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IGLTA HONORS

IGLTA has created the Honors Awards to recognize actions or works that promote the values of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Each year in conjunction with the IGLTA Global Convention, outstanding initiatives that promote the advancement of LGBTQ tourism and the timeless values that are meaningful to the IGLTA and the IGLTA Foundation are recognized.

Pinnacle Award - The Pinnacle Award, IGLTA's highest honor, is selected by the Chair of the IGLTA board of directors and given to an individual, business, or organization that has truly made a heroic journey in advancing LGBTQ travel worldwide.

Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award – This Honor, bestowed to a longtime IGLTA member, takes its name from the man widely considered the father of gay travel and focuses on someone that has given tirelessly to IGLTA/IGLTA Foundation. The IGLTA Board of Directors makes the selection from the association's member businesses and allies in 80 countries.

Pathfinder Award  – This Honor is given to an individual, business or organization that has made significant positive impact on their destination, demonstrating the highest standard of warmth and hospitality to the LGBTQ+ community. 

Pioneer Award – This Honor is given to an individual, business, or organization whose innovative spirit and actions have led the way in moving LGBTQ+ travel forward.

Storyteller Award – This Honor is given to an individual, business or organization that has captured the imagination and interests of LGBTQ+ travelers through impactful reporting and storytelling.

Vanguard Award - This Honor is given to an individual, business or organization that enhances connections within our tourism community and elevates the visibility of LGBTQ+ travel worldwide. 

Ally Award – This Honor is given to an individual, business or organization that, while not LGBTQ+, has demonstrated a long-term commitment to championing inclusive travel, helping to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ travelers worldwide.

Impact Award (IGLTA Foundation) – The Impact Award recognizes a smaller, independent IGLTA business member based on 3 pillars of sustainability: Environment, Community and Diversity & Inclusion and is selected through an application process with the support of The TreadRight Foundation.

 


2021 Annual Global Convention in Atlanta, USA


Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award

  

Matt Skallerud, Pink Media

 

Pathfinder Award

  

Atlanta Black Pride

 

Ally Award

 

 

Anette Kishon-Pines, Belmond

 

Chair's Award

 

Apoorva Gandhi, Senior Vice President, Multicultural Affairs, Social Impact and Business Councils, Marriott accepted the Chair's Award to honor the legacy of Arne Sorenson

 

Pinnacle Award

 

Malik Brown, Director of LGBTQ Affairs, office of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, accepted the Pinnacle Award on the behalf of Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

 

IGLTA Foundation Impact Award

The IGLTA Foundation empowers LGBTQ+ welcoming businesses through leadership, research and education. This award recognizes a business member of IGLTA whose initiatives encourage the responsible development of tourism in three key areas: environment, community, diversity & inclusion. The Impact Award is presented in partnership with The TreadRight Foundation, the foundation created by The Travel Corporation's family of brands.

  

Sam Castañeda Holdren - President/CEO, OUT in Colombia


2019 Annual Global Convention in New York City, USA


Pioneer Award 

 

 

  

Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), New York City

 

Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award

  

IGLTA presented the Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award to George Neary, a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ tourism, during its 36th Annual Global Convention in New York City 

 

Vanguard Award

  

ITB LGBT+ Travel Pavilion L-R: Thomas Bömkes of Diversity Tourism, ITB partner; Rika Jean François, Commissioner ITB Corporate Social Responsibility.

 

IGLTA celebrates the 100th anniversary of Hilton

   

IGLTA shared a rainbow cake and a recognition award with delegates to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hilton, a global partner since 2010.

 

 


2018 Annual Global Convention in Toronto, Canada


Pinnacle Award

 

Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and LGBTQ2 Liaison to Justin Trudeau, accepted the Pinnacle Award on the Canadian Prime Minister’s behalf;

 

Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award

  

Tanya Churchmuch, MuchPR

 

Pathfinder Award

 

Kimahli Powell, Rainbow Railroad

 

Pioneer Award

   

Dean Nelson, Founder of Pride House

 

Storyteller Award

  

Dirk Baumgartl, Blu Media Group

 


IGLTA Recognizes William Pate of the ACVB


16 August 2017

 

IGLTA Recognizes William Pate of the ACVB

 

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)

Img 2653

Photo: May 16, 2017 William Pate, President & CEO, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau at Google NYC, presenting case study during LGBTQ+ Week NYC 2017

Atlanta CVB William Pate August 2017.2


IGLTA Recognizes Tom Alderink of Belmond


24 July 2017

 

IGLTA Recogni zes Tom Alderink of Belmond

 

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 

Copy Of Tom Alderink Global LGBTQ+ Contribution 7-24-17 Copy


IGLTA Presents Chair Award to Mariela Castro Espín


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

Untitled Design (5)


2017 Annual Global Convention in St. Petersburg, FL, USA


CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AWARD

George

George A. Kalogridis, President, Walt Disney World Resort

 

IGLTA COMMUNITY AWARD 

 Barbara

Barbara Poma, onePULSE Foundation

 

HANNS EBENSTEN HALL OF FAME AWARD 

 Christina

Christina Guggenberger

 

PIONEER IN DESTINATION MARKETING

Tat

Tourism Authority of Thailand

 

TRAVEL WRITER HONOR

Andrew Collins

Andrew Collins

 

IGLTA AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

 Russell L

Russell Lord - Israel

 

 


2016 Annual Global Convention in Cape Town, SA


The Chair Award

Arch Photograph 1

 

Desmond Tutu

 

IGLTA Community Honor

 Phphxcuesam

Nondumiso "Ndumie" Funda

 

IGLTA Networking Honor

 Fitur

Fitur GAY (LGBT)

 

IGLTA Ambassador of the Year

Amb 2016

Shiho Ikeuchi & Shintaro Koizumi

2015 Annual Global Convention in Los Angeles, USA


The Chair Award

President -barack -obama -photo -pete -souza -official -white -house -photographer -66969212  Barack Obama 

 


Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award

Olivia  Olivia 
 

 


 

Destination Pioneer

Curacao  The Curacao Tourist Board 
 

 


 

LGBTQ+ Event Pioneer

   Doug Swallow 
 

 


 

Community Honor

LA LGBTQ+ Center  The Los Angeles LGBTQ+ center 

Networking

CCLGBTCO  Camara de Comerciantes LGBTQ+ de Colombia 

Travel Writer

J. Tuelings  Jurrian Teulings 

Ambassador of the Year 

J. Mountford  Jonathan Mountford 
 

2014 Annual Global Convention in Madrid, Spain


The Chair Award

Bw Bob Witeck


Community Award

Alb Alfonso Llopart Basterra

Pioneer Award

2 ILGA

Media Honor Award

Mj Merryn Johns

Ambassador Award

1 Alessio Virgilli

2013 Annual Global Convention in Chicago, USA


The Hanns Ebensten Hall of Fame Award

 

Cl Charles Lapointe, President/CEO of Tourisme Montreal

Chair Award

Tr Thomas Roth

Community Award

6 Center on Halsted

Pioneer Award

Df Dee Farrell

 

Travel Writer Award

Mk Manuela Kay

 


2012 Annual Global Convention in Florianopolis, Brazil


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

Gk Gregg Kaminsky- R Family Vacations (NYC)


Chair Award

Jb Javier Blanco- UNWTO

Community Award

Af Andre Fisher

Pioneer Award

Russell Russell Lord -Kenes Tours

Travel Writer Award

Ml Michael Luongo

2011 Annual Global Convention in Fort Lauderdale, USA


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

Cr Charley Rounds


Chair Award

Gg Gina Gatta- Damron Guide

Community Award

Ng Nicki Grossman

Corporate Award

3 American Airlines

Pioneer Award

Dr David Ryan -RhinoAfrica Safaris/ Out2Africa

Innovator Award

5 SAS Scandinavian Airlines

Networking Award

Abrat Gls. ABRAT GLS (The Brazilian Association for Gay & Lesbian Tourism)

2010 Annual Global Convention in Antwerp, Belgium


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Spartacus International (Berlin)


Chair Award

  Jose Sampol- TAM Airlines VP

Community Award

 Patrick Aertsen, Manager, Red and Blue


Corporate Award

 Accor Hotels


Pioneer Award

 Madian Al Jazerah, Founder, Books@cafe


Innovator Award

  Shannon Wentworth -Sweet

Networking Award

  GNetwork360

2009 Annual Global Convention in Toronto, Canada


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Andrew Stokes


2008 Annual Global Convention in Las Vegas, USA


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Lima Tours


Chair Award

  Alan Beck
  Fun Maps

2006 Annual Global Convention in Washington, DC, USA


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  The Original American Airlines Rainbow Team (Rick Cirillo, Mike Fricke, Robin Burr)


2004 Annual Global Convention in Vancouver, Canada


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Kevin Kailey

  Hanns Ebensten

Chair Award

  Mary Clark

2003 Annual Global Convention in Manchester, UK


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  John D'Alessandro

  Aaron Kampfe

Chair Award

  Carl Zander

2002 Annual Global Convention in Fort Lauderdale, USA


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Richard Gray


Chair Award

  Geoff Carey

2001 Annual Global Convention in Munich, Germany


Chair Award

  Rosemary Hopkins


1999 Annual Global Convention in Minneapolis, USA


Chair Award

Babs Pic 2014 Babs Daitch


1998 Annual Global Convention in Montreal, Canada


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Lynne Hocking

  Rick Cirillo

Chair Award

  Cynthia Marquard

1997 Annual Global Convention in Philadelphia, USA


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Herb Harris


Chair Award

  Kevin Kailey
  Richard Gray

1996 Annual Global Convention in Sydney, Australia


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Marianne Ferrari

  Rod Stringer
  Dan Delbex

1994 Annual Global Convention in Washington, DC, USA


IGLTA Hall of Fame Award

  Newt Dieter

  Kevin Mossier
  Richard Cash
  Walter Marlowe

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IGLTA - International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, Inc
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