The newest boutique hotel in South Beach Miami to open its doors is Lords South Beach on exclusive Collins Avenue. It is the first self-identified gay boutique hotel and describes itself as an “appropriately oriented hotel”. It aims to cater to the gay community that gravitates around this bijou area. Located just around the corner from the former Versace mansion, Lords also welcomes straight guests who are open minded enough to be enjoying the South Beach lifestyle.
On the surface this hotel offers much the same as any other boutique hotel in Miami – Frette linens, well-stocked minibars and the latest high-tech equipped guest rooms. One tweak has given room service a new title, Stay Naked Dining, although robes are thoughtfully provided. The hotel also has Bohemian décor with copies of Out magazine scattered carelessly around.
This is one of 1800 TAG approved hotels which are known to enforce non-discriminatory policies and train staff in LGBT sensitivity.
by Gillian at Luxique
Nepal has begun a campaign to attract gay tourists.
Gay honeymooners are being invited to take a trek through the Himalayas, and there are also plans to host the world’s highest same-sex weddings at Everest base camp.
Travel analysts say Nepal wants a slice of the multi-billion dollar gay tourist market to help pull it out of poverty. Attitudes in the conservative Hindu nation have changed radically: five years ago, police were beating gays and transsexuals in the street. Now it has an openly homosexual parliamentarian and appears to have enshrined gay rights in a new constitution.
Tourism is one of the main drivers of Nepal’s economy – it was worth about $350 million (£230 million) last year. Government officials are determined to double tourism to one million visitors next year.
It’s reckoned that gay tourists will be far more lucrative than the backpackers who stay in cheap hotels and travel on shoestring budgets. “They do have a lot of income … they are high-spending consumers,” said Aditya Baral, spokesman for the Nepal Tourism Board.
Nepal would have a huge advantage in this field because its neighbours in South Asia are not seen as gay-friendly destinations.
by Andy Moreton
Nepal is one of the most fascinating countries on earth and Luxique can book you a hotel to match – Dwarika’s in Kathmandu. One recent guest described it as ‘a heaven of comfort, peace and elegance’
The first centre in London dedicated to gay and lesbian tourists has had a successful first few weeks.
The Gay Tourist Office is situated in the Soho area of central London to provide visitors with information aimed at the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) market.
Visitors from the UK and overseas will be able to book tickets for London clubs and concerts, as well as restaurant tables, tours and accommodation.
The centre’s director, Shaun Newport, said:
“We want to show that London’s exciting LGBT life is the best in the world. We will show off what our city has to offer to local, national and international visitors, as well as to Londoners old and new.”
“The community has responded enthusiastically to the centre’s arrival. We have been too long without one,” he added.
Details can be found at the centre’s website, www.gaytouristoffice.co.uk.
by Andy Moreton
The UK’s capital buzzes at all times of the year and we invite you to browse Luxique’s scintillating selection of more than 70 luxury hotels in London – from chintzy traditional to cutting-edge chic.
New York City officials are reaching out to gay and lesbian tourists to help reduce a projected $4 billion (£2.7 billion) budget deficit.
They’ve launched a marketing campaign under the slogan ‘Join The Rainbow Pilgrimage.’ It highlights New York’s reputation as a gay-friendly travel destination and extols a visit to the city as ‘a rite of passage.’
The $1.9 million (£1.3 million) campaign includes ads in gay magazines in the US and Canada and outdoor advertising in Britain and Spain. There will also be travel packages that can be booked at a new website (nycgo.com/gay).
The start of the campaign comes a couple of months in advance of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in Manhattan - considered the start of the modern gay liberation movement.
New York city officials are grappling with falling revenue resulting from the global recession, which is forcing many people to forgo leisure travel plans or take so-called ‘staycations’ near home. The tourism industry believes gay people — who often live in two-income households without children — are less likely to cut back on travel.
According to the Mayor’s office, an estimated 47 million people visited the city last year, a record high that generated $30 billion (£20 billion) in spending. But New York, like many other major tourist destinations, is preparing for a sharp downturn in 2009.
by Andy Moreton
If you’re thinking about a vacation in the Big Apple, Luxique can help you find the hippest luxury hotels in New York.
