Welcome to Las Vegas

When it comes to being fabulous, where you are is just as important as who you are. And there’s no better place to be your fabulous self than Las Vegas – ranked as one of the top destinations for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers.

Entertainment
The Entertainment Capital of the World has plenty to keep you entertained. Catch Elton John at Caesars Palace or Holly Madison at Peepshow at Planet Hollywood. Visit Jubilee! at Bally’s to witness a traditional Vegas production show with glitz, glamour and beautiful showgirls. For a stunning display of acrobatics don’t miss one of the seven Cirque du Soleil shows: ZUMANITY at New York-New York, “O” at Bellagio, KÀ at MGM Grand, Believe at Luxor, Love at The Mirage, Mystère at Treasure Island and Viva ELVIS at ARIA Resort & Casino. Need your Broadway fix? Vegas delivers with Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay, Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian and Jersey Boys at Paris Las Vegas.

Accommodations
Las Vegas’ premier resorts aren’t just a place to crash and store your stuff. With all of the amenities that the city’s amazing hotels have to offer, you’re sure to enjoy a wonderful getaway. From the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas to the canals of Venice at The Venetian, to the beautiful lakeside Bellagio, Las Vegas welcomes visitors to some of the most unique casino resorts in the world. Several Las Vegas hotels offer LGBT packages. Planet Hollywood, Wynn Las Vegas, Paris Las Vegas, New York-New York and Luxor offer packages geared specifically with the LGBT traveler in mind. Or, check in to the Blue Moon Resort, the only all-male, Las Vegas gay-owned hotel.

Dining
Once known for its all-you-can-eat buffets and bargain shrimp cocktails, Las Vegas has transformed itself into a top culinary destination. Today, Las Vegas has the most comprehensive collection of celebrity chefs and world-class restaurants, more Master Sommeliers than any other city in the world and more wine sold per capita than in any other destination. From Mobil Travel Guide awarded restaurant Joël Robuchon at The Mansion at MGM Grand to Simon Restaurant and Lounge at Palms Place and Payard Patisserie and Bistro at Caesars Palace you’re sure to find something perfect for your taste buds

Shopping
Las Vegas has evolved into a shopping Mecca, with everything from souvenir shops to haute couture boutiques. Crystals at CityCenter is the newest shop on the block, joining favorites such as The Shoppes at The Palazzo, featuring Barneys New York, Michael Kors, Van Cleef & Arpels and Piaget; The Forum Shops at Caesars featuring 160 boutiques from Abercrombie and Fitch to John Varvatos to Michael Kors; and The Fashion Show Mall with nearly 2 million square feet of shopping heaven including Neiman Marcus, Dillard’s, Macys, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. And for great deals, visit the Las Vegas Outlet Center or Las Vegas Premium Outlets. Great buys are in store, no matter where you shop in Vegas!

Nightlife
Bars and clubs abound in this city with many hot spots to choose from. Try Krave, the largest LGBT dance club on the Strip, or head to nearby favorites Tao, PURE or LAX for a mixed crowd and great music. Revolution at The Mirage is also a popular weekly party on Sunday nights. Make sure to visit The Loop, a cluster of LGBT venues including Gipsy, 8½, Piranha, Freezone and others. Check out events by Eduardo Cordova Presents (www.eduardopresents.com) and Sin City Q Socials for a variety of great parties throughout the city.

Attractions
Take advantage of the great local attractions that you’ll only find here in Vegas. Don’t miss the famous Bellagio fountains, SkyJump Las Vegas at the Stratosphere, the Flightlinez at Fremont Street Experience, Red Rock and the Grand Canyon. Try something new with Pink Jeep Tours or Betty’s Outrageous Adventures, which cater directly to the LGBT traveler.

Spas
Prefer getting pampered indoors? No problem – Las Vegas is home to the more than 45 unique and relaxing luxury spas, making it easy to find your favorite retreat. Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Palazzo offers gracious, tranquil gathering places and a European-style thermal treatment suite. Or refresh yourself at the Paris Spa by Mandara with its Eucalyptus steam room, dry sauna and full-service salon. For some style, try the sleek and modern BATHHOUSE at THEhotel, or the stunning Spa at Encore.

Meetings/Conventions
For decades Las Vegas has been known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” but today the city is also recognized as the world’s leading convention and meeting destination.  Our award-winning hotel accommodations, meeting and exhibit facilities, and hospitality are among the best in the world and our resort and convention professionals are respected globally.  We have hosted some of the country’s premier LGBT organizations including HRC, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Victory Fund to name just a few.

Resources/Travel
Las Vegas offers incredibly helpful and updated resources to facilitate your traveling needs. The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, as well as QVegas are two great places to start.

To book your trip, visit us at VisitLasVegas.com/gaytravel

“The Queen City” is one of the oldest, most popular nicknames for Buffalo. Like any proper queen, Buffalo has a big heart, a terrific sense of humor and a great gift for transforming the everyday into something utterly unique.

Buffalo is – to borrow a term in every lip-synching diva’s repertoire – a survivor. Its strong spirit was bred in the kind of working-class environment chronicled in native-born author and activist Leslie Feinberg’s acclaimed novel Stone Butch Blues and in Elizabeth Kennedy and Madeline Davis’s award-winning history of the local lesbian community, Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold.

Regardless of the main purpose of your trip – business, pleasure, marriage (New York State passed the Marriage Equality Act June 24, 2011)– be sure to allot some time to see the town and prepare to be pleasantly surprised by how much the area has to offer the LGBT visitor.

Shuffling Off to Buffalo

Getting in and around Buffalo is easy. The region is home to two airports: The Buffalo Niagara International and the Niagara Falls International Airports, with plenty of low cost airlines, including Jet Blue and Southwest, that make visiting as easy as it is affordable. Buffalo is within a day’s drive of major North American cities – New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington and Cleveland as well as Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  There are two Amtrak stations here – one situated in the heart of downtown.

Gay Buffalo

This is a town that knows how to party, as evidenced by the fact that the bars stay open till 4 a.m.  Warm-weather weekends (as well as plenty of chillier ones) are packed with all manner of street festivals, concerts, and ways to have fun. To find out what’s going on while you’re here, do some advance work online. Outcome, the area’s preeminent gay web portal, contains entertainment listings, while the site BuffaloGayBars is a handy guide to local nightlife. Artvoice has a weekly schedule of LGBT action along with extensive reports on everything else you need to see, do, and know.

For your first meal in a town rich with quality restaurants at every point on the economic scale, we recommend you spend Friday the way generations of Buffalonians have spent it: at one of the city’s seemingly infinite fish fries. A legacy of Buffalo’s Catholic roots, this tradition extends year-round. We recommend Hamlin House and for several reasons: the food is good, the building dates back to 1865, and odds are excellent your gaydar is going to go off over and over as you look around the room. It’s friendly, unpretentious and classic Buffalo. If you’re into the bar scene, get a head start at Club Marcella, or order a cold Labatt Blue (Buffalo is the USA headquarters) at Fugazi.

The arts are huge here; it’s hard to imagine any other American city of Buffalo’s size with so much to offer: professional theater companies (many of whom regularly produce works by and about gays and lesbians), world-class museums and art galleries like the Albright-Knox and Hallwalls (the latter home to a semi-annual Ways in Being Gay/Ways in Between Gender festival), stellar architecture, and renowned musical ensembles from the Buffalo Philharmonic and Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus to a never-ending stream of up-and-coming indie bands.

Speaking of indies, Buffalo’s best-known cultural export of the last ten years is singer-songwriter-guitarist Ani DiFranco. Not only is her self-run label Righteous Babe Records based here, but she’s also the mastermind behind the city’s newest and hottest venue, Babeville, which boasts two of the city’s best venues for live music.

We celebrate four seasons

Buffalo loves a good party. From late May through October, the streets come to life with every conceivable celebration—ethnic heritage festivals, free concerts, food fests, tours of local homes and gardens, and more—and when the weather gets a little cooler, the action simply moves indoors! For the LGBT community, the high point of the summer is Pride Week, capped off with a Dyke March, and ending with a giant gathering at Canalside, featuring both national and local performers.

The Allentown Art Festival, held the second weekend in June, is one of the largest arts and crafts festivals in North America, right in the heart of the gayest neighborhood in the city. Buffalo Niagara is also home of the National Garden Festival – a five-week long garden party (including America’s largest Garden Walk Buffalo) – a festival of 1,000 gardens that has something for everyone, with or without a green thumb!   

Taste of Buffalo, held the second weekend of July, is one of the nation’s largest food festivals, attracting more than 450,000 people annually.   The National Buffalo Wing Festival, held Labor Day weekend, is Buffalo’s homage to the beloved chicken wing. . .serving up some 2.4 million wings to hungry diners since 2002.

Not everyone hunkers down for the winter. There’s ice skating at Rotary Rink; the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament; tubing, tobogganing and snowshoeing through one of the Frederick Law Olmsted Parks.  Nearby, you’ll find some of the best skiing in the East at Kissing Bridge and Holiday Valley, located in the charming village of Ellicottville.  Oh, did we mention that Buffalo is only 20 minutes from one of the Wonders of the World – Niagara Falls?  It’s an awe-inspiring site in every season!

Don’t forget the architecture

You can experience multiple works by Frank Lloyd Wright (including the Darwin D. Martin House Complex, the finest example of his Prairie Style), Louis Sullivan’s ornate Guaranty Building, H.H. Richardson’s massive Buffalo State Hospital, now known as the Richardson Olmsted Complex), the graceful lines of Eliel and Eero Saarinen’s Kleinhans Music Hall, and the birthplace of the American Arts & Crafts Movement, the Roycroft Inn and Campus.

And that’s just the beginning. You’ll also take in buildings by Richard Upjohn, Stanford White, Lord & Burnham, Charles Atwood, and America’s first female professional architect, Louise Blanchard Bethune.

You can see these works in textbooks. Or you can see them in Buffalo.

Buffalo loves sports … and we have great places to play them

Buffalo is home to Buffalo Bills football, Buffalo Sabres hockey, Buffalo Bandits Lacrosse, and Buffalo Bisons baseball, who will host the 2012 Triple-A All Star Game in July.

If you’re a competitor or if you represent competitors, our facilities are rated among the nation’s best, hosting everything from high school invitational to the World University Games to NCAA basketball and hockey.

We have great meeting facilities

Choose from a variety of meeting-friendly hotels with extensive conference space when booking your Buffalo Conventions. For larger meetings, the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center is located in the heart of downtown Buffalo. Featuring 21 individual rooms complete with audio-visual and multi-media capabilities, the Convention Center offers a 64,000 square foot exhibition hall that can accommodate up to 7,000 people.

Fall in love with Buffalo . . . and marry the one you love here, too

New York State has long enjoyed a reputation as a cosmopolitan, multicultural destination.  The passage of the Marriage Equality Act is the latest proof that we proudly embrace our LGBT residents and visitors. Buffalo Niagara is an ideal choice for a wedding. Not only will same-sex couples find an enthusiastic and supportive community here, tourism officials are working in partnership with members of the LGBT community to ensure that marriage-minded couples have every resource at their disposal to plan and hold a wedding in the area. The region is more affordable than many locations elsewhere in New York State and is easily accessible by plane, train or automobile.

Learn More

Visitbuffaloniagara.com

Buffaloconvention.com

Situated in the heart of Europe Germany not only has an ideal geographic location, it might also be considered the center of gay Europe. The LGBT community in Germany is an important part of society and enjoys some of Europe’s most advanced rights of gays and lesbians. Examples such as the German Foreign Minister and the Mayor of Berlin show that being out of the closet does not pose any obstacles to a political or public career.

Well-organized and lively LGBT communities have sprung up in all major and many small-sized cities and account for Germany’s legendary LGBT culture that influences the overall cultural life to a great extent. Numerous gay events take place throughout the year, peaking with the annual pride parades, in Germany known as Christopher Street Day Parades, which are organized in every major city, commemorating the gay and lesbian movement.

In Germany the gay traveler gets to experience a wide variety of cultural attractions, vibrant cities, natural beauty and a well-integrated LGBT community. With more than 6,000 event venues, outstanding infrastructure, reliable and professional partners as well as high-quality service, Germany is also an ideal business travel destination. Come to Germany and see for yourself why it is considered one of Europe’s most LGBT-friendly vacation and convention destinations. Please visit www.germany.travel for more information.

Berlin
The German Capital is one of the largest gay metropolises in Europe. The dynamic and diverse LGBT-scene has contributed to the city’s culture and vitality for many years. The gay-friendly neighborhoods Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain have become trendy and hip not only with gays and lesbians but with artists, young and creative people.

Berlin has become a creative capital and a mecca for artists. While the architecture clearly indicates a change to modernity, the creative and inventive climate is what characterizes Berlin best. Numerous museums, of which many can be found in the Eastern part of the city and around the Unter den Linden Boulevard, are proof of the various art and cultural eras of Berlin. Additionally today the art can be felt publicly, on walls, in galleries and in alternative art centers, especially in Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg.

Berlin offers a wide array of activities, services and institutions specifically designed by and for the LGBT scene. There are more than 150 gay bars, free city magazines, bookstores, pharmacies, sports clubs, boutiques, same sex dancing classes and studios, language courses, radio broadcasts and even a gay French fries kiosk. This is only in addition to various organizations, meeting places, counseling services and associations.Aside from the gay-friendly attractions, don’t forget to check out Berlin’s main attractions such as the Brandenburg Gate, The TV tower on Alexanderplatz Square, the Memorial Church, Gendarmenmarkt Square, Potsdamer Platz Square, the dome of the Reichstag and Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cologne
The historic city on the river Rhine, known for its Cathedral, has its very own joie de vivre. The city is made up of cosy cafes and bars, where Kölsch, the local Cologne beer, flows constantly, Rhenish specialties are served and the atmosphere is warm and happy. Especially on weekends you can find locals, tourists, youths and students enjoying themselves at clubs, bars, restaurants and lounges in the quarters of Kwartier Latäng, Friesenviertel, Belgisches Viertel, Südstadt und Ehrenfeld. Surprisingly the prices are moderate for a city of this size and Happy Hour can sometimes be all day long – typically Cologne. Locals are communicative, optimistic and tolerant and most of all: they love their city. You can sense this especially during the carnival season when the whole city celebrates and has fun!

But Cologne has much more to offer than party-culture. Enjoy its many museums, the Art Cologne exhibition, a lively art and music scene and one of Germany’s biggest gay pride parades. Every tenth inhabitant of the city claims to be attracted to members of their own gender – at least occasionally – which contributes to a vivid and active LGBT-scene. Same sex couples are just as much part of the cityscape in Cologne as the Cologne Cathedral.

Frankfurt
Germany’s financial capital, Frankfurt, often called “Mainhattan” referring to the adjacent river Main and the skyscrapers that remind vaguely of Manhattan offers fine dining, shopping and impressive galleries. This is the city where Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born and you can still visit his birthplace, the Goethe Haus. Another historically important site is St Paul’s Church, where the first freely elected parliament of Germany met in 1848. The Römerberg Square and the old town hall are the center of historic Frankfurt. Get up the Main Tower to get the best panorama of the city.

The LGBT scene in Frankfurt, is rather small, but multi-cultural and international due to the high density of international businesses. Frankfurt’s gay scene concentrates around the so-called “Bermuda Dreieck” (Bermuda Triangle). The pride parade (Christopher Street Day) in Frankfurt takes place each year in July and attracts around 200,000 visitors.

Hamburg
“Live and let live” is the motto in Hamburg, the “Gateway to the World”. With its 800 year-old harbor, which is perfect for strolls and sightseeing by boat, Hamburg offers a mix of old and new, modern and traditional. The natives love Hamburg for its abundance of water and the freedom that this implies.

Hamburg is a very open-minded and tolerant city which is why the gay scene feels very welcome here. Another city with a gay former mayor, it was no coincidence that Germany’s first gay marriage was officiated here. The quarter of St Georg with its many cafes and bars is the gay hotspot in Hamburg and the city is also famous for its Christopher Street Day and leather convention. A highlight for nightlife in Hamburg is the “Reeperbahn” with numerous clubs and shows. Germany’s most famous drag queen Olivia Jones owns a bar on Reeperbahn and also offers guided tours for tourists.

Munich
The LGBT scene in Munich is very active and the event calendar stretches from a Rose Monday gay ball until the Gay Sunday during Oktoberfest, before all gays and lesbians get together for Pink Christmas in the Glockenbachviertel – the quarter is the heart of LGBT Munich. The first gay city councilor to represent a gay party, the “Rosa Liste”, the pink party, can be found in Munich.

Munich is an international art and culture metropolis situated close to the Alps in the South of Germany. Conveniently located close to many historic castles, Munich is an excellent gateway for sightseeing in Bavaria.

Contact information:
For travel: www.germany.travel

For conventions:
German Convention Bureau
www.germany-meetings.com
gcb@germany-meetings.com
+1 212 661 4582

Tag Approved Hotels in Germany

Photo Credits

Cologne Panorama © KölnTourismus
Cologne © KölnTourismus
Munich Schwuplattler © Josef Sattler GmbH
Christopher Street Day Berlin © visitBerlin.de/ Tanja Koc

It’s said “the American Spirit” was born in Valley Forge, where the fledgling Continental Army, under the leadership of General George Washington, was transformed from rag-tag to ready-to-fight for freedom from oppression. When you visit, you’ll learn the challenges of a long, cold winter without food and proper clothes, but you’ll also appreciate the sacrifices and devotion to freedom of a truly multicultural army of new “Americans.”

More than two centuries later, Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, are in the midst of another revolution insuring the rights of all Americans as the Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomes you to experience the wide diversity of its people, places and things to do. We’re members of the Gay and Lesbian Convention and Visitors Bureau, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association and the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus, so we know our audience and we know what you’re looking for when you travel. If you live in the mid-Atlantic area, you won’t even have to travel very far to reach us…our close proximity to New York, Washington, Baltimore and neighboring Philadelphia make planning a gay vacation getaway or meeting a breeze.

In fact, Valley Forge is just 30 minutes from Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, where the GLBT community is indulged with exceptional restaurants, night spots, boutique shops, and gay events. Book your stay in one of the Valley Forge area’s gay-welcoming, TAG®-approved hotels and you can enjoy all the hot and trendy digs in our laid-back suburbs and the City of Brotherly Love.

Our wide range of member hotels for every wallet, and their hospitality professionals, understand what it means to be truly “welcoming,” and they go the extra mile to deliver. So let us help you plan your visit. Between first class hotel accommodations and worldly cuisine, to up-market and outlet shopping destinations or quaint rural villages and Main Streets, to inspiring historical and cultural attractions, you’ll never be at a loss for something to do and enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

Portland’s inclusive attitude makes it a great LGBT getaway

Portland has long had a reputation for being individualistic, quirky and … dare we say it, queer. Never keen to conform, Portland has a laid-back style and a reverence for all things local — an irresistible combination for chefs, environmentalists, artists and just about anyone else who enjoys coloring outside the lines.

Fabulous dining, flourishing culture and the gorgeous outdoors are all easy to come by in Portland.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

Our video love letter to Portland offers a taste of what makes this our favorite city in the world. Check out the video and then come experience it for yourself!

TRANSPORTATION

• Portland International Airport (PDX) has been voted business travelers’ favorite U.S. airport four of the last five years.
• The award-winning MAX light rail system connects downtown to the convention center, the airport, and points beyond.
• There’s no cost to ride MAX light rail trains and streetcars in the “Free Rail Zone,” a 330-block area including downtown, as well as the Oregon Convention Center and Lloyd Center shopping mall.

ATTRACTIONS

Portland has a wide range of fun and inviting attractions — these are a few of our favorites:

• International Rose Test Garden
  Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world enjoy the sights and scents of the oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. The garden’s spectacular views and more than 8,000 roses make it one of the city’s most notable signature landmarks.

• Lan Su Chinese Garden
  A year-round wonder, Lan Su is an authentically built Ming Dynasty style garden. Covered walkways, bridges, pavilions and a richly planted landscape frame a picturesque lake in this urban oasis built by artisans from Portland’s sister city of Suzhou.
• Portland Art Museum
  Located in the heart of downtown’s cultural district, the oldest museum in the Northwest includes an outdoor sculpture court and historical interiors. Six stories of modern art and special exhibitions compliment magnificent permanent collection galleries, which feature an extensive collection of Native American art.
• Portland Japanese Garden
  This haven of tranquil beauty in the scenic hills above downtown has been proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Encompassing 5.5 acres and five separate garden styles, the garden includes meandering streams, intimate walkways and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood.
• Portland Saturday Market
  At the nation’s largest weekly open-air arts and crafts market, you can browse row upon row of unique creations made by the people who sell them, and enjoy live music and international snacks. Located in Waterfront Park; open rain or shine, Saturday and Sunday, March through December 24.
• Powell’s City of Books
  Covering an entire city block, Powell’s City of Books contains more than 1.5 million books in 3,500 different sections. Get a cup of joe at the in-store coffee shop, grab a map to the nine color-coded rooms, and lose yourself in the largest used and new bookstore on Earth.

FOOD AND DRINK

Portland has a favorite flavor: fresh. A passion for seasonal ingredients — from salmon to Dungeness crab, pears to Marionberries — pervades kitchens throughout the city, from James Beard Award-winning fine-dining establishments to casual spots like downtown’s beloved food carts.

To accompany your meal, may we suggest an Oregon Pinot noir? Or, perhaps, one of the riot of handcrafted beers that have earned Portland the nickname “Beervana”? The fact that we have no food and beverage sales tax just adds to your dining pleasure.

TAX-FREE SHOPPING

With no sales tax, Portland is a haven for shoppers regardless of budget, transportation or personal style. Within steps of downtown hotels, you’ll find major national retailers, plus independent boutiques with designs you won’t see anywhere else. More shopping abounds in the trendy Pearl District, sophisticated Nob Hill and other unique neighborhoods around town.

NEIGHBORHOODS

So, where do gays and lesbians hang out in Portland? It’s hard to choose one area — there are popular LGBT spots all over the city, from the urbane Pearl District to free-spirited Hawthorne. Here are a few of Portland’s most gay-welcoming neighborhoods.

Downtown: In the city’s urban core, the Cultural District is home to many arts institutions, from the museums along the tree-shaded South Park Blocks to the opulent Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The “West End” (adjacent to the Pearl District) has a handful of gay bars and cafés, and the verdant campus of Portland State University hosts a farmers’ market on Saturdays.

Pearl District: In this formerly industrial area, sturdy warehouses have become sleek restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and lounges. One of the neighborhood’s oldest businesses is Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world.

Old Town/Chinatown: This historic district contains numerous galleries and gay nightlife favorites and is home to the Portland Saturday Market. Stroll through the tranquil Lan Su  Chinese Garden or go underground with Portland Walking Tours to explore the city’s “Shanghai Tunnels.”

Mississippi Avenue: Ethnically diverse Mississippi Avenue is one of several eastside neighborhoods where independent businesses and creative spirits thrive. On this street, you’ll find down-home taquerías, boutiques, a huge emporium of reclaimed building materials (the ReBuilding Center) and Q Center (www.pdxqcenter.org), which serves the LGBTQ community.

Hawthorne & Belmont: These two southeast outposts of hippie and hipster culture have long been popular with lesbians and gays. Diverting, affordable and funky coffeehouses, bars, secondhand clothiers and boutiques line the main streets.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

No matter which part of town you visit (we humbly recommend them all), you’ll be welcomed with genuine warmth. And you needn’t take our word for it — Portland has been ranked among the best places to live in America by such wide-ranging authorities as Girlfriends magazine, Men’s Journal and Money Magazine.

So, plan your trip soon and find out for yourself why Portland is such a draw for visitors of every persuasion.

To learn more, and to book your trip, visit

www.travelportland.com/communities/lgbt-portland

Welcome to Gay & Lesbian Raleigh

Dynamic, Unexpected, Smart and Celebratory— just a few of the words you may be surprised to hear when talking about the Raleigh area. North Carolina’s Capital City has shed its “Mayberry neighbor” image and is sharing with visitors the fun, lively, welcoming vibe of a one-of-a-kind capital and cultural center. No matter what culture you come from, you’ll want to come out to Greater Raleigh, N.C.

In North Carolina, there’s no greater gay and lesbian nightlife than in Greater Raleigh. Endless hot spots, gay and lesbian nightspots and a warm, welcoming community make the Raleigh area an exciting place to visit. And no matter your reason for visiting the Raleigh area, we have something unique in almost every category—which is just one of the reasons we’re constantly named everything from America’s Best City to Live, Work and Play In, Best American City for Singles and Best Place to Do Business, just to name a few.

We’ve also been called the “City of Oaks” based on our penchant for green space, the “Smithsonian of the South” for our caliber of free museums and the “Silicon Valley of the East” paying homage to our cutting-edge tech scene (The Research Triangle Park is in our backyard, and eight colleges and universities call the Raleigh area home). With big-city energy and small-town charm, Greater Raleigh offers the best of both worlds.

At least three times a year, the Raleigh area especially shows its LGBT pride. In May, downtown Raleigh is host to OutRaleigh, a free street festival organized by the LGBT Center of Raleigh; in October, the center also puts on a series of Raleigh Is Coming Out events, including dances, meals and socials open to everyone. Every September, Raleigh also plays host to the night festival of North Carolina Pride (its day parade held in nearby Durham).

You don’t have to look far to find eye-catching, world-class entertainment. Greater Raleigh offers a variety of cultural and theatrical arts, claiming the best in performing arts as home to the nationally acclaimed Carolina Ballet, America’s next great orchestra (North Carolina Symphony), the region’s top professional theatre (North Carolina Theatre) and the region’s only opera company (North Carolina Opera).

Visitors also can indulge in the area’s creative visual arts at the North Carolina Museum of Art, one of the premier visual arts museums in the Southeast (with a world-class collection including more than 30 Rodin sculptures), and a new Contemporary Art Museum, CAM Raleigh.

Or if you’re looking for something on the more intimate or grassroots side of the arts, these major art organizations are bolstered by a thriving community of smaller galleries, artsy events, public art collections and independent performances.

See the newest trends in fashion from one of Raleigh’s local designers. For instance, from a corner store in downtown Raleigh, Stitch constructs and sells coveted Holly Aiken totes, wallets, bags (and yes, man-bags or murses), all designed, cut and constructed on the premises. Several blocks away, Victor and Sarah Lytvinenko produce their hand-crafted Raleigh Denim jeans (sold at Barneys and other exclusive shops coast-to-coast but best selected here on site).

Whether you’re in the mood for a relaxing canoeing or sailing excursion, for taking a scenic nature hike through a state park/forest or playing a round of golf in the summer sun, the Raleigh area is the place to spend time outdoors with more than 43,000 acres of parks and 120 miles of greenway trails. Raleigh is also home to award-winning gardens like N.C. State University’s J.C. Raulston Arboretum, an internationally recognized collection of more than 5,000 plants.

Just outside the city of Raleigh, you’ll find 11 neighboring cities and towns that make up Greater Raleigh. Each has its own personality; charming visitors with historic downtown’s, tree-lined main streets or some of the best golf in the state, these outlying areas are perfect for a day-trip. And if you are looking for a scuba park, traditional soda fountain, unique winery or craft brewery, we’ve got those sweet spots covered, too.

Where you stay is just as important as what you do while you’re here. It’s got to fit your style, your location and of course, your budget. That’s why you’ll find 150-plus options in Greater Raleigh. From luxurious, full-service hotels to romantic bed-and-breakfast inns, you can relax in the certainty that your expectations will be met.

From our buzzing nightlife, Broadway entertainment, world-class shopping destinations, exciting outdoor recreation and professional sports and abundance of upscale hotels and quaint little inns, Greater Raleigh offers a lot to see and do and welcomes you!

Come out, and take the time to explore our area of North Carolina; you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all of that ways that Raleigh can be a welcome (and welcoming) stop on any journey.

Gay and Lesbian Tourism

Celebrating diversity and tolerance for 50 years

It seems only natural that Provincetown would be a draw for diverse visitors as the town itself boasts a long and diverse history, beginning with the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620. The town began promoting itself as a tourist destination to boost the economy after the Great Portland Gale of 1898 wiped out the town’s fishing fleet and wharfs. Artists and bohemians were among Provincetown’s early visitors.  They were attracted to the incredible natural beauty, eclectic population, and sense of acceptance found in the town at the outer most tip of Cape Cod.

The 1920’s and 1930’s saw the gay & lesbian presence flourish as contingents of artists, writers, playwrights, poets, novelists, journalists, socialists, radicals and dilettantes began to summer in Provincetown.  These newcomers found inspiration in this avant-garde town’s beauty and freedom of exploration.  They were instrumental in developing Provincetown’s famous art colony and participated in the beginnings of modern American theater.

It wasn’t long before Provincetown became the place to spend the summer months for gay men and women.  Soon thereafter, many summer regulars became permanent residents as they purchased guesthouses and other local businesses, further enmeshing themselves in the local fabric.  The 1970’s marked Provincetown’s rise as the gay and lesbian mecca and destination that it is widely considered today.  Perhaps gay author Reed Woodhouse summed up Provincetown’s allure best when he wrote in 1991:  “To such an extent that Provincetown is, for anything, known for us, known for being one of the two or three places on the continent where gay people can be seen in something like their native habitat.  It is one of our hometowns.”

Since gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004, Provincetown has become “the place to get married” with over 1,400 marriage licenses issued to date.  Couples chose Provincetown for its gay symbolism and the breath-taking backdrop of the town’s beaches.

MUST -SEES

• Tea Dance – afternoon dance party that originated in Provincetown
• Carnival Parade – Mardi Gras parade during the week-long Gay Pride celebration in August
• Commercial Street “After Dark”
• Herring Cove Beach – popular beach among the Gay/Lesbian community
• Spiritus Pizza at 1am – www.spirituspizza.com

EVENTS OF INTEREST:

• Single Women’s Weekend –  www.womeninnkeepers.com
• Women of Color and Allies Weekend – www.provincetownforwomen.com
• Provincetown International Film Festival – www.ptownfilmfest.org
• Holly Folly – www.ptown.org
• Fantasia Fair – www.fantasiafair.org
• Provincetown Round Up – www.provincetownroundup.org
• Mates Leather Weekend – www.matesleatherweeeknd.com
• Swim for Life – www.swim4life.org
• Carnival Week – www.ptown.org
• Gay and Lesbian Family Week – www.familyequality.org
• Girl Splash – www.provincetownforwomen.com
• Bear Week – www.ptownbears.org
• Halloween –  www.ptown.org
• Fourth of July Circuit Parties
• Drag Bingo – held during the week of Carnival at the Unitarian-Universalist Meeting House

ACCOLADES

• Named Best Beach Resort Town by GayCities.com – 2010
• Named Best Gay Resort Town by PlanetOut – May 2006 and May 2007
• Named Top Five Gay-Friendly Destinations by Travel Industry Association of America – December 2006
• Named Best Summer Vacation Destination by Lavendar Magazine – 2006
• Named Best Gay Resort Town by Out Traveler – November/December 2005
• Named Top Five Gay Resort Towns by Out and About Travel Awards – 2005

About Provincetown

Located 120 miles from Boston along the National Seashore on the outer most tip of Cape Cod; Provincetown is a year-round destination with a fascinating history and extraordinary offerings.  From incredible beaches and boundless natural beauty to an eclectic arts and culture scene and world-class dining and shopping, Provincetown offers something for each of the diverse visitors it hosts throughout the year.

###

For more information, please contact Amelia Sutton (asutton@marlomc.com)

 marlo marketing/communications, 617.375.9700.

WEST HOLLYWOOD MARKETING & VISITORS BUREAU

Welcome to Gay and Lesbian West Hollywood

West Hollywood – Living Forward. You are about to experience a city truly like no other: Progressive, Creative, Open and Diverse; from the elegant to the outrageous and refined to the radical. The number one word used to describe a guests experience in West Hollywood? Fun! Whether you visit the legendary Sunset Strip, the Avenues of Art & Design business district, or our Main Street and heart of the LGBT community, Santa Monica Boulevard, you will leave with the feeling most have when in West Hollywood – Living Forward.

Just the Facts

West Hollywood’s population is approximately 39,000, 1/3 of which is LGBT, making West Hollywood the number one location for gays and lesbians in Southern California. Proud to be the hip and happening center of gay life in Los Angeles since its incorporation in 1984, the City of West Hollywood has continued to be recognized as a leading community in gay and lesbian rights, as well as a prime destination for gay couples getting married or enjoying a honeymoon.

West Hollywood offers visitors an enticing selection of renovated hotels, trend-setting dining, tantalizing spas, boutique shopping and bustling nightlife hotspots that continue to re-invent the city. The fun and fabulous will always remain in West Hollywood, home to such events as the West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval (dubbed the Largest Halloween Street Party in the World) in October and the annual Christopher Street West LA Pride Festival in June, the largest gay pride festival on the West Coast.

Stay: Hotel Hopping

All of “WeHo” (as the locals say) hotels are open and inviting to gay and lesbian travelers. San Vicente Inn is an exclusive all-gay-male property with private, clothing optional, tropical surroundings. Ramada Plaza West Hollywood is located in the middle of the action on historic Route 66, Santa Monica Boulevard. Luxurious all-suite properties like the Palihouse, Le Montrose Suites Hotel, Chamberlain Hotel and Le Parc Suites Hotel are within walking distance of “The Boulevard” where you will find bustling nightlife. The Sunset Strip, home to LA’s best live music scene, offers a world-class selection of stylish hotels, including the Andaz West Hollywood, The London, Mondrian, the Standard and the Grafton.

Play: Route 66/The Boulevard

Santa Monica Boulevard, part of the famed Route 66, is the pulsating heart of Southern California’s most happening gay & lesbian community. By day, don’t miss numerous gay-friendly coffee shops and restaurants like Eat Well, Hamburger Mary’s, or the French Marketplace. Grab a frozen yogurt at the very first Pinkberry outlet or discover unique stores like Lemon Tree Bungalow for gifts or LASC for L.A.’s hottest men’s styles. At night, the city comes alive as West Hollywood’s legendary clubs like the Abbey, Here, Eleven, East/West, Micky’s, Rage & Fiesta Cantina entice party-goers. Find different theme nights at many of West Hollywood’s clubs, some offering go-go boys or drag shows.

See: Art & Design Diversions

West Hollywood is ground zero for those with an appreciation for art, design and architecture. On the Avenues of Art & Design, a section of West Hollywood that consists of Beverly and Robertson Boulevards and Melrose Avenue, visitors and locals alike browse world-class boutique shops for the finest names in design, home décor, fashion and beauty in a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. Located on the Avenues are such businesses as Armani Casa, Fendi Casa, Alpha, Alberta Ferretti, 3.1 Philip Lim, Chrome Hearts, Balenciaga, James Perse, John Varvatos, and many more. If you’re hungry, visit Urth Caffe or Le Pain Quotidien for some of LA’s best people watching. Not to be missed is the 1.2 million square-foot Pacific Design Center (PDC), also known as the “Blue Whale” and home of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MOCA) Gallery at the PDC.

Spa: Robertson Boulevard

One of LA’s trendiest sections of road in West Hollywood is Robertson Boulevard, located along the Avenues of Art & Design. Here you will discover exclusive and hidden-away spas like Kinara, l.a. vie l’orange and Lulur. Sunstyle tanning offers the latest in spray tan innovations. Just south of Santa Monica Boulevard, also known as “Boystown,” you will find popular gay nightclubs Here and the Abbey. The Abbey is open all day long, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy restaurants like Fat Fish, Sur, and Bossa Nova, perfect for an intimate dinner or dining with friends. Parking is easy to find nearby, at valet lots or the Pacific Design Center.

Lesbian Scene in West Hollywood

Think “The L Word” meets “Coyote Ugly” and top it off with girls looking for a great time, even better music, and a touch of Hollywood glamour. From the 1920’s when the Gardens of Allah flourished, a famous West Hollywood hotel founded by an open lesbian and radical bohemian who threw parties with guests like Jean Harlow and Lana Turner, to the 1940’s when Marilyn Monroe hung out on the Sunset Strip, WeHo upholds its reputation as the hub of the entertainment industry. A-Listers enjoy the edginess and subtle exclusivity the city offers, so you never know which famous face you may see in a night out on the town, a fun added perk to any evening.

Insider Tips for your West Hollywood Visit

• The attire worn at most of West Hollywood’s gay clubs and restaurants is “casual chic” – jeans and a t-shirt will usually do, but note that it’s warmer during the day and cool in the evening.
• Gay & Lesbian Publications providing news, information and club listings can be found in many of the bars, coffee shops and restaurants in West Hollywood.
• The LA Gay & Lesbian Center offers a comprehensive array of services to the community and is located just outside of West Hollywood off Santa Monica Boulevard. Contact them at 323-993-7400 or visit www.laglc.org.
• Restaurants and clubs like Hamburger Mary’s, Micky’s, and Rage host entertaining, weekly drag shows. Check individual web sites for specific dates and times.

Planning a Meeting in West Hollywood

Why choose West Hollywood over neighboring areas? Location, location, location! No matter what Los Angeles area your clients or attendees are coming from, West Hollywood is within 30 minutes of everywhere, even the airport! Once your meeting is over, you will be situated within walking distance of the best restaurants, infinite nightlife, fine galleries and chic, trendy boutiques. And for multiple day meetings, West Hollywood is brimming with the hottest hotels and hippest hideaways on the left coast.

WeHo 101 for Groups

What’s West Hollywood got to offer my meeting group that I can’t find anywhere else?

Hotel Specs

When you’re looking for a unique Los Angeles meeting facility and hotel, West Hollywood is the place to go.

Group Activities

So what’s there to do in West Hollywood after the meeting is over? What about spouses? Or team building activities? Better known as “The Creative City”, West Hollywood invites you to step in and let your imagination and the city’s energy do the rest.

If you are interested in having your meeting in West Hollywood, please contact:
Katrin Lucas
Director of Sales
Phone: 310-289-2525
Fax: 310-289-2529
Email: lucas@visitwesthollytwood.com

Submit/Attach an RFP Here

Click here to fill out a form, so we can find the meeting facility that meets your needs.

Contact Information

For more information on visiting West Hollywood, contact the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau, 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069; call 800-368-6020 (U.S. and Canada) or log onto www.visitwesthollywood.com or www.gogaywesthollywood.com.

Find Gay Welcoming, TAG Approved® Hotels in West Hollywood

Gay Hotels in West Hollywood and Gay Friendly Hotels in West Hollywood

SONOMA COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU

Welcome to Gay and Lesbian Sonoma County

Sonoma County has long been the year-round destination of choice for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender crowd looking to enjoy the rural benefits of this premier wine country and natural recreation haven.

The rivers and redwoods, coasts and sea villages, and valleys and vineyards of Sonoma County are just a 30-minute scenic drive from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Planning a visit? Book rooms, attractions and activities at www.sonomacounty.com. While visiting the website, sign up for a free visitors guide and map, and find out more about hotels, wineries, events, spas, and attractions. Call (800) 576-6662 for more information.

The cool, clear water of the Russian River boasts sandy beaches that indulge laid-back sunbathers as well as the more energetic sports of kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and swimming. Hiking, picnicking, nature walks, biking and horseback riding are some of the ways that visitors enjoy the stately giants at Armstrong Redwoods State Preserve.

The River’s Major LGBT Resorts and Bars

The private balconies of Creekside Inn & Resort’s eco-friendly cottages are high up among the redwoods. The resort comes complete with barbecue areas and a sunny swimming pool.

Redwoods surround the mountain-perched cabins at the Highlands Resort. The resort offers the choice of private cabins or the more communal camping option.

The historic Sonoma Orchid Inn offers luxurious accommodations. This fully restored and elegantly furnished 1906 farmhouse has all the modern amenities: private baths, wireless high-speed Internet, TiVo-equipped rooms, state-of-the-art hot tub, fireplaces and a “guest kitchen” available to guests 24 hours a day.

Located right on the Russian River, the Village Inn & Restaurant’s Summer Sundays on their terraced lawn is a popular hangout to enjoy music, lawn games and summer barbecue menu from May through September. Year-round the charming rooms, with river and garden views, and Classic-American cuisine attract local residents and guests alike.

The Woods Resort caters to a gay clientele with cottages, guest cabins and multi-room suites with full kitchens, gas fireplaces, private balconies and views of verdant redwood forests. The swimming pool is not only one of the largest in the area but one of the sunniest, and clothing is optional.

The Rainbow Cattle Company – which serves food on weekends and event days – has a jam-packed entertainment and nightlife calendar year round. Since 1979, this legendary daddy of bars has been an institution and Northern California party destination. Known for their Long Island, Long Beach and Tokyo Iced Teas, and Mad Cows served in quart-size Mason jars there is always a celebration at this “queer steer.” Steer Tag Parties take the guessing out of who’s single and who isn’t.

To hot DJ dance music, cool drinks and $1 burgers and hot dogs everyone wears their availability proudly on their chest “No, I’m Taken,” “Maybe (buy me a drink first),” “Yes, I’m Easy,” are just half the choices.

Just across the street is Club Yamagata where the party starts around 10 p.m. with DJs and an electrical musical dance mix every night. Performers at Open Microphone Night are rewarded with a free shot. Live music events, Sister Flicks – Bad Movie Nights and sushi dinner served six nights a week make this a fun place to cavort.

The adults-only Russian River Resort, aka the Triple R, is the area’s most energetic of the gay nightlife options. During the day, the pool area is the place to be with bronzed bodies sunning themselves and enjoying the disco music and drinks. It’s a popular gal’s spot too. One of the women recently called it the perfect gay resort, “a fantastic conglomeration of wraparound bar/pool/restaurant/hotel where every drink you order comes back a double and there is always a party.” Leather disco, “Felt-up” women’s nights, DJs from the hottest clubs in San Francisco, L.A. and New York, karaoke and comedy nights pack the house year-round.

We’re Host to Gay & Lesbian Events, Festivals and Parties All Year Long

There is a party for every one of the major and minor holidays from New Year’s to Groundhog’s Day. A monthly not-to-be-missed event is the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Bingo Game. The games are infamous, uproarious, colorful, and raise money for many area causes. Be careful, if you’re caught calling bingo and you don’t have it there are punishments!

In May, it’s a riotous weekend in the redwoods with the pool parties, speed dating, Truth or Dare games, motorcycle runs, crafts fairs, art shows, drag king contests, bombshell parties, drum circles and dance parties as Women’s Weekend brings the ladies to town for their annual event. Grrr!

In early August, the big and furry, and their beau’s converge on Sonoma County for the extremely popular Lazy Bear Weekend. Every year Guerneville prepares in style for the annual migration bear-run–from cubs to grizzlies. Daddy bears, otters, pandas and assorted admirers will enjoy a weekend of fun and frolic with parties every night into the wee hours.

October means the Annual Russian River Progressive Halloween Costume Contest. The party and the costumes progress to all the party hot spots in town.

In November is the annual Mr. Russian River Leather Contest and Weekend. Contestants and visitors come from all over California to partake in this fun and fetish packed event.

Although the Russian River is the center of county’s gay life, Sonoma County is welcoming to gay visitors and offers a diverse menu of attractions for every itinerary from couples’ romance to family recreation.

Before heading out to explore 50 miles of Sonoma County’s state park beaches, pick up cheese and wine for a picnic lunch at gay-owned Sophie’s Cellars in Monte Rio or build your own gourmet food basket from among the many artisan food purveyors.

The coast and redwoods are not the only locales for gay events. In May, it’s A Night of Elegance: The Prom You Never Had at St. Rose Hall in the Historic St. Rose District of Santa Rosa. This annual prom is for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and intersexed (GLBTQI) adults. The special night includes prom wear, corsages, boutonnieres, dancing, official prom photos and raffle prizes.

Showing Our Pride

Every June, Sonoma County celebrates pride with two events at Santa Rosa’s Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. First is the Annual Pride Comedy Night: A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Celebration followed by dancing and DJ music. The following day is the annual Sonoma County Pride festival. The festival includes a commitment ceremony, live musical entertainment, political representatives, community information, merchandise and delicious food and drinks.

For a Night on the Town

Sweet Mondays are Sonoma County’s weekly party for the LGBT community at SeVen Ultralounge in Santa Rosa. Billed as Sonoma County’s longest running weekly dance event for the LGBT community, it’s a warm and friendly dance with top 40 Club Hits and Retro Classics.

The gayest place in Penngrove is The Black Cat Bar & Cafe. This lesbian-owned fun and funky bar in Penngrove is housed in a building more than 100 years old decorated with bras hanging from the ceiling and black cats. Wednesday night is Open Microphone, Thursday night is Boy’s Night Out, Friday night the place pulsates to the music of live bands and Saturday night is DJ dancing. Several nights a month are Tipping the Velvet Girls Night, Jack and Chills Boys Night and Club Queer when the music is mellow trip-hop and electronica, the lights are low, candles burn and the atmosphere says romance.

Want to improve your dance style before hitting the clubs? The John Ross Ballroom Dance Studio in Rohnert Park offers swing, salsa and rumba classes for same sex couples. As “do-si-do,” “promenade, “and “swing” orders are called out the Sebastopol Redwood Rainbows square dance around the room. This lesbian and gay square dance club offers a warm and friendly environment for square dancing and socialization. Dance dress code is casual, and no partner is needed to attend the dances.

When its Time to Call it a Night

From the largest hotels to the smallest three room inns, from trendy shops to wine hospitality centers and restaurants, every place to stay or visit in Sonoma County welcomes gay visitors. Several Sonoma County hotels have been TAG (Travel Alternatives Group) Approved. That means the accommodations have met the qualifications that include enforcing non-discriminatory policies, treating heterosexual and domestic partners equally in personnel policies and providing diversity training. TAG Approved properties include:

Bodega Bay Lodge and Spa
103 Coast Highway One
Bodega Bay, CA
(888) 875-3525
www.WoodsideHotels.com/Bodega

Creekside Inn & Resort
16180 Neeley Road
Guerneville, CA 95446
(800) 776-6586
www.creeksideinn.com

Doubletree Hotel Sonoma Wine Country
One Doubletree Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(707) 584-5466
www.dtsonoma.com

Fern Grove Cottages
16650 Highway 116
Guerneville, CA 95446
(888) 243-2674
www.ferngrove.com

Fountaingrove Inn Hotel & Conference Center
101 Foutaingrove Parkway
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(800) 222-6101
www.fountaingroveinn.com

Gaige House Inn
13540 Arnold Drive
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
(707) 935-0237
www.gaige.com

Highlands Resort
14000 Woodland Drive
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 869-0333
www.highlandsresort.com

Hilton Sonoma Wine Country
3555 Round Barn Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA
(707) 523-7555
www.winecountryhilton.com

Hotel La Rose
308 Wilson Street
Santa Rosa, CA
(707) 579-3200
www.hotellarose.com

Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa
170 Railroad Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 284-1234
www.vineyardcreek.hyatt.com

Sheraton Sonoma County
745 Baywood Drive
Petaluma, CA 94954
(707) 283-2888
www.sheraton.com/petaluma

Sonoma Orchid Inn
12850 River Road
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 887-1033
www.ridenhourinn.com

Village Inn & Restaurant
20822 River Blvd
Monte Rio, CA 95462
(707) 865-2304
www.villageinn-ca.com

Woods Resort
16484 4th Street
Guerneville, CA 95446
(877) 887-9218
www.rrwoods.com

Contact Information

For Conventions, Conferences, Meeting and Incentives go to:
SonomaCounty.com.
Ph: (707) 522-5800, E-mail: Robin McKee-Cant

For general information: visit www.SonomaCounty.com Email: Robin McKee-Cant

Press Inquiries: please contact Tina Luster at (707) 522-5800. E-mail Tina Luster.

Photo Credits:
Peter Griffith (grapes), Robert Janover (men in vineyard), Lisa Kimmell (women), Sonoma Co. Tourism Board.

Find Gay Welcoming, TAG Approved® Hotels in Sonoma County

Gay Hotels in Bodega Bay and Gay Friendly Hotels in Bodega Bay

Gay Hotels in Glen Ellen and Gay Friendly Hotels in Glen Ellen

Gay Hotels in Guerneville and Gay Friendly Hotels in Guerneville

Gay Hotels in Healdsburg and Gay Friendly Hotels in Healdsburg

Gay Hotels in Monte Rio and Gay Friendly Hotels in Monte Rio

Gay Hotels in Petaluma and Gay Friendly Hotels in Petaluma

Gay Hotels in Rohnert Park and Gay Friendly Hotels in Rohnert Park

Gay Hotels in Santa Rosa and Gay Friendly Hotels in Santa Rosa

Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau

Seattle Gay and Lesbian Travel

Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is a nonprofit economic development agency responsible for competitively marketing the Seattle area as a destination for conventions, tour groups and individual travelers. The goal of these marketing efforts is to enhance the employment opportunities and economic prosperity of the region. Our members benefit from the Bureau’s marketing programs by gaining direct access to the visitor market.

Metronatural

Homonatural? Not quite. Metrosexual? Almost… Seattle is Metronatural! Seattle offers the best of both worlds. The city’s sophisticated thriving urban core is balanced by pristine wilderness and abundant outdoor recreation. Whether you lean metro or natural, Seattle welcomes you to come see why this city has become known as one of the top LGBT travel destinations in North America. Follow Seattle’s lead and express yourself as one who respects the environment and lives a balanced lifestyle of urban and natural experiences.

While Seattle’s LGBT community spans many Seattle neighborhoods, Capitol Hill serves as its prevailing cultural and political hub.

Bound by downtown Seattle on the west and Lake Washington on the east, the hill rises to nearly 500 feet above sea level and boasts stunning views from nearly all sides. At its apex, Volunteer Park offers solace amid busy neighborhood commerce. Part of Seattle’s Olmstead park legacy, Volunteer Park also features a glass conservatory built in 1912, the Seattle Asian Art Museum and a water tower with 360-degree views of the city and immediate neighborhood.

Broadway Avenue East is Capitol Hill’s commercial axis, features a wide array of cafes, coffee shops, boutiques, markets, bars and other nightspots. The avenue is experiencing a gentrification that includes new apartments and condominiums. A new underground light rail station will open at the south end of the street in 2016.

The Pike/Pine Corridor is easily walkable to and from downtown Seattle. The corridor experienced commercial rejuvenation in the 1990s and today thrives with some of the city’s trendiest bars and nightclubs, new restaurants, vintage clothing stores, furniture shops and coffee houses.

The 12th Avenue business district, which intersects both Pike and Pine Streets, features some of the city’s newest restaurants and boasts many theaters and cinemas. Just off many of the hill’s commercial strips lie stately homes and mansions, many of Victorian and Craftsman style. These quiet, tree-lined streets nod to the neighborhood’s history and original elegance and character.

To learn more about Seattle’s welcoming regions visit Seattle’s LGBT Travel Portal.

Seattle Pride

Celebrate Pride on a Pacific Northwest scale! Seattle’s Pride celebrations take place each June and culminate with the Official Seattle Pride Parade which travels along Fourth Avenue to Seattle PrideFest at the 74-acre Seattle Center, home to the world famous Space Needle. Celebrations continue on Capitol Hill with a variety of post-Pride events that carry on until the break of dawn.

What’s Happening

Recently, readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, two of the world’s foremost travel magazines, voted Seattle one of their top ten favorite cities to visit. What makes Seattle so appealing? It’s a dynamic, creative city that offers you unlimited opportunities to experience art, heritage and culture, all in a setting of rare natural beauty. What will you find? A thriving theatre, music, and dance scene. Interesting galleries and one-of-a-kind museums. Native American, Pan-Asian American, maritime and pioneer history. Strong and diverse ethnic heritage influences. Fantastic festivals for every interest. We invite you to discover the creative pulse that makes Seattle such a great place to live and to visit.

Search for current and upcoming cultural offerings and events in Seattle at our online events calendar. Follow us on Twitter @SeattleGayTravl.

Why Tourism Matters

The Why Tourism Matters nonprofit public outreach campaign began in Seattle in 2008 and grew to serve as a statewide advocacy umbrella. The campaign conveys the importance of tourism by way of advertising, online content, public relations and cooperative industry communications. Learn Why Tourism Matters.

Home of the “double tall, extra foam” revolution

Seattle’s eye-opening blend of city and nature inspires new ideas and gives any event a flavor all its own. Schedule your meeting in Seattle and see for yourself. There’s always something amazing brewing. Excellent connections, ample meeting space and quality lodging are the key ingredients for a successful convention. Seattle delivers these elements amid a thriving city center surrounded by pristine wilderness.

If you would like to book your next event or meeting in Seattle, or for more information please contact:
Shyla Gardner
National Account Director
sgardner@visitseattle.org
D 206.461.5842
F 206.461.5855
M 206.890.8955

Susan Hutton
Account Director
shutton@visitseattle.org
D 425.988.3542
F 206.461.5855
M 206.226.8348

Click here to submit an RFP. Or, if you have your own RFP prepared, simply send us an email and attach your file.

LGBT Tourism Development
Joshua Ratliff
Project Manager, Tourism Development
jratliff@visitseattle.org
D 206.461.5815
F 206.461.5879

LGBT Press/Media Inquiries
David Blandford, APR
Vice President, Communications
dblandford@visitseattle.org
D 206.461.5806
F 206.461.5857

Find Gay Welcoming, TAG Approved® Hotels in the Area

Gay Hotels in Seattle and Gay Friendly Hotels in Seattle

Gay Hotels in Bellevue and Gay Friendly Hotels in Bellevue

Gay Hotels in Tulalip and Gay Friendly Hotels in Tulalip

Gay Hotels in Tukwila and Gay Friendly Hotels in Tukwila