SEVILLE, Spain (9 September 2026) — The IGLTA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, has announced the recipients of this year’s Global Convention fellowships. This program supports LGBTQ+ tourism professionals and emerging leaders.

 

The 2026 cohort brings unique perspectives and lived experiences, reflecting the IGLTA Foundation’s commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices in the global travel community. This year’s fellowship recipients are:

 

  • Kabir Singh Tomar (he/him), founder of Queer Travelogue, a leading India-based travel community dedicated to creating safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for LGBTQ+ people;
  • Pongsatorn Archawapongsagorn (he/him), founder and executive director of Pride Ready Asia, which explores how frontline data can identify travel patterns and gaps, leading to new business opportunities;
  • Khin Sandar Han (she/her), a senior studying tourism and business management in Thailand, and member of the PATA Mae Fah Luang University Student Chapter;
  • Sahil Choudhary (he/him), program director of India’s first LGBTQ+ Center at The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, a trained lawyer, and ILGA Asia Fellow;
  • Christopher Adams (he/him), the Spain-based founder of No Sex Gay Weekend and Get Social, which create travel and social experiences that help gay men build genuine connections beyond dating apps.

 

“The IGLTA Foundation Fellowship Program is one of the initiatives we are most proud of,” said Anthony Warner (he/him), Interim CEO of IGLTA. “Each year, it’s incredible to welcome a new cohort of passionate leaders into the network. And seeing where past recipients have taken their careers makes this work all the more rewarding.”

 

Earlier this year, the IGLTA Foundation established the John Tanzella Fellowship Fund to honor the life and legacy of longtime President/CEO John Tanzella (he/him), who passed away following an extended illness. The fund ensures the ongoing expansion of the fellowship program, carrying forward Tanzella’s passion for mentoring emerging global leaders in tourism.

 

The fellowship recipients will attend the 2026 IGLTA Global Convention in Seville this November, where they will have the opportunity to network with tourism professionals from around the world and attend educational sessions featuring the latest industry insights. The IGLTA Foundation thanks West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board, a valued IGLTA Proud Destination, and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) for generously sponsoring fellowships this year.

 

Full bios on all Foundation Fellowship recipients can be found here.  

 

The IGLTA Foundation’s Global Fellowship program is dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ individuals achieve their professional goals and contribute to the growth of the travel and tourism industry. To date, the Foundation has awarded 63 fellowships to entrepreneurs and students in 32 countries, providing mentorship and industry experience to empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ tourism leaders worldwide. To support the IGLTA Foundation Fellowship Program and for more information on becoming a fellowship mentor, contact info@igltafoundation.org.

 

About IGLTA & the IGLTA Foundation 

The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ+ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of UN Tourism. IGLTA’s mission is to enable authentic travel that enriches lives and connects the LGBTQ+ community and tourism industry. IGLTA's global network includes 14,500+ LGBTQ+ welcoming accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events, and travel media in over 80 countries. The philanthropic IGLTA Foundation empowers LGBTQ+ welcoming travel businesses globally through leadership, research, and education. For more information: iglta.org, igltaconvention.org or iglta.org/foundation and follow social media at @IGLTA and @IGLTAFoundation.