Published on : Thursday, May 15, 2014
World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, has announced an increased focus on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) tourism market through strengthening the strategic partnership with the world’s leading specialist LGBT consulting firm, Out Now.
The move follows initial collaboration on themed exhibitor space during 2012 and 2013 for LGBT tourism at WTM events, coordinated by Out Now through its B2B networking program Out Now Business Class – which in 2013 became the world’s largest LGBT travel trade association.
In 2014 the ‘ONBC Official LGBT Village’ returns for the third consecutive year to WTM, with similar LGBT Villages scheduled for WTM Latin America and WTM Africa in 2015.
Many industry-leading exhibitors participated in the Out Now Business Class ONBC Official LGBT Village at WTM during 2012 and 2013, including: Visit Mexico, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, visitBerlin, Antwerp Tourism & Congress, Stockholm Visitors Board, Leemba Travel, Yucatan Holidays, Visit Helsinki, World Outgames, GT Gay Times, DIVA magazine, Millivres Prowler and Out Now Global. LGBT Confex – a past exhibitor and Latin America’s leading LGBT business events provider – will be a supporting sponsor of this year’s ONBC Official LGBT Village in WTM London.
Out Now also brings additional value through its consumer-facing certification brand OutNow.travel into the WTM partnership, providing additional valuable benefits to exhibitors, delegates and LGBT consumers.
LGBT tourism globally has been valued at USD$202billion during 2014, based on 2013 expenditures as measured by the world’s largest LGBT research study LGBT2020.
ONBC and OutNow.travel resources for companies and destinations participating in WTM events now include: ONBC official LGBT Village exhibitor space, education seminars, online staff training, complimentary ONBC annual membership and member access to the LGBT2020 study and listing of certified locations into the leading global certification resource – the OutNow.travel online LGBT consumer portal.
The new partnership allows these companies to tap into global networking opportunities offered by WTM, leveraged by the targeted and valuable suite of resources delivered by ONBC to reach LGBT consumers worldwide.
Latest findings from LGBT2020 study reveal just how crucial accurate market insights have become for those interested in improving their performance within the valuable LGBT tourism market. For example, new findings from this industry-leading research program revealed in 2014 that the local situation for LGBT people can now play a decision-influencing role on where LGBT people will choose to spend their holidays. More than two thirds of USA respondents (67%) to the 2014 sample in the LGBT2020 study indicated the legal situation in a particular destination influenced their travel plans to either a great extent, or a moderate extent.
Out Now will present latest findings of the LGBT2020 study during this year’s LGBT Marketing Masterclass resources at World Travel Market 2014 on Wednesday November 5 at 10.30am.
World Travel Market, Senior Director, Simon Press said: “As our relationship with Out Now has evolved over the last 10 years, so have the resources available for those looking to learn and successfully build their business within the LGBT tourism sector. This new partnership with ONBC and OutNow.travel will help the industry, our delegates – and most importantly the LGBT customer group globally. We are delighted to bring these strategic advantages to market through this partnership with Out Now.”
Darren Cooper, Senior Consultant at Out Now, said: “This strengthened strategic partnership between WTM and Out Now builds on the developments of the last decade. We are delighted to provide the most comprehensive and extensive LGBT tourism education and exhibitor curriculum available globally. The LGBT Village from ONBC has proved to be the place for businesses wanting to connect with LGBT consumers to network and find the strategic partners that lead to lasting market success in the LGBT travel market.”
Source:- WTM
Tags: WTM
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