As the LGBTQ travel segment continues to evolve and flourish, Community Marketing & Insights (CMI), producers of the annual LGBTQ Tourism Forum, has partnered with Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for destination organizations, to expand professional development and educational access to the tourism industry.
The LGBTQ segment currently spends an estimated US $100 billion on travel and tourism each year, in the USA alone. While many travel and tourism entities have marketed to the LGBTQ community for years, others have not yet, or are just getting started.
This new collaboration with Destinations International brings an entirely new audience into the LGBTQ tourism education field. The collaboration has two educational elements that will help the tourism industry gain greater insight into understanding and marketing to the ever increasingly important LGBTQ community:
Destinations International Annual Convention
CMI will develop and present LGBTQ tourism marketing and best practices training each day at Destinations International’s Annual Convention in Anaheim, CA, July 11-13, 2018.
- July 11: 22nd Annual CMI LGBTQ Tourism Survey Report – How to Connect with LGBTQ Travelers: Research, Best Practices, Case Studies – a research-focused overview of the market, including trends and practical marketing takeaways.
- July 12: Best Practices in LGBTQ Destination Marketing – A deep dive into internal diversity training topics working with hotels and attractions, a review of key marketing channels (print, web, mobile, PR, sponsorships, etc.).
- July 13: Case Studies in LGBTQ Destination Marketing – Presenting CVB/destination organization panelists highlighting how they determined the validity of the LGBTQ market, how they overcame any internal / external challenges, a look at their marketing playbooks (advertising and communications images, messages, etc.).
CMI’s 19th Annual LGBTQ Tourism Forum
Destinations International will become a presenting sponsor of CMI’s 19th Annual LGBTQ Tourism Forum in Fort Lauderdale, December 2-4, 2018.
“Partnering with Destinations International is an exciting opportunity to expand our reach in educating the tourism industry about the LGBTQ community,” said Thomas Roth, CMI’s President. “For 19 years, the LGBTQ Tourism Forum has been the place to become fully updated about this increasingly important market segment. It’s also a more personal approach to a conference, where attendees actually meet and interact with others who can partner and collaborate on the destination’s outreach success.”
“We’re thrilled about our collaboration with CMI’s LGBTQ Tourism Forum. It demonstrates our commitment to diversity, and brings new growth opportunities to our membership,” said Colleen Phalen, Destination International’s Executive Vice President, Program Development & Meetings. “Our educational partnership is a reflection of the evolution of LGBTQ travel.”
“Destinations everywhere in the world, large and small, are now engaged in attracting LGBTQ tourism, meetings and events. We want to provide them with the tools they need to be successful in their approach, and support the interests of emerging destinations for LGBTQ travelers,” added Phalen.
CMI has a history of maintaining long-term, mutually beneficial educational partnerships, including the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), where CMI’s leadership present the latest in LGBTQ market research and trends.
To learn more about Community Marketing & Insights or Destinations International and their upcoming conferences, please visit www.communitymarketinginc.com and www.destinationsinternational.org.