West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board (also known as Visit West Hollywood) has joined the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) as Global Partner to bolster a mutual commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusive travel.
“West Hollywood’s longstanding dedication to inclusivity and their unwavering support for IGLTA’s mission make them an unparalleled ally,” said IGLTA President/CEO, John Tanzella.
“We are eager to team up and bridge the gap between LGBTQ+ travelers and phenomenal travel experiences.”
“West Hollywood stands on the principles of inclusivity and acceptance,” added Tom Kiely, President/CEO of West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board. “This partnership with IGLTA will heighten the awareness, ensuring travelers worldwide recognize West Hollywood as a haven for self-expression and self-discovery.”
The collaboration isn’t new. West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board hosted IGLTA’s 1993 Global Convention, sponsored the 2015 Global Convention in Los Angeles, and has championed LGBTQ+ rights alongside IGLTA for over three decades. Notably, earlier this year, they played a pivotal role in IGLTA Foundation’s inaugural LGBTQ+ travel symposium in New Delhi, discussing the burgeoning potential of LGBTQ+ tourism between India and the world.
In 2022, West Hollywood further showcased its commitment to inclusivity. The city revamped its iconic rainbow crosswalk in the “Rainbow District” to incorporate colors representing LGBTQ+ people of color and the transgender community. This installation, located at the intersection of Santa Monica and N. San Vicente Boulevards, is a continuation of the city’s efforts since the 70s, pushing for equality and inclusivity at state, national, and global levels.
The West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board is a 501(c) non-profit organization that markets the City of West Hollywood as a first-choice visitor destination to business and leisure travelers by promoting an awareness of the city’s unique location, image, businesses and industries.
The West Hollywood City Council established the West Hollywood Business Improvement Area and the Hotel Marketing Benefit Zone to promote West Hollywood as a travel destination in 1989. While the business improvement district was one of the first in the area, other nearby cities had since formed similar organizations that began to vastly outspend West Hollywood in tourism marketing efforts.
Thus, in 2014, the city created the new West Hollywood Tourism Business Improvement District, funded by an increase in the hotel assessment, to address this imbalance and continue positioning the city as a top travel destination in Southern California and beyond. In a city of only 1.9 square miles, West Hollywood now has 20 hotels and an annual visitor economic impact that has grown to more than $1.83B USD in direct visitor spending.
To learn more, visit: https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/about-us/.
