we will bill you for your annual membership dues and then your business will be equipped with the tools you need to start delivering Better LGBT.

Your staff – and, most importantly, your LGBT customers – will start to benefit from your doing business with the LGBT market in a better way.

Out Now is really pleased to bring this innovation to the marketplace and we look forward to hearing your thoughts on this new initiative.

Special launch offer

We want to welcome readers of Gay Market News to apply to discover for themselves what makes Out Now Business Class such a significant step up for the global tourism industry.

To take advantage of the world's leading trade network for LGBT tourism market development - www.OutNowBusinessClass.com – you can apply today and use the Promo Code GMN125.

This will entitle you to a whole year's worth of membership benefits for just USD$125. (This offer is valid only until November 30, 2012 and cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.)

World Travel Market

To celebrate the launch of Out Now Business Class, we have teamed up with the leading event for the global travel industry World Travel Market – and will be exhibiting next month in London.

If you are attending WTM be sure to stop by and say hello.

We are located at Stand UKI340 in the Northern hall, right near Speakers Corner.

You can find Out Now Business Class at WTM by entering door N1 from the Customs House for ExCel entrance.

The world's leading trade network for LGBT tourism market development is www.OutNowBusinessClass.com

Check out the new Out Now Business Class launch promo video:

###

Established in 1992, Out Now™ is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization and has for two decades been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands, organisations and tourism bodies for specialized gay and lesbian marketing insight and expertise. Services include research, training, strategy and communications.

Out Now clients include IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, TUI, Lufthansa, Berlin Tourism Marketing, Vienna Tourist Board, Visit Manchester, Stockholm Visitors Board and Lloyds TSB Banking Group.

The agency also provides the world's best LGBT business networking program Out Now Business Class http://www.OutNowBusinessClass.com - delivering an innovative global B2B network for organizations that wish to focus effort on meeting the needs of LGBT people. More information? Visit BetterLGBT.com

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Latin America's LGBT Business Powerhouse

2012-10-11T00:11:00.001+02:00

Latin America's LGBT business powerhouse expo launches its 3rd edition

October 11, 2012 -- The leading event in Latin America for the development of LGBT business - the International LGBT Business Expo - has just concluded a very successful event in Cancun, and immediately announced details of its 3rd edition - to be held in the key Mexican business center of Guadalajara in 2013.

Out Now Global has predicted that countries in the Latin America region will represent the world's fastest growing potential for the expansion of business and diversity activities focused upon LGBT people.

With millions of LGBT people representing clients, customers, workers and associates to a growing number of businesses, the potential for this growth is measured in billions of dollars in potential revenues and commercial impact for a wide range of organizations right across the region.

Conference presentations.

Perfectly attuned to meet the needs of business is Latin America's leading conferences and exhibitions company - LGBT Confex.

Cancun, Mexico - September 2012

The 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT took place over four days from September 6 to 9, 2012 - and was a dramatic step up for LGBT Confex, building on the success of its inaugural event in Puerto Vallarta which was held in November 2011.

Press coverage for the Cancun event was intense and reflected the growing awareness of LGBT Confex and its professional approach to its events.

LGBT Confex Team,
Hard Rock Cancun. September 2012.

According to Ruben Sandoval, LGBT Confex CEO, the success of his company's event in Cancun was a hard earned triumph for his team of dedicated professionals.

"We start work on our next year's annual event the day after the conclusion of its predecessor," Sandoval said. "That means we have already been working on our next event for one month. Our success is a result of many different factors but one of the indisputable elements that defines an LGBT Confex event is the commitment and professionalism of all our dedicated team members."

GayFriendly.travel

The event is unique in that it creates a focused set of strategic opportunities for business to network and educate as well as participate in a targeted trade show environment that includes both business-to-business and business-to-consumer opportunities.

Conferences and educational workshops complete the offering.

Exhibitors, Speakers, Delegates and more

The 2nd annual LGBT Confex expo in Cancun saw a dramatic increase in all metrics of its performance.

From Year 1 to Year 2, this event saw a 75% increase in exhibitors - with 35 businesses taking part in three days of trade show activities during September 2012 in Cancun.

Ruben Sandoval, LGBT Confex.

One of the standout success aspects for the 2012 event was the high quality of the event's sponsors and speakers.

Premier Sponsor was Out Now Global, which was the company's second year of sponsoring LGBT Confex.

Other sponsors included American Airlines, Out & Equal, American Express, Tourism Authority of Thailand and more.

Ian Johnson, Out Now.

Conferences included world-leading presentations from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, IBM, OutServe and others. The latest LGBT market research data for Latin America was presented by Out Now as part of its global LGBT2020 research project.

All delegates also received complimentary membership in the new Out Now Business Class B2B networking program.

World class speakers.

In 2012 there were 165 delegates attending the event, taking part in a range of workshops, conferences and ending with a Gala Dinner at which the host city for 2013 was announced.

Guadalajara 2013

The 3rd International LGBT Business Expo is taking place in Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco in Mexico.

Gala dinner.

The city is a metropolitan business hub and the focus of next year's event extends more broadly to take in industries including tourism, banking and finance, automotive, technology, pharmaceuticals and information technology.

A core aspect of the next event is centered on the growing importance of diversity and inclusion for LGBT people at work - and dedicated workshops specific to related topics will feature throughout the event in Guadalajara.

Sponsorship packages now open

LGBT Confex released this week information about the 2013 Sponsorship packages available.

Details are now available in both Spanish and English.

Exhibitors benefit from
three days of trade show events.

A new innovation in 2013 is the implementation of a new Mobile Sponsor category - especially related to the introduction of the LGBT Confex Online Community. This service allows those attending the event to arrange meetings, view the exhibition spaces, and connect both before and throughout the event as well as taking advantage of a dedicated LGBT Confex delegates mobile app as part of the package.

This leading-edge innovation is typical of the dedication to professionalism that makes LGBT Confex the leader in its field.

The 3rd International LGBT Business Expo is taking place in Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco in Mexico in late August 2013. Sponsorship packages are now open.

For details, contact sponsor@LGBTbusinessExpo.com or visit www.LGBTbusinessExpo.com now.

###

Established in 1992, Out Now™ is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization and has for two decades been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands, organisations and tourism bodies for specialized gay and lesbian marketing insight and expertise. Services include research, training, strategy and communications.

Out Now clients include IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, TUI, Lufthansa, Berlin Tourism Marketing, Vienna Tourist Board, Visit Manchester, Stockholm Visitors Board and Lloyds TSB Banking Group.

The agency also provides the world's best LGBT business networking program Out Now Business Class http://www.OutNowBusinessClass.com - delivering an innovative global B2B network for organizations that wish to focus effort on meeting the needs of LGBT people. More information? Visit BetterLGBT.com

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

'Frightening' IGLTA Changes

2012-10-09T12:08:00.000+02:00

Pictured: IGLTA Board member Pablo De Luca (left) with CEO John Tanzella (right)

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association has a long history. But sometimes good organizations go bad. Latest evidence is that this could well be happening to the IGLTA. A rash of recent scandals - including accusations that the organization attempted to unfairly profit from its own members - is now compounded by claims that current management are seeking to remove power from the IGLTA membership, in moves being described by one longtime IGLTA member as "frightening".

Out Now has held concerns about IGLTA since last year when the organization seemed willing to avoid upholding its own Professional Code of Conduct in relation to serious allegations of theft and fraud by an Argentinean 'businessman' named Pablo De Luca, who subsequently has become part of the Board of the IGLTA.

This year has seen a number of serious missteps.

Probably the worst of these happened in February when it was seen by many users of Facebook that the IGLTA sought to remove links to a free online copy of a United Nations tourism report. IGLTA was at that time attempting to compel its own members to pay the organization USD$95 to receive a printed copy of that same report, which was available to anyone free online. In the current economic climate it is hard enough for many businesses to afford essentials - so to have a trade association that ostensibly represents its members seem to want to profit from those same members, in what many perceived to be a misleading and opportunistic manner, sadly speaks volumes about professional standards found wanting.

Now, IGLTA management are attempting to convince members that it would be a good thing if they gave up their rights to vote for their own Board. Instead, the IGLTA management is urging members to 'trust them' and let the management and existing Board members simply arrange things as they think best.

Given the dubious nature of recent IGLTA decisions, some are finding it hard to vote in favor of more power being put into the hands of those same people responsible for this year's attempt to charge IGLTA members $95 for a free research report.

One member with such concerns is Rick Hurlbut. It was Hurlbut who first alerted members to IGLTA's effort to profit by charging members $95 to receive that otherwise free report.

Mr Hurlbut recently sent an email to many IGLTA members in which he urged members to vote 'No' to current proposed Bylaws changes which - if approved - will see more power concentrated into the hands of the Board and the President/CEO.

In that email Hurlbut pokes holes in several of the justifications put forward by IGLTA management and Board for making this change - including the claim that 'others do it so we should too'. He cites an example of an unelected Board that oversees the Cruise Lines International Association CLIA - an organization that he suggests is little more than a marketing arm for the cruise line industry where travel agents pay for the privilege to be marketed to by the cruise ship companies. Hurlbut described as "frightening" the prospect that the proposed changes to IGLTA Bylaws could make the organization more closely resemble CLIA.

Hurlbut urged members to vote 'No' to current changes up for vote by members to - almost ironically - deprive themselves of future voting rights to elect their own Board. Voting closes by October 19.

Out Now has not been a member of IGLTA since October last year. We just could not justify paying hundreds of dollars to an organization that we did not feel had our best interests - as their paying member - as a real concern. More importantly, we could no longer support an organization whose ethics we felt were open to question. When we look at what they delivered for our business we really could not find any value from being their member. By choosing not to be an IGLTA member, we now have a few hundred dollars more to devote to genuine business-to-business development ourselves.

Interestingly, we have been surprised to discover so many other businesses writing to us to express similar disenchantment with the organization. There seems to be many who think IGLTA has lost its way.

It is sad to see something that so many people worked so hard to build be brought low by the actions of a few people with questionable motives, but that - it could be argued - is what we may be seeing happening right now at IGLTA.

Things should be so much better.

Opinion: Ian Johnson, CEO, Out Now.

Established in 1992, Out Now is the world's leading LGBT marketing organization and has for two decades been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands, organisations and tourism bodies for specialized gay and lesbian marketing insight and expertise. Services include research, training, strategy and communications.

Out Now™ clients include IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, TUI, Lufthansa, Berlin Tourism Marketing, Vienna Tourist Board, Visit Manchester, Stockholm Visitors Board and Lloyds TSB Banking Group.

The agency also provides the world's best LGBT business networking program Out Now Business Class http://www.OutNowBusinessClass.com - delivering an innovative global B2B network for organizations that wish to focus effort on meeting the needs of LGBT people. More information? Visit BetterLGBT.com

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

LGBT Confex - Mexico Expo Begins

2012-09-05T21:45:00.014+02:00

Latin America's leading LGBT business event gets underway tomorrow, September 6 and runs until September 9. Some of the world's leading experts in LGBT marketing and business are attending to network and share ideas.

The event has the single most important focus of all - LGBT people. This is all about understanding and meeting the needs of the millions of people in Latin America who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Out Now Global is a Premier Sponsor of this event - the region's most important forum for LGBT issues and business connections.

Today, we are pleased to present an overview of what is in store. This event is set to redefine LGBT marketing for the whole Latin American region.

LGBT Confex

The first thing you need to know is - who is behind this event?

The answer is reassuring. LGBT Confex is Latin America's specialist events and conference organizers and were responsible for the very successful and much praised 1st International Expo & Business LGBT event held in 2011 in Puerto Vallarta.

Led by Mr Ruben Sandoval, LGBT Confex is a dedicated group of professionals that have created an event in 2012 that will substantially raise the standard of LGBT marketing insights and activities right across Latin America.

LEFT: Some of the members of the LGBT Confex team - looking better than a One Direction album cover - onsite in Cancun. September 5, 2012.

Gay Market News is reporting all week from the event and you can follow our twitter updates @gaymarket as well.

Tomorrow - we will go through a comprehensive overview of what's in store for delegates attending this important program of activities in Mexico.

In the meantime, you can find a detailed program of activities for the 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT here.

Information of conference presentations is online here.

Host hotel for the event is the Hyatt Regency Cancun - where you will find a staffed Welcome Desk (picture: right) where the friendly people from LGBT Confex are waiting to help you.

From September 6-9, the conferences plus trade show and consumer events arebeing held at Hard Rock Cancun.

###

For the best global LGBT marketing, contact Out Now.

To become part of the world's best LGBT business networking membership association, join Out Now Business Class.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

IGLTA President 'Misinformed' Members

2012-08-29T13:31:00.029+02:00

One of the longest continuing members of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has spoken out strongly against proposed changes to the organization's bylaws. These changes would see the President/CEO gain new powers to help choose Board members, with general members losing all current rights to vote for the IGLTA Board.

Ian Johnson, Out Now

August 29, 2012

Topics: International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, IGLTA, Rick Hurlbut, John Tanzella, Board, corruption allegations, Bylaws, members, voting rights

One of the longest continuous members of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, Rick Hurlbut - an IGLTA member since 1989 - has spoken out strongly against proposed changes being recommended to members by the current IGLTA Board and its President/CEO - John Tanzella.

Claims made that IGLTA is misinforming its own members
President/CEO "would be given too much power"
Risk of corruption of Board appointments process, due to proposed changes

In a detailed email sent by Mr Hurlbut last week, he urged members to vote 'NO' to proposed bylaws changes for the Association.

Members have been given until August 31 to comment on the proposed changes and then must vote before 19 October.

Hurlbut says there have been numerous delays and obstructions placed in his way as he sought to obtain information from the IGLTA staff and Board about the bylaws vote - and the process that led up to it. Despite asking IGLTA staff a number of times for additional information so he could "make an informed decision... all requests were refused." Hurlbut posted a copy of his requests for information online - along with the responses received from IGLTA staff.

He claims that in being encouraged to vote for the changes, members have been misinformed by the Board and President/CEO of the IGLTA - John Tanzella.

One of the changes proposed would see members lose their rights to vote for Board members.

The President/CEO would then become part of the process to appoint the Board instead - without a vote or other decision-making input in that process from members.

Hurlbut wrote that: "the risk exists, either now or in the future, for this process to become corrupted." He then added:

"The President/CEO should be answerable to the Board, not become a part of the process that appoints those who will judge the President/CEO’s performance and conduct."

Hurlbut also listed six reasons members should vote against the changes.

These include the fact that members would lose a fundamental right as a result - their right as IGLTA members to vote for who they think can best represent their interests on the Board.

Hurlbut said in their communications to members about the changes, IGLTA management and the Board has misinformed its members. In particular, he questioned claims made by Tanzella that:

"IGLTA was the only organization that we knew of that still elected its board members from the general membership, rather than creating an appointed board."

IGLTA then listed three organizations as examples of ones that appoint their Board, rather than have members vote for them.

Hurlbut however, in his email, listed a number of important international LGBT representative organizations which do have memberships that vote for the Board that represents them, including organizations responsible for the Gay Games, the OutGames and major Pride events around the world - in addition to others.

Since Hurlbut sent his email to IGLTA, the organization has updated their website to list some other organizations that do not allow members to vote for the Board. These include the 'International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions' and 'L’Austre [sic] Cercle (French Gay Professionals Association)'.

In the update posted to their own website this week, IGLTA did not respond to most of the points raised by Hurlbut. In particular, IGLTA did not address the potentially serious risk highlighted by Hurlbut that the President/CEO of the organization would gain too much influence and power as a result of the changes.

Hurlbut said the proposal to have the President/CEO involved in the process of choosing those whose tasks include deciding whether the President/CEO is doing a good job has serious risks that the organization, through this Board selection process, could become corrupted - either now or in the future.

The IGLTA's President/CEO - John Tanzella, who would then find himself in a position of influence over future Board selection decisions if the bylaw changes are approved, this week sent an email to IGLTA members seeming to support a vote for the changes, proposing: "that the organization makes the smooth transition from an elected board to an appointed board."

Hurlbut encouraged IGLTA members who may wish to share their comments or opinions on the proposed changes to contact him via email to: igltabylaws@yahoo.ca as soon as possible.

Gay Market News asked IGLTA for their comment on Hurlbut's allegations. No response was received.

Comment by the author: Some may like John Tanzella on a personal level, but this is not about him - it is about the Association. The risks for a declining level of accountability and scrutiny of performance and decision-making by a current or future IGLTA President/CEO are real, by virtue of the way such a process can operate over time to skew the Board composition. The risk is that someone who may be very good for the best interests of the members of the Association, and should therefore be an ideal candidate to become an IGLTA Board member - but whom the President/CEO does not like, or is worried may hold them to account in ways they do not like - becomes very unlikely to make it through the proposed selection process. Over time this risk only increases. In its worst case scenario you end up with a 'zombie' organization where Board members are there because they meet the preferences of a long-serving President/CEO. That is really unhealthy for an organization like IGLTA - and does not have the members' interests at the centre of the process.

For the best LGBT marketing insights rely on Out Now.

GNETWORK360 - SOSPECHOSA CONDUCTA

2012-07-25T14:36:00.011+02:00

English translation here.

– Supuestas faltas a las reglas de buen gobierno corporativo por parte de IGLTA.

LA HAYA, PAÍSES BAJOS - 25 de julio, 2012 (OUTNOW) -- La International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) ha sido acusada de falta de ética, debido a la conducta de los miembros de su junta directiva al no cumplir con los estándares de buen gobierno corporativos establecidos.

Un miembro de la junta directiva de IGLTA también ha sido acusado de robo intelectual por parte de uno de sus propios miembros. Estas acusaciones se derivan de la conducta del miembro de IGLTA llamado Pablo De Luca.

El Sr. De Luca es también dueño de una compañía llamada GNetwork360 y de la Cámara de Comercio Gay Argentina (CCGLAR) – un organismo que afirma dirigir, pero que nunca ha llevado a cabo elecciones y no realiza ningún tipo de reuniones regulares con sus miembros.

Se ha mencionado que en 2010, el Sr. De Luca – y su socio en GNetwork360, el Sr. Gustavo Noguera – robaron propiedad intelectual y no realizaron pago alguno a uno de los miembros de IGLTA - Out Now Global.

El CEO de Out Now, Ian Johnson, de manera detallada en la página web de su organización – ha difundido copias de correos electrónicos, imágenes y otras comunicaciones que comprueban el supuesto robo realizado por De Luca.

"Este asunto se remonta a las reglas básicas de un buen gobierno corporativo," dice Johnson. "Es duro que en una circunstancia así, cualquier junta directiva responsable no considere importante investigar las supuestas acciones ilegales de sus miembros – especialmente si se trata de uno de alguien que es parte de la junta directiva. Este tipo de conducta fraudulenta es muy grave y no debería ser considerada como no importante."

Johnson afirma que los miembros de la junta directiva de IGLTA han fracasado al no atender este asunto de manera adecuada, según lo establecen las propias reglas de la asociación.

La acusación de robo se refiere se refiere a las acciones llevadas a cabo por el Sr. De Luca y el Sr. Noguera en Septiembre de 2010, quienes copiaron palabra por palabra más de 50 preguntas para encuestas de un proyecto organizado por Out Now.

Después, De Luca y Noguera intentaron ocultar estas acciones abriendo sitios web ficticios para imitar detalladamente los sitios originales creados por Out Now.

Esta conducta es parte de un proceso aparentemente orquestado por GNetwork360 para evitar pagar las cuentas que se deben a Out Now.

En Agosto de 2011, De Luca y Noguera de GNetwork360 también copiaron textos escritos por Out Now (en 2010), e intentaron hacerlo pasar por trabajo realizado por ellos para presentarlo en un seminario que se realizaría en México. Lo organizadores de ese evento en México ultimadamente rechazaron que GNetwork360 se presentara, debido a su conducta.

En Septiembre de 2011, Johnson presentó una queja formal a la junta directiva de IGLTA, indicando cinco diferentes faltas a las reglas y al Código de Conducta profesional de IGLTA. Este código establece un procedimiento de audiencias en el que GNetwork360 tuviera que defender sus acciones para evitar la expulsión de la asociación.

Pero en lugar de seguir este procedimiento, la junta directiva de IGLTA ha decidido no llevar a cabo estas acciones diseñadas específicamente para investigar acusaciones como las que Out Now hace en contra de GNetwork360.

Esto resultó en la renuncia de uno de los miembros de la junta directiva de IGLTA – quien dijo que la IGLTA había fallado al no aplicar la reglas publicadas de la asociación, así como el código de conducta.

Después, en 2012, el Sr. De Luca fue elegido como miembro de la junta directiva de IGLTA.

"El procedimiento para dirimir este tipo de acusaciones es parte de las propias reglas de la organización. Sin embargo, la falta de IGLTA para investigar las acciones documentadas y levantadas ante la junta directiva por Out Now en 2011 es sospechosa. Ahora que el Sr. De Luca es miembro de la junta directiva, esto podría ser visto como un intento de encubrimiento por parte de la asociación."

Las acciones motivo de las acusaciones no eran difíciles de comprobar, dice Johnson.

"La evidencia que muestra los varios robos de la propiedad intelectual de Out Now por parte de De Luca es muy clara y se encuentra ya en el dominio público y queremos que esta información esté disponible libremente," dice Johnson. "El fracaso de los miembros de la junta directiva de IGLTA en este caso- pero sobre todo la falta de acciones para defender y proteger los intereses de sus asociados, de acuerdo con sus propias reglas, daña seriamente a la asociación. He sido parte de varias juntas directivas durante mis dos décadas de trabajo con la comunidad LGBT y para mí esto representa una falta total de buen gobierno corporativo."

En una última controversia, se ha revelado que IGLTA ha intentado cobrar USD$95 a sus propios miembros por una copia del reporte de la United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), el cual se encuentra disponible de manera gratuita en cualquier otro lado. También se dice que la administración de IGLTA también pidió a su personal que removiera los enlaces a las descargas gratuitas, ya que al parecer deseaban cobrar también por la versión impresa de ese reporte gratuito.

Johnson indicó que su compañia Out Now ha decidido no renovar su membresía con IGLTA como resultado de estos eventos.

"Esta ya no es una asociación de comercio que podamos apoyar," dice Johnson. "Sus recientes esfuerzos para cobrar a sus propios miembros US $95 para adquirir una copia impresa de un reporte gratuito de la UNWTO ha marcado el final del camino para nosotros. No podemos apoyarlos. El permitir estas continuas faltas al buen gobierno corporativo desde los más altos niveles implica que la IGLTA, en nuestra opinión, se ha convertido en una no apta representante de la industria turística. Pero los que pierden más son los miembros de IGLTA – son ellos quienes se merecen más de parte de una organización que se jacta de apoyar y defender sus intereses como comunidad LGBT."

Media Contact: info@OutNowConsulting.com

###FIN###

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

IGLTA - Serious Corporate Governance Breaches Alleged

2012-07-24T11:33:00.009+02:00

traducción de español

Alleged Serious Breaches by IGLTA of Corporate Governance Standards

-- Ethics Questions Raised Over Conduct of Gay Travel Association Board

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - July 24, 2012 (OUTNOW) -- The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has been accused of ethics breaches, due to conduct of its Board members failing to meet accepted standards of corporate governance.

An IGLTA Board member also stands accused of theft from one of the Association's own members. These accusations arise from the conduct of IGLTA Board member Mr. Pablo De Luca.

It has been asserted that in 2010, Mr. De Luca - and his business partner, Mr. Gustavo Noguera - stole intellectual property and failed to pay monies they owed to a then-member of the IGLTA - Out Now Global.

Mr. De Luca is owner of a company called GNetwork360 and the self-appointed head of Argentina Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (Camara de Comercio Gay Lesbica de Argentina CCGLAR) - a 'non-profit' body he claims to represent but which has reportedly never held any elections and does not convene regular meetings for members. Questions have been raised as to how many, if any, members this CCGLAR 'association' actually has. Sources in Argentina told Gay Market News that the alleged 'not-for-profit' CCGLAR is believed to be little more than a front for commercial business activities being conducted by Mr De Luca and Mr Noguera in the name of CCGLAR.

The CEO of Out Now, Ian Johnson, in a detailed post on the company's website - uploaded copies of emails, screenshots and other correspondence showing the substance of the alleged theft by De Luca.

"This issue goes right to the basics of corporate governance," said Johnson. "It is hard to see a circumstance where any responsible Board would not consider it worthy of inquiring into facts alleging illegal acts by a member - especially one who is now also a Board member." The matters were first brought to the attention of the IGLTA CEO in 2010 and were the subject of a formal complaint made to the IGLTA Board in September 2011.

"The alleged conduct is of the most serious kind in business, involving theft and fraud - which ought not to be considered by any organization's Board to be unimportant matters," Johnson added.

Johnson contends that there were several failings of the IGLTA Board as they did not address the matters raised with due process, as is provided for under the Association's own By-Laws. Instead, the IGLTA warned Johnson away with a lawyers letter, threatening him with the imposition of legal costs if he attempted to discuss the issues further with any IGLTA staff or Board member.

"We were really shocked and disappointed with the IGLTA sending a lawyer's letter rather than hearing the substance of the allegations," Johnson said. "Good corporate governance would have meant following the written provisions of the IGLTA By-Laws, to reveal the truth behind these theft and fraud allegations against Mr De Luca. It was a real shame to see the Board of IGLTA behave in this way and unfortunately in our opinion this reflects extremely poorly on the ethics of their organization. Given that Mr De Luca is also now a Board member of the IGLTA the decision looks even worse. What does it say about any organization when a Board member stands accused of theft and fraud but, rather than hold a hearing into the facts, fellow Board members prefer a collective decision to simply look the other way? There is something seriously wrong in that approach in my professional opinion."

The theft allegations relate to actions undertaken by Mr. De Luca and Mr. Noguera in September 2010, when they copied verbatim more than 50 survey questions from an online project managed by Out Now.

When doing so, De Luca and Noguera attempted to disguise the copying activities by setting up fake websites to mirror exactly the look and feel of the genuine sites created by Out Now.

This conduct was part of a process apparently engineered by GNetwork360 to avoid paying monies which they owed to Out Now.

In August 2011, De Luca and Noguera of GNetwork360 also copied text which had been written by Out Now (in 2010), and attempted to pass it off as GNetwork's own work for a seminar they intended to present in Mexico. The organisers of that Mexico event later backed away from allowing GNetwork360 to present at the event, due to this conduct.

In September 2011, Johnson lodged a formal complaint with the IGLTA Board of Directors alleging five separate breaches of IGLTA By-Laws and the organisation's Professional Code of Conduct. That Code specifies a hearings process that should have applied to see GNetwork360 defend their actions - or face expulsion from the IGLTA if they could not adequately explain their conduct.

Instead of following that course as described in the IGLTA By-Laws, the Board failed to enforce the stated procedure - one that was clearly provided under their own By-Laws specifically for testing the types of allegations made by Out Now against GNetwork360.

This failure subsequently resulted in the resignation of one IGLTA Board member - who alleged that the IGLTA Board had failed in its own responsibilities to members to uphold the Association's published Bylaws and Professional Code of Conduct.

In April 2012, Mr. De Luca was elected to the Board of the IGLTA.

"The process for dealing with our complaints against GNetwork360 exists under the organization's own By-Laws, and it is a rather straight-forward and clearly described procedure," Johnson said. "IGLTA's continuing failure to investigate the actions documented by Out Now which we complained of to the Board in 2011 looks shoddy at best. Now that Mr. De Luca is a Board member himself, it risks being seen as an attempt to cover-up facts by the management of the organization."

The actions complained of were not especially difficult to ascertain Johnson claimed.

"The evidence showing Mr. De Luca's various thefts of Out Now's intellectual property is pretty easy to understand and is now in the public domain as Out Now is entirely comfortable about these facts being made freely available and widely known," Johnson said. "Failure by members of the IGLTA Board to read the substance of these matters - and then act according to their own rules to protect their members' best interests - seriously damages their organization. I have served on a number of Board positions during my two decades working in the area of LGBT business and to me these matters would seem to involve breaches of corporate governance of the most serious nature. IGLTA members deserve so much better than this."

The latest controversy has followed recent revelations that IGLTA management in February 2012 attempted to charge its own members USD$95 per copy to buy a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report that was freely available to download elsewhere at no charge. IGLTA management also reportedly instructed their personnel to remove links to the free download at that time as they apparently wished to try to charge their members to receive the printed version of this otherwise free report.

Johnson said his company decided not to renew their membership of IGLTA as a result of these various events.

"This is no longer a trade association we can support," Johnson said. Out Now had been involved with the organisation since helping to arrange an annual convention in Australia for IGTA (as it was then known) seventeen years ago.

"Leaving them behind was not a decision we took lightly, but their recent efforts to charge their own members $95 to buy a printed copy of a free UNWTO report was really the end of the road for us given IGLTA and their conduct," Johnson added. "We just cannot support them. To allow breaches of corporate governance of such a serious kind as those committed by their Board member Mr. De Luca - and with no proper Board investigation of the facts - means IGLTA has as a result, in our opinion, become an unfit representative organisation for the tourism industry. It is actually IGLTA's members I’m concerned for - they are really losing out on their membership fees and deserve so much better from an organisation that claims to support their interests in the global development of LGBT tourism."

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

Hard Rock Serves LGBT Latin America

2012-07-24T10:32:00.004+02:00

New Partnership between Hard Rock Hotel Cancun and LGBT Confex Announced

CANCUN, Mexico – July 24, 2012 (OUTNOW) – The newest luxury resort in Cancun has announced it is partnering with the leading Latin American marketing event organizer targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) market - LGBT Confex.

Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is to sponsor the 2012 International Expo and Business LGBT event being hosted by LGBT Confex in Cancun, Mexico from September 6 to 9.

This event is the leading conference and exhibition of its kind in the region and brings together the world's top LGBT marketing specialists with business from across Mexico and throughout Latin America to network and educate over four days. In addition there is a consumer expo as well as a business-to-business trade show all included as part of the program.

According to the CEO of LGBT Confex Mr. Ruben Sandoval, the sponsorship by Hard Rock Hotel, Cancun represents a strong partnership that benefits both parties well. "The 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT is already the leading LGBT marketing event for the whole Latin American region, said Mr. Sandoval. “We enjoy the sponsorship of many of the most significant brands in this endeavor including American Airlines, Convention and Visitors Bureau of Cancun and the world's leading LGBT marketing organization - Out Now Global - is our Premier Sponsor. We are delighted and most grateful to the All Inclusive Collection and Hard Rock Hotel Cancun for their sponsorship of the Gala Dinner which forms a centerpiece of our event."

The new all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Cancun will celebrate its official grand opening a few weeks after the Expo and delegates attending the Gala Dinner will be among the first to experience the quality and service that is being brought to the Mexico market for the very first time by this new and innovative property.

Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is owned and operated in Mexico by RCD Resorts under licensing agreements from Hard Rock International. RCD Resorts is an industry leader in the development and management of exceptional, all inclusive resorts, boasting the only all inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in the world including Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Aventura Palace in Riviera Maya (soon-to-be Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in 2013). RCD Resorts exclusively contracts the All Inclusive Collection for the sales and marketing of its Hard Rock Hotels, led by Chief Operating Officer Rafael Chapur.

"Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is set to redefine the quality of resort accommodation available to travelers in Cancun," said Rafael Chapur. "We know from the latest market research that LGBT tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the total market and that Cancun is the most popular tourism destination for gay and lesbian travelers to Mexico."

The 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study' is the world's largest LGBT market research program and new findings released last month showed that Cancun was by far the most popular Mexico tourism destination for LGBT travelers to Mexico.

"We are pleased we have this opportunity to showcase our new Hard Rock property to a market that is one of the most relevant to our brand - one that appreciates quality, all-inclusive travel set at the highest possible standard," added Mr. Chapur. "We are looking forward to showing guests what an amazing experience we have in store for them, and supporting the 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT is an ideal opportunity for RCD Resorts and the All Inclusive Collection to do exactly that."

The 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT is being held at the Cancun Convention Center from September 6 to 9, 2012. The Gala Dinner is being held at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun on September 8, 2012. Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is one of our Official Partner Hotels for the Expo & Business LGBT which is created and managed by LGBT Confex - Latin America's leading LGBT conference and Exhibitions Company.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Andres Reyes, LGBT Confex

andres@LGBTconfex.com

ABOUT LGBT CONFEX:

Latin America’s leading LGBT conferences and Exhibitions Company is LGBT Confex. Established in 2011, the organization quickly demonstrated its capabilities to put together a professional team with staff who bring many years in event management expertise. Following the successful event 2011 International Expo & Business LGBT, LGBT Confex immediately set about arranging the groundwork for this year’s even bigger event in Cancun. Plans have commenced for two events by the organization in 2013 – another in Mexico and one elsewhere in the Latin America region.

ABOUT ALL INCLUSIVE COLLECTION:

The All Inclusive Collection spearheads sales and marketing efforts for premier, luxury resort properties throughout Mexico and the Caribbean, including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (the world’s first all inclusive Hard Rock Hotel) and three Mexico properties currently operating as Cancun Palace (soon to be reflagged Aug. 1, 2012, as Hard Rock Hotel Cancun), Vallarta Palace (soon to be reflagged Aug. 1, 2012, as Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta) and Aventura Palace (soon to be rebranded Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya early 2013). These four properties are owned and operated by RCD Resorts under licensing agreements from Hard Rock International. RCD Resorts exclusively contracts the All Inclusive Collection for the sales and marketing of its all inclusive Hard Rock Hotels. Led by Chief Operating Officer Rafael Chapur, the All Inclusive Collection offers a one-of-a-kind, “all day, all night, all-inclusive” vacation experience, and plans to expand its portfolio in Mexico and the Caribbean with new luxury properties that will continue to shift the sands of all-inclusive. For additional information, visit www.hrhallinclusive.com.

American Airlines Boards LGBT Expo in Latin America

2012-07-16T16:54:00.004+02:00

The leading LGBT marketing event in the Latin American region is this September's 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT in Cancun, Mexico. Sponsored by a number of global leaders the event's managers LGBT Confex today announced the addition of a new brand to their growing list of supporters - American Airlines.

Ian Johnson

July 16, 2012

If you would like Out Now to help you take your marketing to the leading-edge of sales results, please do get in touch.

--Topics: LGBT Confex. Mexico Expo LGBT. 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT. Cancun. Mexico. LGBT marketing. Latin America.

AMERICAN AIRLINES AND LGBT CONFEX ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

CANCUN, Mexico – July 16, 2012 (OUTNOW) – International Expo & Business LGBT Cancun 2012, the leading marketing event that targets the vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) market today announced a strategic partnership with American Airlines®, a leader in Latin America and diversity marketing.

“We are pleased to announce this partnership,” said Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex, the region's leading LGBT events and conference organizer. “American Airlines is a global leader for its longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion for both its people and customers. At LGBT Confex we are in the business of producing the region's best conferences and exhibitions designed to serve the LGBT market. We are honored that American Airlines has chosen to support our forthcoming event in Cancun this September.”

The 2012 International Expo & Business LGBT takes place in Cancun Sept. 6 through 9. Confirmed sponsors include the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Cancun, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, Out Now Global, American Airlines & IGLTA.

“We are delighted to support LGBT Confex and to join in this special Cancun gathering,” said Derek DeCross, American’s Vice President – Global Sales. “American Airlines has been a pioneer in serving the global LGBT community. As we celebrate 70 years of service to Mexico and as an industry leader across Latin America, this is a timely way for us to emphasize our dedication to all of the diverse market segments in the region. What better way to express our pride this year than by taking part in the LGBT Confex in Mexico.”

“We are grateful to American Airlines for their support for our upcoming event,” said Sandoval.

The second edition of the International Expo & Business LGBT Cancun 2012 will support Vida Maya, Congresos con Causa A.C, a nonprofit association created by Cancun Center, Conventions & Exhibitions, its employees, partners and suppliers to benefit and contribute to the quality of life of the local Mayan communities, with particular focus on health, education and employment.

In the United States, American Airlines is the first and only airline to earn a perfect 100 percent score every year on the prestigious Corporate Equality Index. The Index was created in 2002 by the Human Rights Campaign (www.hrc.org) to serve as a benchmark for corporate leaders known for their gay-friendly and fair-minded policies. For more background on American’s commitment to LGBT inclusion and diversity, visit www.AA.com/Diversity.

To join American’s LGBT Facebook community conversation, visit https://www.facebook.com/AARainbowTeam. LGBT AAdvantage® members may also update profile information to indicate an interest in LGBT travel and receive special offers.

About LGBT Confex

About American Airlines

American Airlines, American Eagle® and the AmericanConnection® carrier serve 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories with, on average, more than 3,500 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American's award-winning website, AA.com®, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members and members-elect serve more than 900 destinations with more than 9,000 daily flights to 150 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol “AAMRQ” on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.

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If you want to get your LGBT marketing and gay travel market research knowledge policies up to speed to include the latest Out Now Global LGBT market research, or learn more about social media and other leading-edge gay marketing strategies, get in touch with the recognized market leaders Out Now.

---------------

Out Now™ has been involved in lesbian and gay marketing research, corporate strategy and LGBT community development since 1992 -- when the company was first established in Australia.

The agency has grown to now include specialist LGBT consultants working with Out Now in markets across the world.

AdWeek referred to one of Out Now's gay advertising campaigns as "the year's most talked about tourism ads." Out Now Consulting is a leading global gay marketing specialist agency, founded in 1992.

Clients include Barclays, IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, Visit Britain, Lufthansa and Time Inc. Magazines. Out Now won the "Outstanding Interactive" category in New York at the 'Images in Advertising' awards for an online campaign for their client Lufthansa.

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To learn how to get lesbian and gay marketing strategy right -- rely on gay marketing expert strategic advice from Out Now -- the leading experienced global strategic gay marketing, research and communications agency.

Stockholm's Stylish Gay Travel Moves

2012-06-17T13:21:00.011+02:00

One of the leading innovators in the area of LGBT marketing in recent years has been the European city of Stockholm in Sweden. This destination understands to get it right you need to first concentrate on the basics - like making sure hotel staff are well trained on lesbian and gay travel issues. Then you need to work on the leading-edge to deliver fresh relevant and engaging communications to the target audience. With their latest campaign, Stockholm has done it again.

Ian Johnson

June 17, 2012

If you would like Out Now to help you take your marketing to the leading-edge of sales results, please do get in touch.

--Topics: Sweden, Stockholm, VisitSweden, Stockholm Visitors Board. GayComfort. Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network. Out Now Global. Stockholm launches new gay and lesbian tourism marketing campaign - Win A Date With Stockholm.

Win A Date With Stockholm

One of the challenges for any destination is how to keep themselves on the leading-edge when they themselves have become a market leader in their field.

That is the challenge for Stockholm Visitors Board and VisitSweden as they continue their gay and lesbian marketing journey - and we are pleased to report the challenge has been very well met.

The launch of the new 'Win A Date With Stockholm' campaign builds on all the strengths of the marketing activities undertaken to date while reinforcing the destination's position as a market-leading innovator in the area of gay and lesbian tourism marketing.

Back-story

Some years back, maybe ten or so, Sweden and by default Stockholm was, to most in the gay and lesbian market, synonymous with Björn Borg, Volvo cars and ABBA - and little else.

All that has changed.

The number one influencer of gay travel decisions is 'will I feel welcomed?'

By ensuring the product delivers on the promise made to gay and lesbian travelers, Stockholm is already placing itself ahead of many destinations who think the first and only part of reaching gay customers is to advertise to them.

Stockholm is a destination partner in the GayComfort online training and certification program and they have worked carefully and consistently to reinforce the market to their growing collection of local partners through the members of the Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network.

Ladies and gentlemen

In 2011, Stockholm made a smart play - they reached for and over-achieved in a dedicated campaign specifically for the lesbian market.

Stockholm's Leading Ladies was a campaign that highlighted the ideal weekend for eight local Stockholm lesbians - and invited UK women to visit the city to discover for themselves all the city has to offer to its lesbian guests.

That campaign was a significant success with an 87% increase in traffic to the campaign website and a much higher than anticipated number of entries to the online competition.

Building on the success of that campaign, 2012 sees the extension of this concept to become even bigger with six lesbians and six gay men featured in a very stylish and beautifully designed campaign - Win A Date With Stockholm.

Campaign details

Here is the campaign information, direct from Stockholm:

Discover the world's 'Favourite LGBT-Friendly City', fly with award-winning SAS Scandinavian Airlines and have a local Stockholm resident guide you - to show you some of the best of your own favourite things which the city has to offer.

You can choose between six guys or girls, depending on what you are most into, each being a Stockholm ambassador for a specific theme, such as Arts & Culture, Sports, Outdoor, Fashion & Design, Food & Flavours or Music & Nightlife.

The new social media campaign, Win A Date With Stockholm, is live online at www.winadatewithstockholm.com and is organized by Stockholm Visitors Board, VisitSweden, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and the Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network.

Six men and six women represent their various favourite leisure themes in the city, and people can choose the person they want to meet based on the program they have tailored to their specific theme. The ambassadors hoping to show their very own ideal time with Stockholm include the rugby player Daniel, the flight attendant Malin, the stylist Magnus and gold-medal awarded sportswoman Linda.

“The ambassador who receives the most votes becomes the winning guide for the campaign, and four lucky winners - and a travelling companion - win a 'date' with Stockholm based on their choice," says Christina Guggenberger, head of the Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network within Stockholm Visitors Board.

"As Stockholm has just been awarded the title 'Favourite LGBT-Friendly City', we are really looking forward to giving our gay and lesbian guests this unique opportunity to experience our city with a local who can help them discover hidden gems that make Stockholm so wonderful - which you won’t find in your average guidebook.”

Win a date with Stockholm will run throughout the month of June 2012 and will be found at the Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network’s Facebook page and blog, which can be located via www.visitstockholm.com/gay-lesbian

Out Now www.OutNowConsulting.com - which has for four years worked as the LGBT specialist agency for Stockholm Visitors Board, and in 2011 devised the 'Stockholm Leading Ladies' campaign - is working on marketing the new campaign for the city.

Check out the video for this year's campaign here:

Stockholm has received several nominations from the LGBT media over several years. Most recently the readers of leading Magazine EDGE voted Stockholm their “Favorite LGBT-Friendly City” in the '2011 Best EDGE Awards'. SAS Scandinavian Airlines was named “Favorite Airline” by those voting and Stockholm actor Alexander Skarsgård was awarded “Favorite Actor in a Gay-Friendly Series” for his work on the HBO television series True Blood.

Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network is a partner project cooperating closely with the travel industry and special interest organizations in order to better meet the needs of our LGBT travellers. Stockholm Visitors Board is the official visitors bureau of Stockholm fully owned by the City of Stockholm.

-----------------------------------------------------

---------------

Out Now™ has been involved in lesbian and gay marketing research, corporate strategy and LGBT community development since 1992 -- when the company was first established in Australia.

The agency has grown to now include specialist LGBT consultants working with Out Now in markets across the world.

AdWeek referred to one of Out Now's gay advertising campaigns as "the year's most talked about tourism ads." Out Now Consulting is a leading global gay marketing specialist agency, founded in 1992. Clients include Barclays, IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, Visit Britain, Lufthansa and Time Inc. Magazines. Out Now won the "Outstanding Interactive" category in New York at the 'Images in Advertising' awards for an online campaign for their client Lufthansa.

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Shadow Over IGLTA

2012-04-26T18:17:00.000+02:00

(Image: The Economist)

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association has had a bad few months, including recent accusations of covering up attempts to profit from its own members. Now, the latest news might just take the organization from bad to worse - with a newly elected Board member bringing big ethics question marks over him to his role as an elected decision-maker for the organization.

OPINION - Gay Market News
April 27, 2012

If you would like Out Now to help you take your marketing to the leading-edge of sales results, please do get in touch.--Topics: IGLTA. International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. Ian Johnson. John Tanzella. Darren Cooper. Pablo De Luca. Gustavo Noguera. GNetwork360.

Poor Ethics Cast A Shadow Over IGLTA

Years ago I learned a lesson that has stood Out Now in good stead over the years. I was reading an article from an Ethics Center that asked - 'What are ethics'? It suggested that your own personal test of what is 'ethical' conduct should be measured by how you would feel if your own actions became public - if for example the decisions you took this week were on the front of next week's newspaper.

How would you feel then about the decisions you took? If you would be comfortable with others learning of them, then you can be said to have made an ethical decision. If however, you would be uncomfortable that your decisions became public knowledge then maybe you need to rethink your decision as it is one that is likely going to fall outside your own sense of ethics - and the principles of ethics as perceived by those who read about what you did.

Unfortunately, the management and Board of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has just stepped into a position which - when others consider the decisions taken - calls into question at the very least the ethics of one of the new members of their Board.

In context, the situation that brings the organization to this point is one that sadly reflects very poorly upon the current direction of the IGLTA - and has even led some to now question the future of the organization.

Shame For IGLTA

It is often said that we are judged by the company that we keep.

If that is true then April 15, 2012 should be marked as a sad day for members of the International Gay and Lesbian TraveI Association.

The IGLTA has found itself mired in controversy in recent times.

During the past twelve months three Board members (out of a total of just eight) resigned. One of these resigned just this past February - over an alleged failure by the Board to uphold its own Professional Code of Conduct. A great loss was IGLTA's Director of Global Business Development, a highly regarded professional who was much admired in the global tourism industry, and was the longest serving staff member - before he chose to leave the organization last October. This followed an already high level of staff departures for a small organization in the months before that.

In recent weeks there have been allegations of attempts by IGLTA's management to shut down discussions in social media about the organization trying to charge its own members $95 for a free report from the UNWTO (which quotes data from Out Now's groundbreaking Global LGBT2020 Study). That report is available for free online - but when some IGLTA personnel linked to the free report using social media, they were reportedly instructed by IGLTA management to remove the link.

The IGLTA probably hoped to have a good news week on their hands with the launch of a redesign of their website, however comments about the new site suggest users are finding the new layout causes confusion about who the website is actually aimed at - which doesn't help the important goal of trying to maximize the opportunities IGLTA members have to connect with other members to increase business.

Instead though, the latest news out of the IGLTA last week was the election to the IGLTA Board of an Argentinean 'businessman' - one who has been the subject of theft allegations - along with various other allegations of professional misconduct.

Don't Lie To Me Argentina

In a recent issue of The Economist appeared the headline - 'Don't Lie To Me Argentina'- when, for the first time ever, it was decided the magazine would no longer cover the Argentina government's own published statistics - as the 'official' data put out by them was considered to simply not be credible.

Put simply, The Economist thought the Argentineans were lying. This might perhaps suggest a wider problem with a culturally roughshod approach when it comes to business ethics - something Out Now (publishers of Gay Market News) witnessed in the questionable conduct of a business headed by the newly elected IGLTA Board member from Argentina - Mr Pablo De Luca.

Mr De Luca - who runs an outfit called GNetwork360 - was involved in a number of thefts of Out Now property in 2010 and 2011, including research data, monies owed and intellectual property.

Details have been posted in full online - and were made available to the IGLTA Board in 2011 - but if you need a simple to understand 'reality check' about the character in question, it is quick and easy to just compare this text written by Out Now for a seminar presented by Out Now's CEO at a GNetwork360 event in 2010 with identically worded text which was later submitted by Mr De Luca as his company's own work for a presentation he proposed to make in 2011 (screenshot taken 25 August 2011).

Stealing another business's written work might at first seem trivial to some perhaps, but stop and think what it says about the character of an individual in business - one who thinks this is an acceptable way to conduct themselves in business.

Theft and lack of business ethics are dangerous business habits to try to deal with. That possibly may not augur so well then for the immediate future of IGLTA's stewardship under Mr De Luca's control as their latest Board member.

The position of IGLTA management

Ian Johnson - CEO of Out Now - had a conversation with John Tanzella - CEO of IGLTA - about these theft issues related to GNetwork360 when the two met at the March 2012 ITB convention in Berlin.

Out Now, which had been a member of IGLTA, lodged an official complaint asking the IGLTA Board to uphold their own Professional Code of Conduct - which every member agrees to abide by - in relation to numerous documented breaches of the Code by Mr De Luca and his related business entities.

Mr Tanzella's reply to Mr. Johnson asked why this matter was even brought to the attention of the IGLTA in the first place: "I don't understand why you would bring this dispute to the IGLTA? Why not pursue it through the courts?"

Mr Johnson replied: "Because your IGLTA Professional Code of Conduct invited me as an IGLTA member to complain to the Board over exactly this kind of conduct. There is no pre-requisite for a legal judgment before the Code is meant to be applied. The Board ought to have convened a hearing of these issues as is expressly meant to happen under your Association's By-Laws." Mr Johnson went on to say: "Your problem John is not really with me, or even with GNetwork360 - your real problem is with your own Code of Conduct. You tell members they are protected when they pay their annual dues to become IGLTA members but if a member asks you to uphold ethics violations by another member, it is my experience that you fail to do so. You really ought not publish those supposed protections of the Code of Conduct if, when asked, you and your Board show you are willing to fail to follow due process as set down in your own rules."

Mr Tanzella then asked: "I don't understand why didn't you just talk with me about this?"

Mr Johnson's response was telling: "Because when the IGLTA Board decided not to uphold the Professional Code of Conduct violations committed by GNetwork360, your Association's only response was to have your lawyers send a letter warning Out Now from exercising any right of reply to you, your staff or the Board. We were threatened with legal costs if we dared question the Board's decision. It was a little difficult then to talk with you about any of this, since we were expressly told we were not to do so. Surely you can see that John?"

No Future

Out Now has now reached the decision - as a result of what has now become an ongoing litany of poor professional practices on the part of IGLTA's management and its Board - that this is no longer a trade Association we can afford to associate our business with.

The recent election of Mr De Luca to the Board of IGLTA serves simply to reinforce the wisdom of that decision.

Unfortunately IGLTA is no longer a trade association with the kind of approach to professional ethics that Out Now requires of it if we are to be members.

Accordingly we have not renewed our membership in 2012 and do not see it as likely that we would again choose to be members of this organization.

Not alone

Sadly for IGLTA, it is not just Out Now with firsthand experience of questionable business practices at the hands of Mr De Luca and his business interests.

Gay Market News spoke to a number of LGBT business owners in the Latin America region who provided their own firsthand accounts of what they claim are business practices that veer far from those usually accepted in the practice of global business.

Various actions of Mr De Luca and his associated businesses - GNetwork360 and GMaps360 - over recent years have been strongly criticized by those Gay Market News spoke with.

One recent example cited was a failed gay boat cruise that Mr De Luca and his business were responsible for marketing that eventually sailed with no more than a handful of tickets sold to LGBT travelers. This venture was reported as receiving government funds from the Argentinian Tourism Ministry but it reportedly left the other partners in the venture out-of-pocket. These actions are typical of the 'business practice' that we have heard stories of regarding Mr De Luca and GNetwork360.

Those IGLTA members - and former members - from Latin America that Gay Market News spoke with reacted universally with disappointment at Mr De Luca's standing for election to the IGLTA Board. It is a sentiment that Out Now Consulting echoes.

"Is it any surprise that the IGLTA is losing the support of its members when the Board and management's actions show that these members can no longer be certain the IGLTA will hold up its own published code of ethics," added Darren Cooper, Senior Out Now Consultant and former IGLTA Board member.

'Death roll'?

This comment from a lesbian business woman who said she used to be a member summed up the essence of much of the feedback we were given:

"The IGLTA downhill spiral (death roll?) goes agonizingly on. Wish their directions were ones I found supportable but bad decision compounded upon bad decision is now simply too much to be bothered with."

There have also been questions raised about the bona fides of a supposed not-for-profit organization called Argentina's Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce headed by Mr De Luca and his life and business partner Gustavo Noguera. Questions include allegations made that this Argentinean 'association' holds no regular meetings, has no regular elections for officeholders and in large part functions as a means to channel funds from the Argentina Tourism Ministry into the for-profit businesses run by Mr De Luca and Mr Noguera.

All of which seems rather 'smelly' to the say the least.

With practices like these surrounding Mr De Luca from Argentina, the IGLTA might have been wise to have taken a leaf from the pages of The Economist in this matter and considered whether being governed by a person with such questioned 'form' is a smart move for a travel trade association so completely reliant upon the goodwill of its own members - each of whom pays not insubstantial amounts of money as annual dues.

The members certainly deserve better than the likes of Mr De Luca on the Board. But if any IGLTA members hope they might have significant recourse to the Board on this under the organization's Professional Code of Conduct, sadly Out Now's own experience in this regard suggests they may want to think again.

At a time when the IGLTA really needed to step up to try to recover from its recent UNWTO report fiasco - and following tepid user response to their website redesign - the appointment of Mr De Luca to their Board does not look likely to help them.

Such a shame for IGLTA to find itself keeping what so many appear to consider to be such poor company.

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If you want to get your LGBT marketing and gay travel market research knowledge policies up to speed to include the latest Out Now Global LGBT market research, or learn more about social media and other leading-edge gay marketing strategies, get in touch with the recognized market leaders Out Now.

---------------

Out Now™ has been involved in lesbian and gay marketing research, corporate strategy and LGBT community development since 1992 -- when the company was first established in Australia.

The agency has grown to now include specialist LGBT consultants working with Out Now in markets across the world.

AdWeek referred to one of Out Now's gay advertising campaigns as "the year's most talked about tourism ads." Out Now Consulting is a leading global gay marketing specialist agency, founded in 1992. Clients include Barclays, IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, Visit Britain, Lufthansa and Time Inc. Magazines. Out Now won the "Outstanding Interactive" category in New York at the 'Images in Advertising' awards for an online campaign for their client Lufthansa.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

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To learn how to get lesbian and gay marketing strategy right -- rely on gay marketing expert strategic advice from Out Now -- the leading experienced global strategic gay marketing, research and communications agency.

Helsinki GayComfort Workshops

2012-03-27T11:19:00.027+02:00

Helsinki, Finland played host to a power-packed program of education last week for their local industry - with GayComfort being a central part of two specialist workshops. Delegates discovered from the region's industry experts what is coming next in the world of LGBT tourism marketing.

Gay Market News
March 27, 2012

If you would like Out Now to help you take your marketing to the leading-edge of sales results, please do get in touch.--Topics: GayComfort. SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Love is in the air. Stockholm. Klaus K Hotel. Helsinki, Finland. Hilton Hotel Slussen Stockholm. Darren Cooper. Ian Johnson. LGBT friendly. Gay friendly hotels. Out Now. LGBT marketing. Lesbian and gay tourism. LGBT travel marketing.

Helsinki Gay Friendly Workshops - Industry Leaders Speak in Finland

The past few years has seen a number of new destinations commence LGBT marketing work in an effort to better understand and meet the needs of the lesbian and gay travel markets.

Helsinki in Finland has been one of the standout new entrants in the field. This is largely due to their serious commitment to 'get it right'.

The professionals working at Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau have taken the time and trouble to use the best industry standards in their approach.

GayComfort

Central to the steps taken by Helsinki is to make sure they 'deliver on the promise' their advertising makes to LGBT consumers.

That means making sure that tourism industry staff have the skills they need to understand - and meet - the travel concerns of their gay and lesbian guests.

The industry global standard training course is Out Now's best-in-class GayComfort training - which featured prominently in the presentations of most speakers at the Helsinki Gay Friendly Workshops.

This innovative online training makes sure that staff get past media stereotypes to make sure their empathy and service delivery is well attuned to the tourism needs of their gay customers.

Learning what to say - and what not to say - play important parts in the GayComfort training. Practical advice and a list of strategic Do's and Don'ts help staff to grasp how gay travellers are the same, and how they may differ from other customers.

A knowledge quiz rounds out the training and reinforces the learning of the program.

Delegates in Helsinki undertook a GayComfort Intensive seminar - to workshop various aspects of maximizing service delivery for the gay and lesbian consumer market.

Partners in the program - such as Helsinki - receive their own dedicated page on the program's consumer information site: GayComfort.me.

Industry leadership
The Helsinki tourist industry training workshops took place over two days - 22nd March for local hotels, tourist offices and tourist attractions; and on 23rd March a special GayComfort workshop was presented by Out Now for staff working in the Helsinki Tourist Information Centre.

Regional LGBT marketing tourism industry leaders attended to present on 22 March.

Delegates were welcomed by Hanna Muonivaara, Marketing Manager from Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau - the hosts of the event.

They learned about the ongoing commitment of Helsinki to LGBT marketing and the practical steps taken to ensure the destination builds upon successful foundations established over the past couple of years. (Editor's note: Out Now is responsible for the 2010 'Frontiers' creative marketing LGBT launch campaign for Helsinki, and Helsinki is also a partner destination in the GayComfort program.

The host hotel for the event was Klaus K - a leading member of the Design Hotels group, and one that deserves the name. Owner of the Klaus K - Mia Cederberg-Skvorc - welcomed the event to the hotel, which takes its design inspiration from the Finnish legends contained in the Kalevala stories.

Christina Guggenberger of Stockholm Visitors Board explained how Stockholm has taken a leading role in the development of LGBT tourism during the past several years.

Guggenberger showed how the effective engagement with partners - through the Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network - has proved to be most productive in developing gay and lesbian tourism marketing, and included mention of the highly successful 'Stockholm's Leading Ladies' UK online lesbian marketing campaign of 2011. (Disclosure: Campaign devised for Stockholm Visitors Board by Out Now.)

Hilton Hotel Slussen in Stockholm is one of the GayComfort certified properties (Stockholm is also a GayComfort program destination partner) - and delegates learned from manager Henrik Friskopp how the hotel has succeeded in growing its gay and lesbian market business through an ongoing and consistent approach.

The extremely successful SAS Scandinavian Airlines campaign 'Love Is In The Air' was showcased by its creator and PR Director for SAS - Anders Lindström.

Lindström explained to delegates how a gay male couple from Germany and a lesbian couple from Poland were winners of the first gay and lesbian weddings in the air, which were held over Swedish airspace on a scheduled SAS flight to New York in December 2010.

The 2010 'Love Is In The Air' campaign was the airline's first social media campaign - and it literally redefined what social media means in the LGBT market, with delegates in Helsinki pleased to be able to learn from the campaign's originator how - and why - this campaign proved to be such an enormous success for SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

Darren Cooper - Senior Consultant with Out Now - presented market data for Helsinki from the LGBT2020 research program and Ian Johnson - CEO of Out Now - presented a GayComfort workshop as well as an overview of past LGBT marketing as experienced by his company as a market leader for the past 20 years. Johnson set out for delegates the likely next stages in the tourism industry's ongoing development of leading LGBT marketing globally.

Cooper and Johnson presented at a closed-workshop on 23 March to the staff at the Helsinki Visitor Information Centre on the importance of GayComfort training - and its implications for staff as they put in place global best-practices on LGBT service delivery.

Out Now also filmed new video last week - for the new 2012 creative campaign now being developed to promote and extend Helsinki's impacts, as a truly gay-comfortable and welcoming destination, into key markets globally.

Helsinki looks to be ideally placed to grow its gay and lesbian tourism numbers - and to further expand its reach into the global LGBT market.

-----------------------------------------------------

If you want to get your LGBT marketing and gay travel market research knowledge policies up to speed to include the latest Out Now Global LGBT market research, or learn more about social media and other leading-edge gay marketing strategies, get in touch with the recognized market leaders Out Now.

---------------

Out Now™ has been involved in lesbian and gay marketing research, corporate strategy and LGBT community development since 1992 -- when the company was first established in Australia.

The agency has grown to now include specialist LGBT consultants working with Out Now in markets across the world.

AdWeek referred to one of Out Now's gay advertising campaigns as "the year's most talked about tourism ads." Out Now Consulting is a leading global gay marketing specialist agency, founded in 1992. Clients include Barclays, IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, Visit Britain, Lufthansa and Time Inc. Magazines. Out Now won the "Outstanding Interactive" category in New York at the 'Images in Advertising' awards for an online campaign for their client Lufthansa.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

-------------------
To learn how to get lesbian and gay marketing strategy right -- rely on gay marketing expert strategic advice from Out Now -- the leading experienced global strategic gay marketing, research and communications agency.

American Express LGBT Expo Support

2012-03-26T10:18:00.018+02:00

One of the world's largest companies has announced their support for the most important LGBT marketing event in Latin America - the 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT, being held this September in Cancun, Mexico.

Ian Johnson
March 26, 2012

If you would like Out Now to help you take your marketing to the leading-edge of sales results, please do get in touch.--Topics: American Express. Amex. LatAm. Latin America. Out Now. LGBT marketing. Lesbian and gay tourism. LGBT travel marketing.

American Express Gets Onboard Latin America's Leading LGBT Marketing Event
Marketing to gay and lesbian people is no longer a new phenomenon, but it is still new in a number of regions around the world.

Nowhere is this clearer than in Latin America - where awareness in the LGBT market potential has grown strongly in recent years.

As this LGBT2020 research data from Argentina and also LGBT2020 data from Mexico reveals - this is a market with a strong potential for a broad range of marketers.

The International Expo & Business LGBT is taking place September 6 - 9, 2012 in Cancun, Mexico.

Market leadership
One brand to lead the market in the region is American Express.

The company has a dedicated LGBT microsite and an in-house LGBT resource group that focuses on Latin America. The person who played a large part in establishing this infrastructure at the company has just been announced as the latest speaker at the forthcoming second edition of Latin America's most important LGBT marketing event.

Mr Fernando Velázquez is a Director at American Express responsible for Global Field Effectiveness in Latin America and Global Corporate Payments.

He has a major role within the organization and especially in relation to the company's ongoing outreach in terms of LGBT customers and staff. He has been responsible for developing and implementing commercial strategies at board level, as well as marketing and customer service.

Three years ago, along with a number of fellow-employees from the LGBT community, Velázquez decided to create the LGBT Employee Network at American Express Mexico, which was established in February 2010.

Since then until now, he has been the Network's leader and has overseen the development and implementation of a number of activities to benefit Amex employees within the Network, as well as help assist the ongoing transformation of the workplace and build connections for American Express into the LGBT market.

Mr Velázquez is one of the region's LGBT leaders and joins an impressively growing collection of industry-leading marketers and community members taking part in this years International Expo & Business LGBT.

Speakers are also confirmed from Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau - who have been behind a number of strong LGBT tourism marketing initiatives over the years and Out Now - the world's leading LGBT marketing organization.

Out Now is Premier Sponsor and Cancun OVC (Conventions and Visitors Bureau) and GayComfort are also partners in the event.

Discounts for Early Bird registrations are now open - for delegates, exhibitors and sponsors. Early Bird discounts close March 31, 2012.

-----------------------------------------------------

If you want to get your LGBT marketing and gay travel market research knowledge policies up to speed to include the latest Out Now Global LGBT market research, or learn more about social media and other leading-edge gay marketing strategies, get in touch with the recognized market leaders Out Now.

---------------

Out Now™ has been involved in lesbian and gay marketing research, corporate strategy and LGBT community development since 1992 -- when the company was first established in Australia.

The agency has grown to now include specialist LGBT consultants working with Out Now in markets across the world.

AdWeek referred to one of Out Now's gay advertising campaigns as "the year's most talked about tourism ads." Out Now Consulting is a leading global gay marketing specialist agency, founded in 1992. Clients include Barclays, IBM, Toyota, Citibank, German National Tourist Office, Visit Britain, Lufthansa and Time Inc. Magazines. Out Now won the "Outstanding Interactive" category in New York at the 'Images in Advertising' awards for an online campaign for their client Lufthansa.

"Out Now", "OutNow" and all related words and logos are trademarks of Out Now, Lage Nieuwstraat, 2512 VX Netherlands. All rights reserved - for the world - by Out Now. Any unauthorised use is prohibited.

-------------------
To learn how to get lesbian and gay marketing strategy right -- rely on gay marketing expert strategic advice from Out Now -- the leading experienced global strategic gay marketing, research and communications agency.