World Travel Market (WTM) and Out Now, a marketing organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) consumers, have unveiled the world’s largest LGBT research programme.
Out Now will present its LGBT Marketing Masterclass at the WTM education workshop, where it will release the latest tourism findings from the world’s largest LGBT market research programme, LGBT2020, including the first ever LGBT tourism research data for a number of new markets – including Israel, South Korea and Turkey.
One of the confirmed panel members is Ruben Sandoval the CEO of LGBT Confex. LGBT Confex are convenors of the 2nd International Expo & Business LGBT event in Cancun Mexico. Sandoval said he is pleased to bring regional expert insights into the WTM workshop.
“Latin America is home to several of the fastest growing economies in the world,” Sandoval said. “As we track the immense LGBT market growth in the region, we are looking forward to sharing with delegates at London WTM what trends we are seeing right across Latin America.”
Out Now CEO, Ian Johnson, added: “Out Now and WTM have grown a strong relationship with a single focus – delivering best-in-class marketing insights to the global tourism industry, and I am delighted we are partnering for the sixth year in 2012.”
As 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of Out Now, Johnson said part of this year’s education workshop is dedicated to highlighting some of the greatest success stories of LGBT marketing over that time.
Johnson also took the opportunity to announce the launch of a new B2B membership-based initiative “Out Now Business Class”, which is a new online marketing platform that allows members to network and increase their understanding about meeting the consumer needs of LGBT people worldwide. Membership applications are open to those who meet a specific set of criteria focused upon LGBT marketing development.
“The LGBT travel market has advanced in major ways during the past 20 years, but the organisational structures that serve the industry have advanced little,” Johnson added.
Furthermore, Out Now Business Class is also planning to host a dedicated LGBT floor space at WTM 2012 branded ‘Out Now Business Class at WTM’.
WTM Chairman Fiona Jeffery welcomed the new LGBT market initiatives at WTM 2012.
“World Travel Market and Out Now enjoy a strong partnership that is singly focused upon helping the tourism industry develop the many opportunities presented by the global LGBT market,” Jeffery said. “With the new Out Now Business Class initiatives we are confident of strengthening the leadership role that we have been able to deliver to the industry for more than half a decade now. LGBT tourism remains one of the key growth sectors for travel and with the help of Out Now we are looking forward very much to continuing to deliver world-class LGBT marketing solutions to meet the B2B needs of the global tourism industry.”
