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Gay and Lesbian Tourism
The Essential Guide for Marketing
- 1st Edition - October 23, 2007
- Imprint: Butterworth-Heinemann
- Author: Jeff Guaracino
- Language: English
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 0 8 - 0 5 5 4 5 8 - 7
This unique introductory resource provides a broad foundation of knowledge on the gay and lesbian market segment. Topics and themes are illustrated by interviewing the top… Read more
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This unique introductory resource provides a broad foundation of knowledge on the gay and lesbian market segment. Topics and themes are illustrated by interviewing the top professionals in gay travel and gay media who share their experience, tips for success and future predictions. Packed with best case examples and practices of existing gay tourism initiatives and campaigns, this engaging text provides analysis and context that addresses some of the burning questions in this area, including the potential negative consumer and stakeholder reaction, and strategies to educate the local hospitality community.
* The only book to offer a comprehensive foundation of knowledge for marketers on the gay and lesbian travel consumer
* Provides a current and comprehensive survey of research
* Offers a practical approach from the industry's top experts in gay tourism
* Provides a current and comprehensive survey of research
* Offers a practical approach from the industry's top experts in gay tourism
PRIMARY: Industry practitioners, consultants, government tourism authorities, undergraduates in tourism courses, advertising and marketing professionals in tourism industries, national, regional, state and local tourism authorities.
SECONDARY: Students in tourism and destination marketing
SECONDARY: Students in tourism and destination marketing
IX. Introduction to gay and lesbian tourism
This chapter will provide an overview of the gay and lesbian tourism market. The chapter will dispel myths of gay consumers and define the gay tourism segment as leisure, group, convention and business. The impact on travel agents, hotels, cruise lines and destinations will be discussed. Most importantly, an argument will be presented that the market is actually two distinct segments: gay men and lesbians.
X. Research: The demographic and economic profile
This section will present the economic and demographic profile of the gay and lesbian travelers by presenting ground-breaking travel research information and analysis from: the Travel Industry of America (limited), Community Marketing, Inc., LPI Media, two Philadelphia studies, in addition to the consumer power of gay and lesbian consumers from Witek-Combs. This chapter will also present the barriers to gathering marketing information on gays and lesbians from traditional research resources including the U.S. Census, Longwoods, D.K. Shifflet, Global Insight, Neilson and Scarboro research firms. Illustrations will include graphs, charts and tables. The author will interview experts in gay tourism research from the previously listed firms.
XI. What makes a destination or travel product gay-friendly?
What does it mean to be gay-friendly? The section will discuss defining the reader’s tourism product. It will ask the reader to candidly assess their gay-friendly hotels, gay festivals and mainstream events. The chapter will also address taking a mainstream travel product and making it gay-friendly. The chapter will discuss the various segments including outdoors, cruises and resorts. The author will interview Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and Charlie Rounds, founder of RSVP Cruises. Illustrations: pictures of Women’s Week in Provincetown, Equality Forum in Philadelphia, Gay Pride in Toronto, Gay Games in Sydney, Australia and Gay Days at Disney World.
XII. Marketing: Starting your own tourism campaign
The section will begin with establishing goals for gay tourism marketing campaigns (economic, social, etc.). It will offer effective strategies for print, television and online media using real gay and lesbian advertising as examples. Also to be discussed: the role of public relations; effective brochures; strategic promotions; tips on choosing the right agency; creating a travel guide, creating a budget, and building Internet traffic and databases. The author will interview former Advertising Age Journalist Michael Wilke who is head of the Commercial Closet, Inc, a non-profit resource that specializes in gay and lesbian portrayals in TV commercials worldwide over the last 30 years. Illustrations will include the best examples of advertising, brochures and Web sites.
XIII. Building stakeholder support
This chapter will explore strategies for building support among various stakeholders including politics, boards and broader hospitality industry. An emphasis will be placed on the role of the local GLBT community as an advisory group and the growing influence of gay and lesbian chambers of commerce. Best practice examples will focus on the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus, the Toronto Gay Business Guild and the Ft. Lauderdale Gay Business Guild. The author will interview Richard Gray (Ft. Lauderdale) and Tami Sortman (Philadelphia), among others.
XIV. Overcoming challenges
How will readers measure the effectiveness of gay tourism campaigns? Measurement is highly dependent on those openly gay travelers who choose to use gay discount codes, buy special gay hotel packages and book gay vacations, such as on an RSVP Cruise. This chapter will present innovative approaches that destination marketing organizations and corporations are using to measure the effectiveness of marketing programs. The author will interview executives at Logo, Viacom’s new television network, Target 10, a New York based marketing company with Fortune 500 clients and Rivendale, a media representative for the major gay newspapers in the United States.
XV. Future Trends
Gay and lesbian travel is one of the fastest growing segments and many mainstream travel companies and destinations are entering into the gay market. This chapter will present the predictions of some of the travel industry’s top professionals including the editor of Travel Weekly, Tom Roth, president of Community Marketing, Inc., and Matthew Link, editor of Out Traveler magazine.
XVI. Terminology: Getting it straight
The chapter will be presented as a glossary and include entries on words and phrases that have become common and will help the reader become familiar with the appropriate usage. It will also include an expanded contact list of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations, with Web sites, e-mail and mailing addresses and phone numbers. This chapter will use as resources such as the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as well as other GLBT organizations.
This chapter will provide an overview of the gay and lesbian tourism market. The chapter will dispel myths of gay consumers and define the gay tourism segment as leisure, group, convention and business. The impact on travel agents, hotels, cruise lines and destinations will be discussed. Most importantly, an argument will be presented that the market is actually two distinct segments: gay men and lesbians.
X. Research: The demographic and economic profile
This section will present the economic and demographic profile of the gay and lesbian travelers by presenting ground-breaking travel research information and analysis from: the Travel Industry of America (limited), Community Marketing, Inc., LPI Media, two Philadelphia studies, in addition to the consumer power of gay and lesbian consumers from Witek-Combs. This chapter will also present the barriers to gathering marketing information on gays and lesbians from traditional research resources including the U.S. Census, Longwoods, D.K. Shifflet, Global Insight, Neilson and Scarboro research firms. Illustrations will include graphs, charts and tables. The author will interview experts in gay tourism research from the previously listed firms.
XI. What makes a destination or travel product gay-friendly?
What does it mean to be gay-friendly? The section will discuss defining the reader’s tourism product. It will ask the reader to candidly assess their gay-friendly hotels, gay festivals and mainstream events. The chapter will also address taking a mainstream travel product and making it gay-friendly. The chapter will discuss the various segments including outdoors, cruises and resorts. The author will interview Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and Charlie Rounds, founder of RSVP Cruises. Illustrations: pictures of Women’s Week in Provincetown, Equality Forum in Philadelphia, Gay Pride in Toronto, Gay Games in Sydney, Australia and Gay Days at Disney World.
XII. Marketing: Starting your own tourism campaign
The section will begin with establishing goals for gay tourism marketing campaigns (economic, social, etc.). It will offer effective strategies for print, television and online media using real gay and lesbian advertising as examples. Also to be discussed: the role of public relations; effective brochures; strategic promotions; tips on choosing the right agency; creating a travel guide, creating a budget, and building Internet traffic and databases. The author will interview former Advertising Age Journalist Michael Wilke who is head of the Commercial Closet, Inc, a non-profit resource that specializes in gay and lesbian portrayals in TV commercials worldwide over the last 30 years. Illustrations will include the best examples of advertising, brochures and Web sites.
XIII. Building stakeholder support
This chapter will explore strategies for building support among various stakeholders including politics, boards and broader hospitality industry. An emphasis will be placed on the role of the local GLBT community as an advisory group and the growing influence of gay and lesbian chambers of commerce. Best practice examples will focus on the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus, the Toronto Gay Business Guild and the Ft. Lauderdale Gay Business Guild. The author will interview Richard Gray (Ft. Lauderdale) and Tami Sortman (Philadelphia), among others.
XIV. Overcoming challenges
How will readers measure the effectiveness of gay tourism campaigns? Measurement is highly dependent on those openly gay travelers who choose to use gay discount codes, buy special gay hotel packages and book gay vacations, such as on an RSVP Cruise. This chapter will present innovative approaches that destination marketing organizations and corporations are using to measure the effectiveness of marketing programs. The author will interview executives at Logo, Viacom’s new television network, Target 10, a New York based marketing company with Fortune 500 clients and Rivendale, a media representative for the major gay newspapers in the United States.
XV. Future Trends
Gay and lesbian travel is one of the fastest growing segments and many mainstream travel companies and destinations are entering into the gay market. This chapter will present the predictions of some of the travel industry’s top professionals including the editor of Travel Weekly, Tom Roth, president of Community Marketing, Inc., and Matthew Link, editor of Out Traveler magazine.
XVI. Terminology: Getting it straight
The chapter will be presented as a glossary and include entries on words and phrases that have become common and will help the reader become familiar with the appropriate usage. It will also include an expanded contact list of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations, with Web sites, e-mail and mailing addresses and phone numbers. This chapter will use as resources such as the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as well as other GLBT organizations.
- Edition: 1
- Published: October 23, 2007
- Imprint: Butterworth-Heinemann
- Language: English
JG
Jeff Guaracino
Jeff Guaracino heads the regional communications and is an expert in gay tourism marketing programs for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC). The Philadelphia Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay™ campaign has been recognized by two industries (travel and public relations) with “best of the year awards” for consumer marketing and public relations. GPTMC’s gay tourism marketing campaign features a ground-breaking television commercial and has earned Philadelphia $10 million in publicity. Guaracino also oversees the Hispanic and Canadian public relations efforts for GPTMC.
Previously, Guaracino served as director of communications for the Franklin Institute, (Philadelphia’s premier science museum) and prior to that, was communications associate CBS, Inc. and public relations manager at the AIDS Coalition of Southern New Jersey. Active in the community, he serves as a marketing and public relations consultant to a number of regional organizations where he specializes in crisis communications and marketing. He serves on the board of the William Way GLBT Community Center. He is also a member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and served on the host committee for the national convention in September 2002. Guaracino is a graduate of Rowan University and has studied at Temple University. He resides in Philadelphia, PA.
Affiliations and expertise
Head of regional communications and an expert in gay tourism marketing programs for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC)Read Gay and Lesbian Tourism on ScienceDirect