IGLTA Update - April 23, 2008

It's Finally Here!! IGLTA's 25th Anniversary Convention!

We are one week away from the biggest gala IGLTA has ever seen! Next week, leaders in the global tourism industry will descend upon Las Vegas to network, learn and explore the world of gay and lesbian travel. This year marks our largest convention to date. As of this morning's close of registration, we have 433 registered participants from 26 countries. Get ready because this is going to be one great convention. If you missed online registration - fear not - we will be accepting on site registrations for an additional fee of US$100. See you in Vegas!

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2008 IGLTA Member Directory

This year's Membership Directory will be unveiled next week at our annual convention. All attendees will be able to pick up a copy of this year's directory to take with them. If you are not going to be on hand at the convention you will receive yours in the mail shortly after the event, in the middle of May.

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SITC Barcelona Pictures Now Online

IGLTA was recently on hand at SITC in Barcelona. Carlos Kytka, European Sales Ambassador, was there to spread the word about IGLTA and our membership. To view the pictures, please go to our blog and view them on the right side of the page. Also, don't forget to regularly check out our Events Page to see upcoming IGLTA events and World Tour stops.

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Newsletter Break

IGLTA's Weekly Update will be taking a break while we are in Vegas celebrating our silver anniversary. Check back in the middle of May for more IGLTA news and events. In the meantime, visit our website and contact us if you have any questions.

IGLTA Update - April 16, 2008

IGLTA Announces 2008 Award Recipients!

IGLTA has announced the recipients of the Chairman's Award and the Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award. Both awards will be given in Las Vegas at the 25th Anniversary Convention. Matt Skallerud, Chairman of the Board, will present the Chairman's Award to Alan Beck, the owner of Columbia FunMaps - an organization also celebrating 25 years in 2008. John Tanzella, Executive Director, will be giving the Hanns Ebensten award to Lima Tours. Lima Tours recently hosted an amazing Symposium / FAM Trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu. They have been giving tours to gay and lesbian groups for decades. Congratulations to the recipients!

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IGLTA's Tom Nibbio Speaking on Gay Travel Panel Tonight

Tonight in New York City, as part of the HX Gay & Lesbian Travel Expo, a panel discussion on gay and lesbian tourist destinations will take place. Tom Nibbio, Global Sales Ambassador, will be on hand to give insight into the topic. The panel also includes IGLTA members and partners: George Carrancho, American Airlines; James Harris, Travelocity; and Gregg Kaminsky, R Family Vacations. The event is co-hosted by HX CEO Matthew Bank and the Editor-in-Chief of Out Traveler magazine, Ed Salvato. If you are in New York, be sure to attend this event. The event is being held at The Center - please visit their site for more information.

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One Week Left for Convention Registration!

IGLTA's 25th Annual Convention kicks off in just two weeks! If you've put off registering until the ultimate last minute, that minute is running out. Registration closes next Wednesday, April 23. On site registration is available for a US$100 fee. All registrants to the convention and trade show should have received an e-mail last week about convention logistics. If you should have received this e-mail and didn't, please e-mail Richard Brower at richard@iglta.org.

Register now because you do not want to miss our 25th Anniversary Blowout Gala with a Vintage Vegas theme! It's going to be an amazing event and we would just like to thank Harrah's Entertainment. The evening's party has been underwritten by Harrah's Entertainment. For more information about the convention, please click here.

IGLTA Update - April 9, 2008

25th Anniversary Convention Deadlines Fast Approaching!!

Still haven't booked your room at the Flamingo or signed up for the Palm Springs Post-FAM tour? Still haven't even registered?!? What are you waiting for? The convention kicks off three weeks from today and time is running out.

If you want to save money and get the IGLTA Convention special hotel discount at The Flamingo, make sure you book your room BEFORE MONDAY APRIL 14, 2008. Click here to find out more information about the hotel and the special rate.

Going to Palm Springs after the convention? Hurry up and register! The deadline to register is THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008. To sign up, please contact IGLTA Board Member Jill Pentrack at jpentrack@iglta.org.

The absolute last day to register for our convention is on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008 - one week before the start. Make sure you get your registrations in now, as soon as possible. Visit our Convention Website to sign up and let us know if you have any questions.

See you all in Vegas!!

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IGLTA World Tour Making Stops All Over

IGLTA has been busy during March and April having a presence all over the United States. In March, IGLTA Board Chairman Matt Skallerud attended the HX Media Expos in West Hollywood, CA and Seattle, WA. Global Sales Ambassador Tom Nibbio will be attending the HX Shows in New York, NY and Boston, MA this month. Project Manager Richard Brower was on hand at the Original GLBT Expo in New York as part of Passport Magazine's Travel Pavilion. Also, IGLTA has teamed up with Travel Impressions and has been a player in their new gay and lesbian product. These are just a few of the ways that IGLTA is representing our members all over. Many members also participated in our brochure distribution program and joined our presence. Together we are the face of gay and lesbian travel around the world in various events. For more information on IGLTA events, please visit our Events Page.

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Members Reaching Consumers Through Specials and Blasts

With our new website off the ground, IGLTA members have been utilizing our new marketing opportunities to help their businesses and reach out to the gay and lesbian consumer markets. The IGLTA Specials Page is a place for organizations to advertise deals and specials that may interest savvy travelers. We also have an extensive consumer database that circles the globe. Our members periodically send out specials, advertisements and deals to a group of people who sign up to be a part of the list. We are on the road to becoming a single online stop for all things gay and lesbian travel! For questions, to sign up for one of these services, of if you have comments, please contact Richard Brower at richard@iglta.org.

IGLTA Update - April 2, 2008

IGLTA's 25th Anniversary Gala is Fast Approaching

IGLTA turns 25 this year and we're throwing a party like no other! On Saturday, May 3, The Flamingo in Las Vegas will be home to a Vintage Vegas party that will celebrate IGLTA past, present and future. Sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment, the party is being designed by LT Eventions and is slated to be an amazing event. For more information, see the press release by clicking here. Click here to access our convention website. See you in Vegas!

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Silent Auction Items Still Being Accepted

Good news! We are still accepting entries for this year's Silent Auction. Just click here to download the form, fax it in and send us the vouchers. The items will be on display at the convention and attendees will bid on each item. If you have more detailed questions about the auction, please do not hesitate to contact Richard Brower at richard@iglta.org.

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IGLTA and Media Companies Team Up

Recently, IGLTA has launched an aggressive campaign to partner with media companies around the world. Strengthening our magazine program as well as educating people about gay and lesbian travel, this campaign has proved successful in both arenas. To see a list of IGLTA's media partners, click here to access our Sponsors Page. If you are interested in joining IGLTA as a media partner or would like more information about various programs, please contact Tom Nibbio at tom@iglta.org.

IGLTA Update - March 26, 2008

One Month Until the Convention of the Year!

Can you believe in a little over 30 days, travel professionals from around the world will be descending on Las Vegas, USA to celebrate IGLTA's 25th Anniversary! In addition to the celebration, there will be endless opportunities for networking and education. The event will be the premiere convention in the world of gay and lesbian tourism this year, so if you haven't registered yet - what are you waiting for?!? Click here to access our convention's website where you can find out more information and register for the monumental event. Act quickly, though, the last day to register is April 22, 2008!!

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ITB 2008 Pictures Now Online

Didn't get a chance to go to Berlin and experience ITB? No problem, IGLTA has you covered! Just go to our IGLTA Blog and you can see images on the right side of the page from ITB thanks to our European Ambassador, Carlos Kytka. Click on any image to be taken to the gallery where you can download them. For more information on past and future events, please be sure to check out the IGLTA Events Page.

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Vintage IGLTA Images Needed!

Keep checking your inboxes - especially if you've been part of IGLTA for a long time! In the coming days you will be receiving an e-mail with a call for pictures that we're missing for our 25th gala. If you have any photos that are on the list or you have any other photos of vintage IGLTA, read this e-mail and send them our way. Our 25th Anniversary Gala is going to be a celebration of not only Vintage Vegas, but Vintage IGLTA. Stay tuned!

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Thank You to Our Convention Sponsors

We would like to give a huge thanks to the sponsors of this year's annual convention in Las Vegas. Without our sponsors, much of the convention wouldn't get off the ground. To take a look at our amazing sponsors and to find out more about sponsorship opportunities, please visit our Sponsorship Page of the Convention Website.

IGLTA Update - March 19, 2008

Ladies' Only Cocktail Reception at 25th Annual Convention

This year, at IGLTA's 25th Anniversary Convention there will be a cocktail reception for women attendees. Being held on Thursday evening prior to Show Night, an elegant event will take place hosted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority. The location and time are currently to be announced, but sign up for the convention now at http://www.iglta.org/convention to make sure you don't miss this great event!

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IGLTA Board of Directors Voting

The nominations are in and it's time to being the process of voting for this year's Board of Directors. Tomorrow, Thursday March 20, an e-mail will be sent out to the entire membership with details about the nominees, proposed changes to our by-laws and other organization-wide information. For those members attending the convention, voting will take place on site in Las Vegas. If you cannot make it to this year's convention, details will be released tomorrow on how you can vote proxy. Stay tuned to your inboxes and contact headquarters if you have any questions.

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Annual Convention Ground Transportation Announced

IGLTA has partnered with two organizations to provide quality and discounted ground transportation to our convention attendees. Celebrity Coaches has given us a discounted rate for attendees to get from McCarran International Airport to our host hotel, The Flamingo. For more information and to book your ride, click here.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car has also joined forces with IGLTA's Annual Convention to provide a discount to any attendee wishing to rent a car. Just click here to go to the Enterprise booking page and your discount will be automatically applied! Thanks to Celebrity Coaches and Enterprise for offering these great deals!

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Brochure Distribution Opportunity in April!


This 17 - 20 April, IGLTA's World Tour will be present in Barcelona, Spain for their international tourism show, SITC. If you can't make it but would love to have your brochures displayed, IGLTA has you covered. Just click here to download the Brochure Distribution form which has more information, pricing and a form to fax back to us. For more information about this great event, please contact Carlos Kytka at carlos@iglta.org. For a listing of all IGLTA events and future Brochure Distribution opportunities, please visit http://www.iglta.org/events.cfm.

IGLTA Update - March 12, 2008

IGLTA Marketing Opportunities

Recently, IGLTA has revamped our website and marketing efforts to provide more benefits to you - the member. Interested in reaching the gay and lesbian consumer? Want to inform our membership about your latest innovation? Fear not, we have many different ways you can get your word out there! For more information about any of these opportunities, contact Richard Brower at richard@iglta.org. All of these opportunities and more can be found on our Member Benefits page of our website.

• Web Banners - Our new website has three great sizes of rotating banners on the right side of the consumer pages. Create and ad and get your word out there! With over 225 unique visitors a day and growing, there is ample opportunities here. The banner ads range from US$200 - US$300 a month and with an average of 6,750 unique visitors in a month - that's quite a deal! For more information on pricing, download or banner guide or send Richard an e-mail.
• Sponsor This Newsletter - Want to get word out to all of our members? Sponsor our weekly newsletter! For US$300 for an ad or US$500 for an article, you can reach every one of our members from around the globe, a growing database of about 1,500 contacts.
• Send an Ad to Consumers - With a growing database of over 1,500 consumers, we offer our members the opportunity to create an advertisement e-mail blast targeted to consumers that we will gladly e-mail on your behalf. The cost is only US$500 to reach this global database of people.
• Create A Special for Our Site - When you visit www.iglta.org/specials.cfm you will see a variety of special offers to visitors to our site. Have something you would like to advertise? For only US$150 a month you can put any special you want on this page and have it link to wherever you want it to. The possibilities are endless and the specials are the second most visited area of our website.
• IGLTA World Tour Brochure Distribution - IGLTA travels to events around the world representing the association and you - our members. If you would like to have a presence at these events but can't physically attend them - fear not - IGLTA has you covered. Just click here to see a listing of future marketing events and the possibilities of sending your brochures to the event for us to hand out. The prices and events vary, so make sure you consistently check this page for more opportunities.

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We're Still Accepting Board & Award Nominations!

Keep forgetting to submit your nominations to run for our Board of Directors or your nominations for our annual awards? There's still time to submit for both! Hurry though, the Board Nomination form will close THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 14! Click here to access the Board Signup form - and don't forget to e-mail those pictures to Richard Brower at richard@iglta.org!

Also, submit those marketing pieces for IGLTA's Tourism Awards of Excellence! They are due TUESDAY, APRIL 1. Click here for more information and then click here for the registration form. Please do not hesitate to contact IGLTA Headquarters with any questions.

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Interested in Saying 'I Do' in Vegas?

Las Vegas has been the home for eloping and marriage for years. For GLBT people at this year's IGLTA Convention it is no different! During Las Vegas Pride which coincides with our Consumer Trade Show, there will be a mass commitment ceremony to be held. Interested in participating? Just shoot an e-mail to Richard Brower at richard@iglta.org and let him know you're interested. Certificates will be on hand so a rough estimate of how many people are interested is essential. It's going to be a landmark event, so grab your significant other and get ready to proclaim your love to the world.

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IGLTA Partners with Out Now with GayComfort

The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has partnered with Out Now Consulting to provide greater benefits to IGLTA's accommodation members. Out Now's product "GayComfort" will help these, and future new business members, provide the utmost in customer service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travelers. The new online training and accreditation product -- GayComfort™ -- addresses the need for better staff training to improve vacation customer service globally for gay and lesbian travelers. More information on the program can be found at OutNowConsulting.com and GayComfort.com. Online tutorials about GayComfort™ can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/GayComfort.