William Pate, President & CEO, Atlanta CVB, received an award of appreciation from IGLTA for his commitment to diversity and inclusion and ensuring Atlanta remains a welcoming destination for conventions and tourists alike on 16 August during the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition 2017 in Toronto. When Georgia Senate Bill 129, referred to as the Georgian Religious Freedom and Restoration Act, was introduced during the 2015 legislative session, Pate immediately rallied his team at the Atlanta CVB to gather compelling information to fight this harmful anti-gay legislation. His swift, preemptive actions to collaborate with the local business community against this bill were instrumental in its defeat. The following year, HB 757, a similar bill, was introduced but the Atlanta CVB was already armed with powerful independent data that underscored the damaging economic effects this bill would have. Once again, the bill did not make it into law. His visionary actions are a model for other states that are now engaging in similar attacks on equality. Pate presented a case study on the topic during LGBTQ+ Week in New York City earlier this year.
Photo: Shown here (left to right) at Toronto's Lee Restaurant during the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition: John Tanzella, President & CEO, IGLTA; William Pate, President & CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB); and Dan Melesurgo, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, ASAE, IGLTA Immediate Past Chair. (photo by Chuck Fazio)
Photo: May 16, 2017 William Pate, President & CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau at Google NYC, presenting case study during LGBTQ+ Week NYC 2017
Belmond’s former Director of LGBTQ+ Sales, Tom Alderink, was recently recognized by IGLTA for his contribution to LGBTQ+ travel. Alderink brought the LGBTQ+ segment into the Belmond portfolio, developing sales globally and was instrumental in bringing the company to IGLTA as a Gold-Level Global Partner. He was also an active member of Belmond's LGBTQ+ Advisory Board, established in 2016. Alderink left Belmond earlier this year to pursue his personal passion in the fashion industry.
Photo: Shown here (left to right) at T. Christopher display during Miami Swim Week 2017: Thomas Alderink, former Director of LGBTQ+ Sales, Belmond; Josh Zorn, Coordinator - Global Partnerships & Convention Sponsorship, IGLTA
13 May 2017
IGLTA Presents Chair Award to Mariela Castro Espín
LGBTQ+ activist Dr. Mariela Castro Espín, daughter of Cuba's president, Raul Castro, and director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, received IGLTA's prestigious Chair Award for 2017. Board chair Juan Juliá, founder and president of Barcelona-based Axel Hotels, made the presentation to Castro on May 13 in Havana during Pride. Presented with support from Visit Philadelphia®
Photo: Shown here (left to right) Mariela Castro Espín and IGLTA Board Chair Juan Juliá, Founder and President of Axel Hotels
George A. Kalogridis, President, Walt Disney World Resort
Barbara Poma, onePULSE Foundation
Christina Guggenberger
Andrew Collins
Russell Lord - Israel
The Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award
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