A new milestone in our shared mission to make travel more inclusive, respectful and trusted for LGBTQ+ travellers, teams and communities.

Queer Destinations is proud to recognise HBX Group with the Queer Destinations Committed distinction, marking an important step forward in our shared work to build a more inclusive travel ecosystem.

The distinction recognises HBX Group’s commitment to strengthening LGBTQ+ inclusion through awareness, education and service excellence across its teams and partner network. As part of this process, HBX Group rolled out a dedicated employee training programme focused on LGBTQ+ awareness, understanding and inclusive service standards, reaching close to 90% participation across the organisation.

For Queer Destinations, this milestone represents more than a recognition. It reflects a growing shift within the travel industry: inclusion can no longer be treated as a statement of intent. It must be embedded into the way organisations work, train their teams, support their partners and welcome travellers.

Turning inclusion into everyday practice

The Queer Destinations Committed programme recognises destinations, companies and organisations that actively work to create safer, more respectful and more trusted environments for LGBTQ+ people.

This includes travellers, employees, partners and local communities.

Through training, awareness and practical knowledge, the programme helps teams understand the needs and expectations of LGBTQ+ people and apply inclusive standards consistently across the travel experience.

In the case of HBX Group, the high level of employee participation reflects a strong internal commitment to making inclusion part of everyday business practice.

“The future of tourism depends on our ability to understand new generations and adapt to evolving market necessities. Companies and destinations that fail to welcome all types of travellers risk facing reputational challenges that can directly impact their image and credibility. This milestone is not only a step forward for the industry; it also reinforces HBX Group’s leadership in attracting new markets through a more diverse, inclusive and forward-thinking vision of tourism.” – Edgar Weggelaar, CEO at Queer Destinations 

Strengthening a strategic alliance 

The distinction also marks a natural next step in the strategic alliance between Queer Destinations and HBX Group.

This collaboration has already led to the launch of a first-of-its-kind conscious online travel platform, designed to transform how LGBTQ+ travellers discover, choose and connect with destinations and businesses around the world.

By bringing the Queer Destinations Committed vision closer to HBX Group’s teams and partner network, both organisations are laying the groundwork for deeper collaboration across the wider travel ecosystem.

Together, Queer Destinations and HBX Group are working to connect inclusion, technology, distribution and trust, helping the industry respond to the expectations of a new generation of travellers.

A Pride Month milestone with long-term meaning

Announced during Pride Month, this recognition is a timely reminder that visibility matters, but visibility alone is not enough.

More inclusive travel requires education, accountability and action across the entire value chain. It requires companies, destinations and partners to understand that LGBTQ+ travellers are not only looking for places to visit. They are looking for places where they can feel respected, understood and welcomed.

HBX Group’s Queer Destinations Committed distinction is a meaningful step in that direction.

At Queer Destinations, we believe the future of travel must be more conscious, more inclusive and more human. This milestone shows what can happen when organisations turn that belief into action.