And while Gay Days are not officially sanctioned by the Central Florida theme parks, OrlandoGayTravel.com estimates that the attractions will rake in over $13 million from last weekend’s visitors. Attendance numbers from previous years—130,000 descended upon area theme parks and satellite parties and events for Orlando Gay Days 2011— drew the attention and support of Central Florida’s preeminent tourism group, Visit Orlando, which promoted what has become one of the most attended LGBT events in the world, although not without notice from the mainstream media.

The June 1 Orlando Sentinel featured a scathing criticism of the visitors’ bureau, which the newspaper derided for having “had little to do with [the] presence” of the “tens of thousands” of LGBT tourists who came to town. “After years of ignoring gay and lesbian travelers, however, Visit Orlando is starting to make more of an effort—some say an overdue effort—to promote the nation’s leading leisure-travel destination to this niche market,” the Sentinel article said.

“Still,” the newspaper notes, “Visit Orlando doesn’t do nearly as much as many other destinations do to woo LGBT travelers, known for their above-average disposable income and propensity for travel. In recent years, gay travelers have been missing from the bureau’s marketing plans, even as it has reached out to other previously ignored niche groups, such as blacks and Latinos.

Orlando has no dedicated LGBT marketing budget and doesn’t advertise on gay-and-lesbian travel websites or at gay-pride festivals and events. Visit Orlando is a member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, but while it has made an effort to lure that group’s annual expo to Orlando, it doesn’t exhibit at the show.”

A new group, Converge Orlando, hopes to fill that niche and focus its marketing efforts on attracting LGBT visitors to Orlando. Officials say that Orlando Gay Travel is lobbying extensively to bring the international “Gay Games” to Central Florida by 2018.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s 31st annual Global Convention will be held in Madrid in May 2014. This will mark the inaugural appearance of IGLTA’s premier educational and network ing event

in Spain, a country known for its progressive legislation on LGBT rights.

“We’re thrilled to be returning to Europe for our 2014 convention, especially to the beautiful city of Madrid,” said IGLTA Board Chair Tanya Churchmuch. “Not only is Madrid home to one of the most important Pride events in the world, but it also has an extremely active local LGBT community that worked hand in hand with local tourism offices to create their wonderful conference bid.”

The Madrid City Council’s Tourist Board, the Spanish Tourism Board and the Tourist Board of the Region of Madrid have pledged support for the convention. The capital city is also headquarters for the United Nations World Tourism Organization, a key organizational partner of the IGLTA.

“This convention, undoubtedly, will help consolidate Madrid among the top destinations in the world for the LGBT segment,” said Miguel Angel Villanueva, the Councilor of the Department of Economy, Employment and Citizen Participation of the Madrid City Council.