News

Madrid will be hosting the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s 31st Annual Convention from 7 May - 10 May 2014

Spain is at the forefront of LGBT rights, being the second country in the world to pass comprehensive legislation on same sex marriage in 2005 granting equal rights of traditional marriage, including adoption, along with Madrid being host to one of the best and largest Gay Prides, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Spain is also considered one of the few countries that has six worldwide LGBT destinations, including  Madrid, Barcelona, Sitges, Ibiza, Torremolinos and Gran Canaria.

The LGBT sector makes a dynamic and influential contribution to our global industry. The LGBT travel market is estimated to be around 165 billion dollars.

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association’s (IGLTA) Annual Global Convention is the world’s premier educational and networking event for the LGBT tourism industry. IGLTA’s 30th Annual Global Convention took place in Chicago on May 2nd-4th, 2013. The Tourist Office of Spain in Los Angeles, in collaboration with Tourism of Madrid and Diversity Consulting, organized on May 4th a cocktail reception for IGLTA´s delegates, and introduced Madrid destination as the official host for IGLTA´s convention in 2014.

Thanks to the collaboration of a pool of organizations - serving as a model example of private-public cooperation - including the  Region of Madrid, the City of Madrid, Turespaña – the Spanish Tourism Board- and Diversity Consulting  - the private company leading the effort - Madrid will be hosting the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association’s 31st Annual Convention from 7 May - 10 May 2014. This will mark the inaugural appearance of IGLTA’s premier educational and networking event in Spain.

Madrid represents the harmony between efficiency and quality of life at a price that is hard to beat anywhere else in the world. There are plenty of reasons why anyone should choose Madrid as the next destination for a holiday or event, but regardless of the reasoning only one conclusion will be reached: Madrid is one of a handful of cities where you can find everything and anything.

Whether it is excellent gastronomy, an incredibly rich culture, cutting-edge facilities, devoted professionals, or a modern infrastructure, all will ultimately leave visitors of all types with a great experience as well as allowing events with the most demanding of needs to run smoothly and successfully. Madrid will also be hosting the World Pride in 2017.

IGLTA’s 31st Annual Global Convention will come complete with an incredible array of Pre and Post FAM trips around Spain allowing delegates the opportunity to get to know the many wonders that Spain has to offer.