Toronto is hosting approximately 500 delegates this week, representing 39 countries, for the IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association) 35th Annual Global Convention, the world’s premier educational and networking event for LGBTQ tourism professionals.

Founded in 1983, IGLTA is the world's leading network of LGBTQ-welcoming tourism businesses, providing travel resources and information for consumers and businesses while continuously working to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ tourism worldwide. IGLTA’s members include LGBTQ-friendly accommodations, transport, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media, in over 75 countries.

The theme of the convention, being held at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, is ‘Together’ with the convention offering travel and tourism industry professionals focused on the LGBTQ travel market a series of panel discussions, education sessions, networking events, and other opportunities to travel, learn and connect.

“Together we are stronger, and the connections we form through face-to-face quality time remain the most effective way to evolve as a tourism community, and as a powerful market.” said John Tanzella, president and CEO of IGLTA.

In his opening remarks, Tanzella celebrated IGLTA’s 35-year history, telling the audience how the organisation has grown from just 25 members when it was formed in Florida in 1983, to over 1,000 member businesses and 7,000 people around the world, making IGLTA the leading LGBTQ tourism organisation in the world.

A combination of general sessions and workshops are taking place over the course of the convention, covering topics including How to Market Your Destination to the LGBTQ Market, LGBTQ Tourism Trends, Selling Mainstream Travel to LGBTQ Travellers, and The Intersection of Human Rights and Tourism.

Thomas Roth and David Paisley of CMI Community Marketing & Insights, presented two sessions, one of which focused on the findings of their recent 2018 LGBTQ Tourism & Hospitality Survey for Canadian Travellers which includes valuable insights on the travel patterns and intentions of Canada’s LGBTQ community. The survey of over 2,100 LGBTQ Canadians, estimates that the LGBTQ travel market in Canada is worth a whopping $4.5 billion ($5.74 billion Cdn).

Other noteworthy parts of the survey indicate that although LGBTQ Canadians travel slightly less frequently than our US counterparts, we tend to travel for longer periods, staying longer in the destination. And although many of us may believe that the LGBTQ traveller is solely focused on luxury travel, CMI’s survey shows that there’s also a sizeable number of LGBTQ travellers who are focused on budget and moderately priced travel as well.

As for travel to the US for Canadian travellers, it’s no surprise that the US President, and the policies of the current administration, were cited by 59 per cent of respondents as to why they don’t plan to travel to the US in the next two years, followed by 33 per cent saying they don’t feel welcome there as an LGBTQ person, far higher than typical reasons such as the Canada/US exchange rate.

There’s more from TravelPulse Canada coming from this year’s conference over the next couple of days.

Next year’s conference, set for April 25-27, 2019, will be held in New York City, which, in addition to hosting World Pride 2019, will also be honouring the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, one of the key events leading to the gay liberation movement and the fight for LGBTQ rights in the US.

For more information on IGLTA, including Destination Information, LGBTQ tours, events, including their International Gay Pride calendar, and how to become a member, visit their website.