If you’re looking for someplace to go this year, why not check out GayTravel.com’s list of winners of the first Gay Travel Awards for picks and recommendations?
GayTravel– a top resource for LGBT travelers around the world– created the Gay Travel Awards to “recognize and promote selection destinations and travel-related companies around the globe” that are LGBTQ-friendly.
Among those cited by the inaugural Gay Travel Awards were Las Vegas as Destination of the Year, Madrid as the Gay Pride of the Year, and Zona Romantica in Puerto Vallarta as the Gayborhood of the Year.
Gay Travel Awards: The Best of LGBT travel
Founded in 1999, GayTravel has been offering helpful travel information to the LGBT community even while raising awareness on inclusive travel companies and destinations.
That’s why coming up with the GayTravel Awards was only natural for their brand, said GayTravel Chief Visionary Officer Steve Rohrlick.
“The goal of these awards is two-fold: first, to recognize and showcase select inclusive travel-related companies and destinations who meet the exacting standards of our discerning audience; and second, to inspire other companies and brands around the world to continually raise their service levels and amenities while encouraging a broad spirit of inclusiveness,” Rohrlick said.
Among travel companies cited by the Awards were Virgin Atlantic, Southwest, and the airline commuter Cap Air, as well as the Royal Caribbean.
Hotels like Starwood Hawaii, the luxury hotels like Alpine Palace in Austria and the Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, and ME Cabo in Mexico were also cited.
If you’re aiming to get married, you can’t go wrong with the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa. And if you need help setting up your trip, GayTravel lauded the HE Travel and Oscar Wilde Tours as the Tour Operator of the Year.
Gay Travel Awards: Where to go
For destination and events, aside from Las Vegas and Madrid, GayTravel pointed at the 12th Street Beach in South Beach, Miami as the Beach of the Year while Hamilton was the Theater/Show of the Year.
If you want check into a bed & breakfast, there’s the Candleberry Inn on Cape Cod. Looking for a place to relax with your partner? There’s the Meadowood Spa in Napa Valley. Meanwhile, the Abbey in West Hollywood was cited as the Gay Bar of the Year.
Lastly, you have summer events of the year like Out in the Vineyard and Whistler Gay Pride & Sky Festival for winter to complete your itinerary for the year.
All of these year-end recommendations are part of the GayTravel brand and is part of the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval” among LGBT travelers.
So where are you going this year?