• Queer Destinations Committed is an international accreditation for companies and destinations endorsed by the International LGBTQ+ Tourism Association (IGLTA).
• Queer Destinations brings together Turespaña, IGLTA, CETT-Universitat de Barcelona and Shangay magazine in the only LGBTQ+ tourism panel during Madrid Pride.

Madrid, Monday, July 18, 2022. Queer Destinations, an international firm specializing in LGBTQ+ tourism training and consulting, has presented the first international seal of approval for LGBTQ+ hospitality for the tourism sector at the Radio Rooftop at ME Madrid. “Raising awareness, training, and specializing in LGBTQ+ tourism is an international need for companies, countries and destinations,” said the Founder and CEO of Queer Destinations, Oriol Pàmies, as part of Madrid Pride’s only LGBTQ+ tourism panel.

“The distinctive, Queer Destinations Committed, is a seal of quality in LGBTQ+ matters for the tourism sector endorsed by the International LGBTQ+ Tourism Association (IGLTA),” explained Pàmies and added “it serves to help companies, destinations, and countries prepare to receive the community in an optimal way and to direct their marketing strategies in an innovative, sustainable, and responsible way.” To obtain it, it requires the signing of a letter of intent that evidences the commitment to the community and that all collaborators in the value chain go through the ‘Hospitality meets Diversity’ training process, a 180-minute educational program that in 6 modules provides all the necessary information about the LGBTQ+ community, the sensitivity required for its reception, as well as their consumption habits and keys to communication strategies.

“The LGBTQ+ segment represents about 10% of the world’s population according to the World Tourism Organization, as well as 18% of the global tourism market. Their global consumption habits during their travels exceed $200 billion per year and $64 billion in the case of Europe. Their growth estimate puts them at 180 million travelers by 2030. Therefore, more and more destinations, companies, and countries need to be trained and sensitized,” said Oriol Pàmies.

The meeting on LGBTQ+ tourism was attended by an international panel formed by Felipe Cárdenas, President of the Board of Directors of IGLTA and the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Colombia; Blanca Pérez-Sauquillo, Marketing Director of Turespaña; Oriol Pàmies, CEO and Founder of Queer Destinations; Andreu Serra, Councilor of Tourism of Mallorca; Juan P. Julià, President and Founder of Axel Hotels; Frederick Boutry, Director of LGTBIQ+ Tourism of Visit Brussels; Núria Abellán, Coordinator of the Master in LGBT Tourism of the CETT Barcelona School of Tourism, and the journalist and writer Josemola, in charge of moderating the colloquium. It also served to bring together the main international players in the tourism sector to talk about new trends and the need for training in the LGBTQ+ segment, as well as to highlight which destinations and entities are carrying out specific tourism strategies for the segment in Spain. Some examples have been the master’s degree in LGBT tourism of CETT and the University of Barcelona and Euskadi, Mallorca or Seville with which the consultancy is currently working on the development of unique experiences for LGBTQ+ tourists in safe spaces.

What is Queer Destinations?

Queer Destinations is an international firm specializing in LGBTQ+ tourism training and consulting that serves as a bridge between governments, destinations, and businesses with the community. Likewise, the Queer Destinations Committed label is an international seal of quality endorsed by the IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) that is awarded to destinations (Committed Destination) and companies (Committed Entity) that want to attract the LGBTQ+ segment through innovative, sustainable and responsible strategies; aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the UN’s 2030 agenda. 

To do so, a training process must be completed in which first a letter of commitment from the destination/company is signed, then 100% of the service providers are sensitized and, finally, a strategy focused on the segment is developed and a minimum of products for the LGBTQ+ community is ensured. 

The company is currently working in the country of Mexico hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Tourism, in Spain, Colombia, and the United States. It also works with large hotel chains such as Grupo Melià, Hard Rock and City Express, among others.