Our association is built on community. And while that term often connotes something personal, a strong community also drives a successful business, no matter the size. At IGLTA, our ever-growing business community relies on partnerships, and our Global Partners play a vital role in our collaborations around the world.
Check out these brands through our Partners page—our corporate allies in the airline, hotel, resort, cruise, and tourism-board business all have global reach. (You’ll also find our Organizational, Media, Event and Marketing partners via this link.) Each of these companies provides an important financial stake in IGLTA’s mission, along with sharing valuable resources and information for LGBTQ+ travelers and business owners. But there are so many mutual benefits. That’s why we call them partnerships rather than sponsorships. Our Global Partners enjoy promotional support through IGLTA and positive brand association, which reflects a corporate culture that welcomes diversity and inclusiveness.
Hilton - National Presenting Sponsor at DC Pride
More specifically, many of our Global Partners have dedicated employee resource groups (ERGs) to support their LGBTQ+ team members through diversity and inclusion initiatives. For example, ONE Marriott was created by a small group of Marriott International employees in 2010 and today includes more than 2,500 members in two dozen countries. Hilton established a unique framework for diversity and inclusion that now counts more than 7,400 team members in 50 chapters worldwide.
Marriott International's first LGBTQ+ Culture Day in Aruba.
These engaged partners have devoted resources to LGBTQ+ causes as well. Delta Air Lines employees throughout the U.S. and around the globe participate in annual Pride events, and the company is the founding partner of the IGLTA Foundation Building Bridges Scholarship Program, providing flights for LGBTQ+ small business owners in emerging and challenging destinations to attend the IGLTA Annual Global Convention for mentorship and networking. Disney Destinations welcomes LGBTQ+ families through its travel programs and was a major supporter of the IGLTA Foundation’s inaugural VOYAGE fundraiser during the convention in Toronto this year.
Delta and Virgin Atlantic partnered to sponsor the Pride parade in London on 7 July 2018, showing support for the LGBTQ+ community and giving Delta’s employee business resource group, EQUAL, an opportunity to join in the festivities.
Meanwhile, IGLTA provides all of our Global Partners with unique visibility. As the only global organization catering to the LGBTQ+ travel community, our partners proudly use our logo and brand association to underscore their inclusivity. It sends a strong message to consumers and to our global member businesses. IGLTA members know they can count on our global partners to provide safe, welcoming travel options to their customers; in fact, travel agents and tour operators often work with our global partners expressly because of their IGLTA ties.
This association began with a small group of LGBTQ+ business owners, but it has grown through inclusivity—and that means also creating successful partnerships with mainstream companies who are equally committed to our vision: to advance LGBTQ+ travel globally and create a more welcoming world for all travelers to explore.
Employees represented Disney at Pride parades in the U.S. and London in 2017.
John Tanzella - President/CEO, IGLTA