LGBTQ travelers prefer Fort Lauderdale and 1.5 billion in revenue plus an eTN award shows

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Ft. Lauderdale has always been a leader in the LGBT travel space but this year they hosted a same-sex marriage event (after it was legalized in FL but before it was legal across the USA).

Ft. Lauderdale has always been a leader in the LGBT travel space but this year they hosted a same-sex marriage event (after it was legalized in FL but before it was legal across the USA). And they pay special attention to an underserved segment, the Transgender traveler.

Ed Salvato wrote this to eTN nominating Richard Gray and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau to receive the eTN Honest Travel award.

Ed is the co-founder and editor in chief of ManAboutWorld, an immersive tablet-based digital publication with meticulously researched and written articles; video; audio; and gorgeous high-resolution images.

Ed said: “I’ve spent the last 16 years in the world of LGBT travel and tourism and have visited hundreds of hotels, over 75 countries and six continents.

โ€œFt. Lauderdale has always been a leader in the LGBT travel space but last year they hosted a same-sex marriage event (after it was legalized in Florida but before it was legal across the USA). And they pay special attention to an underserved segment, the Transgender traveler. Richard has been key to the new emphasis on Transgender travel.”

“Greater Fort Lauderdale began rolling out the rainbow carpet to LGBTQ travelers in 1995 and we havenโ€™t looked back. With approximately 1.5 million LGBTQ travelers spending $1.5 billion a year, we continue to proudly welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers, events, meetings, businesses and conferences,โ€ said Richard Gray, managing director for the LGBTQ market at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

eTN Publisher Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “I could not agree more with Ed. The eTN Honest Travel Award is well deserved for both Richard Gray and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Fort Lauderdale. It started with an idea by Richard and ended up to be a billion Dollar Industry for this South Florida city.

“The recently concluded LGBT and Hospitality Conference was just concluded and is a good witness to the attitude of Fort Lauderdale Tourism.

“We’re proud to hand our Honest Travel Award and add Richard and Ft. Lauderdale to THE LIST.”

“What an amazing honor. We are proud of our diversity and welcome ALL visitors with open arms,โ€ said Nicki E. Grossman, president and CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

FLL1 | eTurboNews | eTN

Fll2 | eTurboNews | eTN

GaySurfboard MermaidHorz | eTurboNews | eTN

The Honest Travel Awards: is not about rating how โ€œluxuriousโ€ something is. It is more about how much something is appreciated or different.

About the author

Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1977).
He founded eTurboNews in 1999 as the first online newsletter for the global travel tourism industry.

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