'I Love Cancun' pride parade inspires positive change
IGLTA    Share   
Local IGLTA members joined forces for the first time in the organization of Cancun's gay pride parade this month. The eighth annual parade, the largest to date, was designed to show the citizens and government of Cancun that the LGBT community could bring a positive change to the region. Cultural events opened the festivities, with IGLTA's Mexican Ambassador Ron Kuijpers joining Cancun officials in a discussion about equality, LGBT tourism, and same-sex marriage for Quintana Roo state. At the closing ceremonies, the Cancun tourism bureau announced its intention to develop an LGBT office. Pictures from the festivities can be viewed on our Facebook page.

IGLTA welcomes first ambassador to Chile
IGLTA    Share   
Serbian-born Oliver Stevanovic has had a strong affection for Latin American culture since his youth. After living in Mexico, Costa Rica and Argentina, Oliver decided to settle in Chile and set up the first LGBT travel agency in the country. He's now based in Santiago where he's president of the Orpheus Travel Corporation Group. We're proud to welcome him as our new ambassador to Chile. Contact him at Chile@iglta.org.

Member benefits
IGLTA    Share   
Check out our upcoming brochure distribution and booth share opportunities open only to IGLTA members:

• SPECIAL RATE — ASTA's The Trade Show: 11-13 September in Las Vegas, USA. ASTA's Travel Retailing & Destination Expo provides quality travel agents the opportunity to develop their professional career.
• International French Travel Market: 20-23 September in Paris. IFTM Top Resa is France's international travel and tourism trade fair. The industry's leading event for networking, doing business, innovating and keeping abreast of market developments, the exhibition offers a 360° panorama of the travel industry, covering all sectors: leisure, business and events.

After gay marriage, the check-in dance
The New York Times    Share   
New York's first gay newlyweds are about to engage in a time-honored ritual: the honeymoon. More

LGBT travel industry experts reveal same-sex honeymoon travel tips
PRWeb via San Francisco Chronicle    Share   
Travelhoppers, a new site dedicated to providing free travel planning resources coupled with travel expert insight and advice, has revealed the top travel tips for same-sex couples looking to flawlessly plan their perfect honeymoon or romantic vacation this summer or fall. More

Norway travel firms react to extremist's attack that killed 93
Travel Pulse    Share   
As the Norwegian government continues to assess the impact of the largest domestic terrorism incident in its history, travel companies also react. More

Vancouver to host North American Outgames
Vancouver Sun    Share   
When Vancouver hosts the 2011 North American Outgames this month, there is one qualification for competition that won't be required. "We won't be checking anyone's gay card at the door," event chair John Boychuk said. More

J.D. Power study finds overall decline in hotel guest satisfaction
Travel Pulse    Share   
Hotel guest satisfaction with costs and fees has improved despite higher room rates, while satisfaction with other service and product-related aspects has declined amid increasing occupancy rates, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. More

Can Nepal sell itself as a gay wedding destination?
Time    Share   
Organizing a wedding at a Hindu temple is nothing unusual in Nepal. Most Nepalis, the majority of whom are Hindu, opt for a traditional ceremony in one of the country's thousands of places of worship, believing that it sanctifies a couple's bond. More

Greek tourism industry sees rebound despite clashes
Reuters    Share   
Clashes between hooded youths and police in Athens recently have dented Greece's image, but tourism officials say this should not stop the hard-hit sector rebounding this year. More

Jim Gladstone: A voice from Cairo
Passport Magazine    Share   
Last August, in the midst of a three-continent itinerary fueled by frequent flier miles and the hospitality of far-flung friends, I found myself with a 26-hour layover in Cairo. From the moment I arrived, I felt the grip of globalization on Africa's largest metropolis. More