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NEWS RELEASE: IGLTA and Out Now Partner to Improve Gay Travel, Embargoed for 1-9-2008
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE:
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
IGLTA & Out Now Partner to Improve the Gay Travel Experience Worldwide
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has partnered with Out Now Consulting to provide greater benefits to IGLTA's accommodation members. Out Now's product "GayComfort" will help these, and future new business members, provide the utmost in customer service to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travelers.
Gay and lesbian travel is a highly sought after multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. But for years research as well as real world experience have shown gays and lesbians often have strong concerns about how welcome they will actually be made to feel during their vacations. Many travelers report customer service delivery levels that can range from mild discomfort to outright homophobia.
But history will be made this week when the gay and lesbian travel market has a new ally in its quest for better understanding, and improved customer service worldwide. The new online training and accreditation product -- GayComfort(tm) -- addresses the need for better staff training to improve vacation customer service globally for gay and lesbian travelers.
"With literally billions in gay tourism dollars, euros, and other currencies up for grabs each year, it seems likely this product should find an industry ready and willing to learn how to improve the ways it delivers customer service to the gay travel segment." states Tom Nibbio, IGLTA's Global Ambassador who oversees the association's worldwide membership and sponsorship growth. Nibbio added: ""This is an important step forward in the continuing development of the global gay tourism sector."
GayComfort(tm) is an online training program that enables employers to effectively train their busy employees on how to interact with gay and lesbian customers to provide a high quality customer service experience. The aim of the program is to facilitate more comfortable and relaxed interaction leading to improved outcomes for both travelers and staff.
This online educational program uses real-life scenarios and practical teaching to make sure that every employee in a travel industry business can understand the importance of impeccable customer service to the GLBT guest. It addresses key concerns gay travelers have when traveling by giving staff members the information they need to deliver better customer service. While this program will be launched in English-language format, as opportunities expand, the originators envision a product tailored for other languages and cultures.
This training is new, innovative and unique. It is designed to help gay and lesbian travelers have better travel experiences through improved and respectful interactions with staff in a customer-facing role working in hotel accommodations, travel agencies and tour operators. Improved customer experience builds increasing repeat and referral gay travel market business.
Ian Johnson, CEO of Out Now, said his company was delighted to be releasing GayComfort(tm) in association with IGLTA.
"IGLTA is the recognized peak industry body in the area of global GLBT travel," said Johnson. "We are very proud that GayComfort has earned the endorsement of IGLTA, and are looking forward to working in association with IGLTA to improve the standards of lesbian and gay travel training around the world. The real winners are lesbian and gay travelers, and the many thousands of travel industry staff that serve them every day."
More information on the program can be found at OutNowConsulting.com and GayComfort.com. Online tutorials about GayComfort(tm) can be viewed at http://www.YouTube.com/GayComfort.
IGLTA is the association leader of gay and lesbian travel globally, and is always working to make sure members are educated and aware of the needs and actions of the gay and lesbian travel consumer base.
IGLTA's partnership with Out Now and GayComfort(tm) will open another door for this education to take place. IGLTA's 25th Anniversary World Convention will be held in Las Vegas from April 30 - May 4, 2008. Ian Johnson of Out Now will provide an educational presentation to delegates on the importance of quality staff training for member businesses. IGLTA staff and Las Vegas Tourism Officials are projecting the 2008 IGLTA Convention to be the largest event of its kind ever held anywhere in the world.
ABOUT IGLTA AND OUT NOW:
Out Now works globally and was established in 1992 as a gay market agency developing specialized strategic programs and services to help businesses more effectively understand and reach the gay and lesbian market. One of their core philosophies is stressing that gay and lesbian people are extremely diverse and should be marketed to as such, not in a homogenous way. More information may be found at www.OutNowconsulting.com.
IGLTA is the world's leading authority, resource and representative of gay and lesbian travel. Membership is in 55 countries around the world and consists of accommodations, airlines, tour operators, travel agents, tourism offices and other key players in the tourism industry. IGLTA works to help the tourism industry attract gay and lesbian consumers and learn more about the gay and lesbian market. For more information please visit www.iglta.org .
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