Fort Lauderdale, FL (April 6, 2017)— IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is proud to announce that Christina Guggenberger will be awarded the 2017 Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award for her decades of work promoting Stockholm as a welcoming destination to all travelers. This Honor, bestowed to a longtime IGLTA member, takes its name from the man widely considered the father of gay travel. The award will be presented at the IGLTA conference, 4-6 May, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The IGLTA Board of Directors selected Guggenberger from the association’s member businesses and allies in 70 countries.

Guggenberger is one of the world’s leading destination-marketing pioneers in gay and lesbian tourism. ”If you ask anybody in the LGBTQ+ travel world to name a marketer that has put their destination on the map, Christina will be one of the first named,” said John Tanzella, IGLTA President/CEO. ”Christina even took the unique path of successfully creating lesbian-specific outreach years ago, something many destinations are still struggling with.”

Ten years ago Guggenberger founded the Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network, a unique project for the city’s marketing organization that helped the city become a top global LGBTQ+ destination. Thanks to Guggenberger’s efforts, Stockholm has won several LGBTQ+ travel awards including:

  • Favorite LGBT-friendly city - Edge Media.
  • Most gay-welcoming destination - Spartacus Gay Guide.
  • World Style Capital - NewNowNext Travel Awards.
  • Best International destination - Out Travel Awards
  • Destination of the Year - British LGBT Award

Personally, Guggenberger was awarded:

  • The first ever “Stockholm Gay Life Award” in recognition of her work positioning Stockholm as a leading global gay and lesbian destination.
  • The Nomination for “Hetero of the Year” for her contributions as a straight-ally by the leading gay publication in Sweden.

“I am happy, thrilled and honored by this recognition,” said Guggenberger. “I share this pride with all the fantastic friends and partners from all over the world who have inspired me and that I have been lucky to work with. Together we made Stockholm one of the world’s leading travel destinations for the gay and lesbian community.”

For photos, a full bio of Christina Guggenberger, or to request an interview, please contact loann.halden@iglta.org. For more information on the Annual Global Convention, please visit iglta.org/convention.

This year’s IGLTA Honors awards are presented with support from Visit Philadelphia. Get your history straight and your nightlife gay: visitphilly.com/lgbt/

IGLTA’s Annual Global Convention would not be possible without the generous support of our convention sponsors. Presenting Level – Visit St. Petersburg & Clearwater, Tourism Toronto; Official Level – Blue Man Group, Visit Britain, Embratur, VISITFLANDERS, Italian National Tourist Board, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Visit Philadelphia, Mexico Tourism Board, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Montage Laguna Beach & Preferred Hotel Group; Conference Level – Belmond, COLTUR Peru, Aqua Expeditions, Galeries Lafayette, SilverSea Cruises.

About IGLTA

IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the leading member-based global organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ tourism and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. IGLTA’s mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally by demonstrating its significant social and economic impact. The association also is a proud supporter of ECPAT’s Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct to prevent child exploitation. IGLTA membership includes LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in more than 70 countries. For more information: iglta.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @iglta