From May 17 to 20, Montréal will play host to the 2007 Annual Convention of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA), which will be held at the Hyatt Regency. More than 350 delegates and 110 exhibitors will participate in seminars, workshops and meetings that will take place over four days. The convention will also feature a one-day travel show open to the general public on Saturday, May 19, 2007, from 2:30 to 5:30pm at Complexe Desjardins. Travellers are invited to come and discover what’s new and exciting on the gay and lesbian travel scene.
‘It is with great pleasure and enormous pride that we welcome this major gathering to our beautiful city’, said Charles Lapointe, CEO of Tourisme Montréal. ‘The entire Montréal tourism industry is delighted to have IGLTA delegates in our city and the convention is expected to generate economic spin-offs estimated at $1 million. Hosting this conference is doubly significant, since these travel professionals will act as multiplying agents to attract gay and lesbian tourists from around the world to discover Montréal’s many charms’, adds Mr. Lapointe.
Recognized by the international gay and lesbian community for its effervescence, hospitality and openness, Montréal is the destination of choice for thousands of tourists who come here each year to enjoy its European charm and the array of events offered by its dynamic gay community. Montréal’s reputation as a gay destination par excellence no doubt played a deciding role in the IGLTA’s choice to hold its annual convention here.
A leader in the travel industry, the IGLTA is committed to promoting and creating awareness for gay-friendly tourism internationally. Founded in 1983, the IGLTA has a membership of over 1,000 gay, lesbian and community friendly travel professionals.