• After the work to raise awareness in destinations such as Los Cabos or CDMX, Mexico is confirmed as a benchmark for LGBTQ+ tourism with the commitment of MTG as the first Queer Destinations Committed holding company in the country.

• The group will begin to train its teams for the correct attention to the LGBTQ+ segment, which could translate into up to 180 million travelers.

June 16, 2023. – Mexico Travel Group will become the first tourist holding company in the country to start its journey to obtain the ‘Queer Destinations Committed’ distinction. With this, all companies belonging to the group will affirm their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and the safety and comfort of queer travelers.

Queer Destinations Committed is an internationally recognized by IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Tourism Association) distinction, whose objective is to help companies and destinations in the tourism sector to train and prepare for the optimal reception of LGBTQ+ travelers; a segment that, according to data from Out Now Consulting, could materialize in a market of up to 218 billion dollars a year, with, according to the World Tourism Organization, 180 million travelers. MTG will obtain the distinction once all the workers and collaborators of the holding have gone through a process of awareness and training through the educational program ‘Hospitality Meets Diversity’, which will help the teams to break prejudices and teach them about the history, realities, consumption habits and needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

With this, Mexico reaffirms its position as a leader and benchmark in tourism adapted to diversity after having worked with Queer Destinations in destinations such as Los Cabos or Mexico City. Now, with MTG and its various companies, the work for inclusion reaches the receptive tourism company, technological and experiential with a group that transports more than 400,000 tourists a year. Examples of these companies are Gray Line (with more than 100 years of experience in tourism activities and presence in Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta) or Mexico Travel Solutions (with a team of more than 180 collaborators specialized in incoming tourism services in Cancun, Riviera Maya and Cozumel). Also noteworthy is the incursion of diversity work in the cruise sector, with which MTG works in the destinations of Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos (two of the most important cruise destinations in Mexico). In 2022, Gray Line Puerto Vallarta served more than 6,000 cruise passengers.

Rodrigo Esponda, Managing director of Los Cabos Tourism Board, commented: “In Los Cabos, we value and welcome the LGBTQ+ traveler community. With 18% of our visitors identifying as LGBTQ+, we take pride in offering world class cultural, culinary, nature and adventure experiences, all supported by exceptional service. Our destination celebrates diversity and strives to create an inclusive environment where all travelers feel safe, included, respected and free to enjoy everything Los Cabos has to offer. We invite you to discover and create unforgettable memories”.

Edgar Weggelaar, CEO of Queer Destinations, highlighted the relevance of this collaboration, as it is “the first global firm that is committed to offering a safe space to the LGBTQ+ segment”: “MTG is a benchmark in terms of tours, activities and transfers , and this work to welcome the queer public will be aligned with the needs of the destinations, some of them, like Los Cabos, already distinguished as ‘Queer Destinations Committed’”.

Nuria Flores, Commercial and Marketing Director of MTG, commented: “We are proud to materialize this alliance at the corporate level with Queer Destinations. At Mexico Travel Group, we are excited to have a training and awareness program that helps us understand, celebrate and make the LGBTQ+ community feel welcome and included when traveling in Mexico, offering a value chain from start to finish with respect and as a safe space for the community”.

Queer Destinations is the leading company in the LGBTQ+ segment internationally and an affiliate member of IGLTA. Through educational awareness programs and specialized travel experience consultancies, Queer Destinations serves as the bridge that unites governments, destinations, and international companies with LGBTQ+ customers around the world. It currently has a presence in Mexico, Germany, Colombia, the United States, Panama, Costa Rica, UK, Belgium, The Netherlands and Spain.