On Location IGLTA Annual Convention: Lots To Learn

Friday, 25 June 2010

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De Witte Lelie welcomes its guests with a classically beautiful Flemish facade

Workshops And Presentations To Better Serve LGBT Travellers

Another busy day at the IGLTA annual global convention saw a number of educational workshops take place. Ms Mya Reyes of Las Vegas Convention And Visitors Bureau gave an interesting presentation for straight people working in the tourism industry who wish to make inroads into the diverse gay and lesbian market. One of the most important point she made was that gay men and lesbians merit their own advertising and editorial as their travel habits and choices are quite different from each other. It was also notable that advertising campaigns aimed at LGBT travellers need not always feature yet another half-naked man; indeed, sophisticated, cashed up LGBT travellers may well respond better to cleverness than overt sexuality. Despite the stereotype, most gay and lesbian travellers do not have sex as their primary motivation for a holiday.

Javier Blanco, an official from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, presented several salient points about gay and lesbian travel. UNWTO has more than 400 affiliated members from 78 countries; most of these are private-sector businesses in travel and tourism. UNWTO presents a forum for discussion of travel topics among its members and disseminates pertinent information about trends in the industry. Current trends? Outdoorsy natural escapes from urban living are gaining in popularity as LGBT travellers place more importance on environmental and social responsibility when on holiday, especially in lesser-developed countries.

Dominique Persoone, Belgium's most creative chocolatier

One of the event's most moving moments came at its inaugural IGLTA Honor Awards, when Madian al Jazerah from Amman, Jordan was presented with the Pioneer award for his tireless endeavours to provide a social centre and safe haven for LGBT people in Jordan, a country where open homosexuality is not an easy choice.

It is with great sadness that I must leave my refuge from the busyness of the convention; De Witte Lelie www.slh.com/dewittelelie is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, an apt description of the property where a walk through its big, white door is a walk into a world of peaceful comfort in a homelike atmosphere. Helpful staff are always available to assist with simple tasks like dinner reservations or onward travel plans. De Witte Lelie's GDS code is LX and reservations can also be made by calling the relevant call centre: http://www.slh.com/reservationnumbers.html.

Mya Reyes of Las Vegas CVA gave an inspiring presentation

Some of the sadness was mollified by a sampling of chocolate from Antwerp's leading chocoboutique, The Chocolate Line, which is the domain of celebrated Belgian chef Dominique Persoone. Dominique's chocolate combinations are among the world's most unusual and have even chocolate non-lovers rethinking their attitudes toward the food of the gods. Dominique even makes a chocolate mousse lighter than air; infused with helium, his clouds of chocolate hover in midair and can be eaten as they float in front of your eyes.