Want More Gay Travel Customers? Teach Your Staff How: New Gay Market Training, Accreditation and Marketing Program Helps Staff Better Serve Gay Travel
Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) May 7, 2008 -- The travel industry's leading brands attended the annual convention of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) in Las Vegas last week. These industry leaders learned of the imperative to better train travel industry staff how to understand the key travel concerns of gay and lesbian consumers -- if they want to maximize their returns from targeting the gay market consumer segment.
Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now (http://www.outnowconsulting.com) -- a leading global gay marketing agency established in 1992 -- explained to IGLTA delegates that gay travelers often experience travel differently than other consumers.
"Gays and lesbians want what everyone wants on vacation - to relax and feel comfortable," Johnson said. "But gay and lesbian travelers are often unsure about how individual staff members will treat them during their vacation."
"It can take only one staff member to appear uncomfortable around a gay person for the vacation to be diminished for that guest," Johnson said. "With gay travel now worth hundreds of billions in spend each year globally, staff training is a critical market success factor for the hotels, travel agents and tour operators now actively trying to target the gay travel market."
Out Now presented a detailed workshop at the IGLTA convention on its online training, accreditation and marketing system called GayComfort? (http://www.gaycomfort.com).
This program address the concerns of gay travelers, and the need for staff to better understand those concerns, to build improved gay travel vacation experiences, and increasing gay travel market profits as a result.
Examples presented by Out Now included how staff best handle bookings for double beds by same-sex couples, how to react when a customer reveals they are gay, and how to avoid stereotypes when serving gay consumers.
"GayComfort delivers what the industry needs to help staff members do their jobs better when serving gay guests," Johnson told the IGLTA convention delegates.
"Most travel industry workers are not homophobic - but they do need better information on what to say -- and what not to say -- to make their gay guests really feel they can relax and be themselves when being served by that staff member," according to Johnson. "GayComfort delivers a lot of highly practical information; to empower staff to better understand and meet the travel needs of their gay and lesbian customers. It really is a classic win-win: for the gay traveler, for each staff member and for their employer's bottom line."
475 delegates attended the IGLTA (http://www.iglta.org) convention last week in Las Vegas, with many of the world's largest brands represented there such as Accor Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Marriott, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and the Intercontinental Hotels Group. Tourism offices and a range of other travel related businesses also attended the convention from April 30 - May 4.
One of the world's leading tour operators -- Air Canada Vacations -- announced during the IGLTA convention that it has formed a new partnership with the GayComfort program. Armando Mendonca, Director, Product Development, said his company is to promote GayComfort? training to hundreds of its partner hotels.
"Air Canada Vacations is very pleased we can enhance the high quality offerings of our partner hotels by working with Out Now's GayComfort training," Mendonca said. "Better service makes for better business, and we are confident that this is a win-win for all concerned with this program. Most importantly, by improving the consumer's experience through GayComfort, we believe our properties will be rewarded with improved gay market business and consumer loyalty over time."
Berlin Tourism Marketing was also announced as a Platinum Partner in the GayComfort? program.
Leading gay media products globally are involved in the rollout of this initiative - promoting better training, accreditation and marketing opportunities for the industry to improve service delivery to, and increase profits from, the multi-billion value global gay travel segment.
Media brands such as GT, DIVA, PInk Paper, AXM (UK); GCN (Ireland); PinkGuide.com, LOTL (Australia); Wrapped (South Africa) and Tetu (France) are amongst the global network of gay media partners which inform gay travelers where they can stay at GayComfort accredited properties.
Clark Massad, Advertising Director, Têtu, Paris, France said his publication thought GayComfort was an important development in the continuing growth of the gay travel market.
"Têtu is the leading publication for the francophone community worldwide and has helped pave the way for a greater acceptance and understanding of gays and lesbians throughout France," Massad said. "We are pleased to be partnering with GayComfort, paving the way in the development of a positive gay travel experience, enabling lesbian and gay travelers to enjoy the freedom to relax and just be themselves when on vacation."
Tom Nibbio, Global Ambassador of IGLTA, responsible for the association's worldwide membership and sponsorship growth, said the new GayComfort? training program meets a strong market need.
"With literally billions in gay tourism dollars, euro and pounds up for grabs each year, it seems likely this product should find an industry ready and willing to learn how to improve the ways it delivers customer service to the gay travel segment," Nibbio said. "This is history-in-the-making for our gay tourism industry."
ABOUT IGLTA AND OUT NOW:
Out Now works globally and was established in 1992. They are a gay market agency developing specialized strategic programs and services to help businesses more effectively understand and reach the gay and lesbian market. One of their core philosophies is stressing that gay and lesbian people are extremely diverse and should be marketed to as such, not in a homogenous way. More information is at www.OutNowconsulting.com.
IGLTA is the world's leading authority, resource and representative of gay and lesbian travel. Membership is in 55 countries around the world and consists of accommodations, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, tourism offices and other key players in the tourism industry. IGLTA works to help the tourism industry attract gay and lesbian consumers and learn more about the gay and lesbian market. For more information visit www.iglta.org.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ian Johnson, CEO, Out Now
Tel: +1-310-878 4878 or +61-(0)2-8003 5253 or +44-(0)20-8123 5288
info(at)outnowconsulting.com
Out Now (http://www.OutNowconsulting.com)
GayComfort (http://www.GayComfort.com)
YouTube.com/GayComfort (http://www.YouTube.com/GayComfort)
Gay Market News (http://www.GayMarketNews.com)
YouTube.com/GayMarketing (http://www.YouTube.com/GayMarketing)
Tom Nibbio, IGLTA Global Ambassador
Tel: +1 (815) 621-6464
Tom(at)IGLTA.org
IGLTA (http://www.iglta.org)
GayComfort? is a trademark of Out Now.
###
Related Articles:
Affinity Group, Inc. and MyTripJournal.com Announce Expansion of Personal Travel Website service
Affinity Group, Inc. of Ventura, CA and MyTripJournal Technologies Inc. of Vancouver, BC, Canada announced today the expansion of custom-branded travel journaling service to customers and visitors of AGI's websites serving the RV community in North America.
Tips and Advice About Do-it-yourself Travel in Tanzania
Having answered the question yes, I must also add that to take care and use your common sense is necessary.From the last two weeks in July through August and into September is madness in East Africa.
Essen Travel's New Feature, the Point and Click map, Lets Travelers Locate Fort Worth Hotels for Their Travel in the State of Texas
Essen Travel now has a new feature that lets you search for Fort Worth Hotels when traveling in Texas. The point and click map is ideal for finding hotels throughout the world, reducing the amount of time you spend making travel plans.
The Benefits Of Holiday Travel Insurance
Tourism is a growing industry worldwide. So are undesirable things like terrorism, flight crashes, accidents, wars, disease, natural calamities etc. Any experienced traveler can tell you that travel is full of uncertainties. But it is not possible to sit at home afraid of calamities. Holiday travel insurance is one way of mitigating the financial risk of such unforeseen events or calamities.
Adventure Travel Fused with Wellness: A Fresh Take on a Unique Costa Rica Vacation
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica created a yoga & massage residence program of world-class yoga instructors & massage therapists, in order to offer guests a fusion of wellness programs with Nicuesa's signature Rainforest Multisport Adventure vacation experience.
New Pelican Computer Cases Make Airline Travel Safe for Apple Computers
Apple computer cases, computer carrying cases prevent travel-related damage due to shock, vibration, temperature fluctuation, water, humidity and dust, and roll across airports with ease
Mike Webb Affiliates his Travel Agency with America's Vacation Center, a Member of the American Express Travel Representative Network
Mike Webb announced that he has affiliated his travel agency, Insider Cruising, with America's Vacation Center. They are a member of the American Express Travel Representative Network.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness In Minnesota - A Great Vacation And Travel Destination
An absolutely amazing vacation destination in Minnesota is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. There are amazing physical features, like gouged rock, that have been carved into the land from huge glaciers that once existed in the area. The glaciers created canyons, cliffs, hills, crags, huge rock formations, beaches, rocky shores, and thousands of lakes and streams as well as islands and lots of trees. This area is wilderness at its best and it is so peaceful and beautiful that anyone who has the opportunity should stop by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota.
Thinking Of Travel To China?
Today sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.
Travel Media 2008 Editorial Calendars Compilation Published
A compilation of 2008 editorial calendars of 187 travel media is available now from Scott American Corporation. The compilation includes trade and consumer magazines covering travel as well as travel sections of major newspapers from around the World.
Improvements In Video Security: A Proactive Approach Towards Safer Travel
Video security is as much a part of airports as planes and runways. It is unthinkable for an airport - any airport - not to have video security. In fact, in the wake of the events of 9/11, the video security of airports have undergone remarkable transformations.
Find Your Travel Style: Group Tour Or Private Tour?
It is not always about money you may have sufficient funds to afford either but one of them would suit you more. And it is not always about your general style or preferences as travel style is totally different. Many positive people may turn to be unbearable fellows while traveling only because they have chosen the wrong style.
Executive Travel: It's Not All about the Clothes
There are definitely far more items a businessman could carry more than his own bag of clothes. More importantly, there are tools to help you be in contact with clients and staff at the office, even if you have other things to do such as bask in the sun at the beach or do shopping. Exhausted of bringing around a laptop? Choose one of these pocket friendly tools that are simply powerful as your laptop.
American Express Travel's Top Destination: Florida
Often called the Sunshine State, Florida?s state identity could be more accurately called the Tourist State. Centered in tourism with big attractions like the Everglades National Park, chic South Beach, and family friendly Disney World, Florida has a created a name for itself within the travel sector. Florida offers so much more than meets the eye and offers one of the amazingly vast arrays of vacation choices in the entire world. American Express Vacations is one of the few travel operators who offers packages, which hit most of the state?s attractions.
A Review Of Airline Tickets & Travel
Airline travel is not as pleasant as it used to be!