Florida Agenda

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association is working with Curve magazine to gather data on the seldom-tracked lesbian travel market. Women who fill out the joint survey by October 28 have the opportunity to win a two-night stay from IGLTA member The Angler’s Boutique Resort in Miami Beach.

“We try to be as inclusive as possible, but – as with many LGBT organizations – the gay men tend to outnumber the women,” IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella said. “We welcome this opportunity from one of our media partners to gather more information about what lesbian travelers really want.

It will be great to share this data with our member businesses.”

The survey is available through October 28 by clicking the link on the home page at www.iglta.org.

Next Stop … Brazil!

By BOB KECSKEMETY

WILTON MANORS, FL – The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) finished their 2011 convention in Ft. Lauderdale/Wilton Manors in what the organization refers to as being a huge success.

IGLTA President and CEO John Tanzella, after returning from a U.S. Travel Association Pow Wow event which included tour operators, travel media, hotels and others involved in the travel industry, said that he couldn’t be more pleased with the results. The annual convention, with portions being held in both Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors, drew 507 delegates from 35 countries, coming from as far as South Africa and Australia to see what the Greater Fort Lauderdale area has to offer.

And what was the impression Fort Lauderdale made on the delegates? “It was extremely positive,” said Tanzella. “In fact, many of the attendees said they wanted to move here.”

The Annual Global Convention was held for five days, from May 10th through 15th. Each year there is a different education theme. This year’s education theme was marketing. Tanzella reported that there was a special emphasis placed this year on using online marketing techniques. He stated that there were representatives from Trip Advisor and Google, along with other presenters, explaining new trends and how businesses, big and small, can reach gay and lesbian travelers.

“Every year there seems to be more and more online marketing,” said Tanzella. “I think that LGBT travelers in particular tend to be more internet savvy, and so you need to reach them using the internet, social media, etc., to reach them versus some of the more historical ways of reaching travelers. So, even if you’re a travel agency, you still might not have people walking into your travel agency the way they did in the ‘80s, but you can market your travel agency on places like Twitter and Facebook to draw clients and easily connect your clients with the marketplace.”

Globally, it is estimated that gays and lesbians spend a total of $75-billion a year on everything from airlines and hotels to tours and complete vacation packages. Brazil, explained Tanzella, is extremely popular right now, as is New York City. He added that Capetown, South Africa, and Sydney, Australia, are also very popular, but the Greater Fort Lauderdale area always places in the top-ten in popularity. Next year’s convention will be held in Brazil.

Tanzella said the public consumer show, which was held on Friday, May 13th at Hagen Park behind the Wilton Manors City Hall, was the most popular event drawing thousands of locals from as far away as Miami. Those attending the consumer show saw exhibits from different travel destinations and businesses involved in the travel industry. That evening, there was also a concert by Kristine W., which was organized by the Rainbow Business Coalition of Greater Fort Lauderdale. The RBC also helped in marketing the entire event. “It was a fantastic night,” said Tanzella.

“This was the largest convention we’ve had so far,” said Tanzella. “Each year it seems to get bigger and bigger, but the previous record was the Las Vegas convention, which was held in 2008.” Tanzella also added that it was the largest convention held in Fort Lauderdale in regards to international delegates.

Tanzella credits much of this year’s success to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau, Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick and to the Rainbow Business Coalition. Broward County Mayor Sue Gunzburger was on hand to welcome the delegates and dignitaries from Washington, D.C., flew in to welcome the international delegates.

Delta Airlines, the Brazilian airline TAM and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau were huge sponsors, explained Tanzella, but they also had sponsorships from different regions in Brazil in preparation of next year’s convention. Tanzella also appreciated the support the IGLTA convention received from local businesses like the Sawgrass Mills Mall, The Manor and Tropics, but indicated that the support received from the Rainbow Business Coalition was huge.

The IGLTA moved their international headquarters from Fort Lauderdale to N.E. 26 Street in Wilton Manors last August.

Anticipation, Expectations Build in Run Up to Delegates Arrival for Summit

Part Two of a Six-Part Series

By Cliff Dunn

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote gay-owned businesses in Broward County, the Rainbow Business Coalition (RBC) of Greater Fort Lauderdale is partnering with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) to welcome the delegates for the latter organization’s 28th Annual International Convention – dubbed “Lauderdale Unleashed” – which kicks off on Tuesday, May 10, and continues through Sunday, May 15.

The RBC has planned several activities and events for the delegates, along with a Welcome Guide, which includes maps of Broward County and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, information and facts about South Florida’s “gay history,” a directory of RBC members and a personalized ID card which doubles as a luggage tag. Several days of educational seminars and classes will culminate in a Friday evening Consumer Expo and Trade Show in Wilton Manors (and a post-expo concert featuring entertainer Christine W headlining and some other performers, to be announced).

Organizers believe a key to the success of the week’s events will be interaction between the local gay community and the delegates from more than 80 countries who will be in attendance. Greg Hardy, Vice President at Solutions Insurance Services in Oakland Park and an RBC board member, says that after all is planned and made ready, getting locals – individuals and businesses alike – excited and involved will be job one.

“Our number one goal,” says Hardy, “is for the IGLTA delegates to feel welcomed to our great city.”

On the business side, “we’d like to see the local tourism businesses register for the convention to network with our global attendees,” notes John Tanzella, President and CEO of the IGLTA. “We hope that [the community-at-large] will extend a warm welcome.” He says that the Friday night Consumer Expo and Trade Show, which starts at 6 p.m., “was specifically created to support and interact with the local community, and the RBC has been instrumental in building a wonderful evening of free entertainment.”

Business and community leaders alike know that these activities will provide the framework for what they hope will be a community-wide effort to make the delegates feel at home.

“In the long term, the delegates’ opinions and reactions to our destination and our people will surely determine our future,” offers Jennifer Morales, who serves as the RBC’s secretary and is also the Director of Marketing for Sidelines Sports Bar, which is co-owned by her partner, Laurie Whittaker. “Whether it’s a year from now, five years or even ten years from today, these delegates have the power to ensure that our city flourishes and grows to be the number one LGBT tourism destination,” she adds.

Tanzella says that IGLTA is grateful for the opportunity to meet, socialize, and play under the sunny South Florida skies. He notes, too, that his organization makes an effort to reciprocate to its host cities.

“We always give back to a local charity,” says Tanzella. “This year we’re presenting a donation to Father Bill Collins and The Poverello Center at our gala dinner and party on May 14.” The gala is another way for locals to mix with the visitors, with tickets available for purchase by non-attendees.

Of the convention and its effects, Chris Dunham, President of Fort Lauderdale-based Dunham Insurance Services, has his eye on the long view.

“This is like dropping a pebble into the water,” Dunham offers. “What’s under that stone feels only the first impact. Those ripples go on even beyond your ability to see them.

One conventioneer this year comes back with three friends next year, and buys a house off the beach the following year, that’s money in the bank for all kinds of businesses for years come.”

“Let’s not screw this up,” he adds sagely.

Fort Lauderdale Gay-Owned Businesses Seek to Attract International LGBT Dollars

By CLIFF DUNN

In recent months,

the nation’s fragile economic state has shown small – in some instances, very small – indicators of recovery and even growth.

According to Intuit’s Small Business Employment Index, last month small businesses nationwide created approximately 50,000 new jobs, a smallish 0.2% increase from February, but an annual growth rate of nearly 3%. The Index also shows that small firms have created 820,000 new jobs since the job market started recovering in October 2009.

Perhaps most impressive, there were 565,000 new businesses created each month of the past year. That translates into a notable 6.8 million new businesses opening their doors. The flip-side of these laudatory stats, of course, is that most of these firms will fail before their first birthday. That downside is reflected close to home: in Wilton Manors alone, 17 businesses have ceased operations since January 2010; another ten are projected to close their doors in the coming months.

The challenges facing small business was one reason for the creation of the Rainbow Business Coalition (RBC) of Greater Fort Lauderdale, an alliance of gay-owned businesses and community leaders with a mission to promote new business opportunities, drive sustainable economic growth and expand market reach and market share for the area’s LGBT businesses, of which more than 90 are RBC members.

Reece Darham, the group’s chair and owner of Wilton Manors-based Island City Health & Fitness, says of RBC: “Our strength truly lies in the collective bargaining and influence our combined businesses yield.”

The challenge for Darham and other business and community leaders has been to translate that influence and clout into tangible market share.

South Florida’s economy remains one driven, in large measure, by tourism dollars, and area businesses are doing what they can to tap into those resources that are making themselves available. Last week, The Miami Herald reported that local tourism officials are launching efforts to claim their share of the nation’s $74 billion wedding industry. But although many LGBT-owned businesses are subsumed by or allied with that industry, the overall market is one which serves a largely heterosexual consumer group.
How, then, to encourage a large – and sustainable – infusion of gay tourism dollars into the gay business community at a time when it most needs the injection?

Enter the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), which selected Greater Fort Lauderdale as the site for its 2011 Annual Global Convention. Beginning May 10, between 800 and 1,000 travel agents from 84 countries will descend upon Broward County for nearly a week.

The purpose of the convention depends upon who you ask. Says John Tanzella, President and CEO of IGLTA: “We want our attendees to find the convention valuable because of the networking opportunities and the extensive educational programming, the most ambitious in our 28-year convention history. We’re bringing in industry leaders from Google, TripAdvisor, [and] IBM.”

RBC’s Darham sees the additional benefits. “Whenever an international convention comes to town, there is an immediate economic impact,” he notes. “The IGLTA convention is estimated to bring in $1.3 million in the short week they are here, and has the potential to generate millions more in the months and years to come.”

RBC and its business affiliates plan to ensure those delegates are left with sustainable memories they can take home to their cities and countries of origin, planting the seeds for their own clients’ future travel plans to the Gold Coast.

“Fort Lauderdale is still a hidden gem in the national and international LGBT community,” says Darham. “It is time to change that, and the IGLTA convention is a marvelous way to do just that.”

RBC and its members are planning to welcome the international travel agents by hosting what they hope will be a well-received and well-remembered event. “Celebrate Fort Lauderdale” will be held in Wilton Manors on Friday evening, May 13, at 6 p.m. On the heels of the IGLTA Consumer Trade Show, the RBC will honor the convention delegates with a flag ceremony along Wilton Drive in which Mayor Gary Resnick will the lead the Parade of Nations. The parade will terminate at Hagen Park next to city hall, and be followed by a free live concert featuring Billboard recording artist Kristine W.

Darham predicts that the good will engendered will be well worth the meticulous planning going into the event. “The convention impact is far beyond travel and tourism,” he notes. “Restaurants, bars, retail outlets, spas, real estate agencies, gyms, and more all benefit economically from the attendees. These delegates have the ability to economically impact all of us into the future.”