Community Marketing, Inc. recently released their annual rankings of gay and lesbians vacation destinations, based on the question, where did you travel to in the past twelve months, and spend at least one night in a hotel. CMI's 15th Annual Gay & Lesbian Tourism Study is based on 4,800 gay and lesbian respondents.
LGBT travel was generally down 1 to 3% last year, with all major destinations experiencing some decrease, except for New Orleans. New Orleans showed an increase in LGBT travel from the previous years and jumped from a destination ranking of number 19 in 2009, to number 13 in 2010. More than likely, this increase is a reflection of the return of New Orleans as a top LGBT destination post-Katrina.
For the first time Washington DC has moved into the number one destination ranking for LGBT business travel. With its concentration of tech companies, cultural facilities, tourism companies, LGBT advocacy organizations, and home to many LGBT conferences and business events, business travel to the nation's capital is strong.
Percentage who visited and spent a night in a hotel (as combined leisure and business travel ranking). Percentage rounded to nearest percentage, ties in rankings are indicated.
Top 10 US Destinations for American LGBT Travelers (Leisure + Business)
1) New York City 27%
2) San Francisco 23%
3) Las Vegas 22%
3) Chicago 22%
3) Los Angeles 22%
6) Washington, DC 21%
7) Fort Lauderdale 14%
7) San Diego, CA 14%
9) Boston, MA 12%
9) Orlando, FL 12%
9) Philadelphia 12%
9) Seattle 12%
Top 10 Leisure Destinations (Not Including Business Travel)
1) New York City 19%
2) San Francisco 17%
2) Las Vegas 17%
4) Chicago 14%
4) Los Angeles 14%
6) Washington, DC 13%
7) Ft. Lauderdale 11%
8) Palm Springs, CA 10%
9) Orlando, FL 9%
9) San Diego, CA 9%
Rankings by Age and Gender
Leisure Rankings: Gay Men 18-35
1) New York
2) Las Vegas
3) San Francisco
4) Chicago
5) Washington DC
Leisure Rankings: Gay Men 36-54
1) New York
2) San Francisco
3) Las Vegas
4) Los Angeles
5) Chicago
Leisure Rankings: Gay Men 55+
1) San Francisco
2) New York City
3) Las Vegas
4) Palm Springs
5) Fort Lauderdale
Leisure Rankings: Lesbians 18-35
1) Las Vegas
2) San Francisco
3) Los Angeles
4) Chicago
5) New York City
Leisure Rankings: Lesbians 36-54
1) Las Vegas
2) San Francisco
3) Chicago
4) New York City
5) Seattle
Leisure Rankings: Lesbians 55+
1) San Francisco
2) Las Vegas
3) Provincetown
4) Los Angeles
5) Seattle
Top 5 Business Travel Destinations
1) Washington, DC
2) New York City
2) Chicago
4) San Francisco
4) Los Angeles
About Community Marketing, Inc. [http://www.communitymarketinginc.com]
Founded in 1992, CMI is the global leader in gay and lesbian market research, strategies and communications. CMI initiated the annual practice of collecting and analyzing data on gay and lesbian consumers in 1994 through online surveys, focus groups, field, telephone and customer satisfaction studies, as well as advisory boards. Business leaders from a variety of industries turn to CMI's research to better understand LGBT consumers and business decision-makers. Community Marketing, Inc. is an NGLCC-Certified LGBT Owned Business Enterprise.