Handbook of LGBT Tourism & Hospitality
To research this book, the authors traveled to six continents, interviewed nearly a hundred industry experts, and analyzed multiple emerging trends among LGBT travelers. The Handbook of LGBT Tourism and Hospitality is an easy-to-read, practical, and relevant guidebook with a simple goal: to help marketing professionals, business owners, and allied professionals compete in the increasingly competitive global LGBT travel and hospitality industry.
Contents:
-The Foundations of LGBT Tourism & Hospitaltiy
-Business Essentials
-Business Opportunities
-Marketing Your Business
-The Global View: Opportunities and Challenges
-Trends and Industry Resources
-Index
The LGBTQ community is becoming larger in a sense that in record numbers they are being allowed to live more openly as they embrace their right to live just like everyone else. Like the rest of the world who loves to travel and share adventures with their loved ones they also deserve to do so safely. It was obvious the authors put a great deal of time and effort into this book in order to provide information on how the tourism industry and other businesses can show their acceptance and incorporate friendly practices into their business model to provide equal treatment.
Although this book is written for those who market and or own businesses in the travel and hospitality industry I think it would be a good read for even the everyday traveler so they can recognize the signs of who will provide them the standard of hospitality they are looking for in their next vacation. It’s no great secret that despite the fact we’re all equal on a human level it doesn’t mean everyone gets treated the same way even if it isn’t being done intentionally. If a man and woman go up to a hotel desk to reserve a room the initial assumption and generally only question asked is “Would you like a room with a queen size or king size bed” because there’s an initial belief they will share one. If a couple approaches that same desk but it’s two men or two women then they’ll often get asked “Do you want a room with 2 beds or do you need 2 separate rooms”. I liked how the authors are trying to educate from the most basic of levels and work their way up.
They also provide a basic history of how these thought patterns have changed over the years as companies began to realize they need to have more inclusive policies. They have even broken down chapters to focus solely on those specifically in the lesbian community, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and the family unit. I thought this was insightful because although for lack of a better phrase everyone who is not ‘heterosexual’ gets lumped together under the LGBTQ banner they in fact have different needs.
One of the other interesting aspects was the section where they broke up the world by chapter so you can see how different areas treat those in the community, how to adapt policies to the culture and what challenges are faced in those regions. They provide a list of associations to look into for more resources around the world and what specifically about them would be helpful. There is also a list of books added for further reading to get a wider understanding of LGBTQ Tourism needs.
This definitely seems to be THE go to manual for how to provide a friendly, safe, and open experience to a demographic that deserves to be treated with the same hospitality as everyone else.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harrington Park Press for allowing me to review this book.
*synopsis and pic from netgalley.com