During the recent LGBT Confex, a travel, tourism and business convention and expo that brought hundreds of travel industry insiders to the CasaMagna Marriott hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I was invited to give a presentation about trends in marketing that I called “Stop Thinking Gay! 8 Ways to Market to Today’s LGBT Traveler.”
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DON’T MISS: Top 5 Gay Travel & Vacation Destinations in Latin America
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My presentation at the LGBT Confex event was an expansion of an earlier presentation I made during the New York Travel Festival, and allowed me to include a bunch of new information and case studies from Latin America, where the gay travel market is expanding in many destinations. In the video of the presentation (click this link or watch above) at Puerto Vallarta, you can see I highlighted the best ways for travel and tourism organizations to target LGBT travelers, as well as some examples of the companies and organizations that do it best (you won’t want to miss the hilarious commercial for Las Vegas!).
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DON’T MISS: Why Gay Travel is Great for Straight People
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I also noted the destinations in Latin America that I think have the biggest potential for growth as gay travel hotspots. Last year, I named the Top 5 Gay Travel & Vacation Destinations in Latin America. But this updated list includes several places that I think you’ll find on even more travelers’ itineraries.
Latin America Destinations with Potential for Growth as LGBT Gay Vacation Hotspots
Some of the destinations below are already big favorites for LGBT travelers. Others are lesser known but have big reasons why they should be more popular with this segment of globetrotters (click on bold names for links to more travel tips).
1. Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara)
WHY: Gay-friendly destinations here have good infrastructure and already enjoy good reputations with many travelers. Mexico City was the first large city in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, while Puerto Vallarta enjoys a long-standing popularity with gay male travelers.
2. Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Florianopolis)
WHY: Legalized same-sex marriage, increased awareness among travelers overall thanks to 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. Rio de Janeiro is legendary for its international allure, world-famous attractions and glowing beaches.
3. Argentina (Buenos Aires)
WHY: Argentina got a big boost when it became the first Latin American nation to legalize ams-sex marriage nationwide; plus, Buenos Aires has long enjoyed a great reputation with gay travelers, thanks to its sophisticated offerings.
4. Colombia (Bogotá, Cartagena)
WHY: An overall gay-friendly environment in sophisticated Bogotá and beautifully restored Cartagena, as well as increased safety and overall investment in tourism infrastructure, makes this Colombia a destination to watch.
5. Uruguay (Montevideo, Punta del Este)
WHY: Legalized same-sex marriage and other recent liberal legislation helps to prove this small nation’s progressiveness, while the sunny shores of Punta del Este showcase its allure for sun worshippers.
6. Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
WHY: These sun-soaked destinations have lots to attract LGBT travelers. In 2013, W Retreat & Spa on Vieques Island, in Puerto Rico, launched a partnership with wedding planner Bernadette Coveney Smith, founder of 14 Stories. Together, they offer same-sex destination-wedding packages — even though same-sex marriages are not legal there (yet). Puerto Rico also hosts a lively gay pride parade and celebration (click to see photos from this year’s parade in San Juan).