Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ( 8 October, 2013 )—The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association will host its 33rd Annual Global Convention in Cape Town, South Africa in 2016. This marks the first time IGLTA will hold its premier educational and networking conference in an African country in its 30-year history.
Convention bids were evaluated during the association's 4-5 October board meeting in Madrid, host city of IGLTA's 2014 convention next May. "Cape Town is a world-class city — incredibly scenic and with a vibrant LGBT community. It has all the right ingredients to ensure a successful convention," says Dan Melesurgo, IGLTA Board Chair. "Bringing the convention to Africa for the first time is an opportunity to grow our membership there and create greater understanding and awareness of the LGBT travel market on the continent."
South Africa, which became the world's first country to enact a constitutional ban against discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1996, is considered the most progressive country on the continent for LGBT issues. In July, the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights chose South Africa for the launch of its "Free & Equal" global campaign to promote LGBT equality.
"Securing the bid for the IGLTA Annual Global Convention in 2016 is a major triumph for South Africa as a leading destination for LGBT travelers," said Laura Saeger, Meeting and Convention Sales Manager of South African Tourism North America. "Cape Town is the ideal backdrop for the IGLTA convention. We're confident this event will set a new precedent for our destination, and we look forward to forging deeper connections with the committee and its partners moving forward."
IGLTA's next Annual Global Convention is set for Madrid, 8-10 May, 2014. For more information on the upcoming conference, visit www.igltaconvention.org .
About IGLTA
IGLTA is the leading member-based global organization dedicated to LGBT tourism, and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The association represents LGBT and LGBT-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, and events, as well as the LGBT travel consumers they wish to serve. For more information, visit www.iglta.org and follow us at www.facebook.com/IGLTA or www.twitter.com/iglta.
