International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) partners with GALTA & Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
On 7 October 2014, the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) announced its new two-year partnerships with Gay and Lesbian Tourism Australia and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. By joining forces with the country’s top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender tourism organization and its world-famous LGBT event, IGLTA can better fulfil its commitment to promoting global LGBT tourism.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association is the leading member-based global organisation dedicated to LGBT tourism and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. In 2013, the association signed on to ECPAT’s Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct to prevent child exploitation. The association’s membership includes LGBT and LGBT-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in more than 75 countries.
“Australia is a key destination for LGBT travellers worldwide, but our outreach in the country didn’t appropriately reflect that,” IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said. “A formal partnership with these two important organisations will assist our members in promoting the great destinations and events there, and help GALTA and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras better connect with the global tourism market.”
GALTA is a national group of more than 240 tourism professionals dedicated to LGBT travel throughout Australia. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a community-based organisation that produces the legendary gay and lesbian festival in February and March each year. IGLTA has tourism business members in more than 75 countries. The three organisations will cross-promote their members and activities throughout their extensive networks.
“We are proud to join with IGLTA in a strategic partnership that will allow us to showcase our growing Australia-wide membership of gay-welcoming tourism providers to the world,” GALTA President Rod Stringer said. “These are exciting times and while general tourism in Australia has somewhat stagnated, the potential to grow the LGBT inbound travellers to Australia is perfectly timed, especially with the lower Australian dollar making us a more attractive destination.”
As part of the agreement, IGLTA member buyers also will receive commissions for selling Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
“We are delighted to take our partnership from a presence at the IGLTA Annual Global Convention to a whole new level,” Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Michael Rolik said. “Mardi Gras attracts over 30,000 visitors and with the lower Australian dollar we expect this number to increase in 2015. This partnership will provide opportunities for IGLTA members to tap into this growth in visitation and leverage our commissionable tickets scheme.”
