Ad Spotlight: American Airlines

American Airlines is out with a nicely executed new print campaign featuring Neil Patrick Harris. Read more about the campaign here.

American Airlines Urges Veto of Arizona Discrimination Bill

Doug Parker, CEO of the New American Airlines, just sent this letter to Arizona governor Jan Brewer:

Richard Branson: No Business With Ugnada

In a recent blog post, Sir Richard Branson condemned Uganda for recently passing a law that severely criminalizes homosexuality. Originally dubbed the "Kill the Gays" bill, the death penalty was ultimately dropped from the law, but it does call for life imprisonment in most cases if found guilty. In his post, Branson says "the dreadful witch hunt against the gay community and lifetime sentences means it would be against my conscience to support this country." He also urges other businesses to take a stand by not doing business with Uganda. Uganda's "Kill the Gays" bill was supported by Tony Perkins, president of the "Family Research Council" in the United States. 

Ad Spotlight: Air New Zealand

American Airlines Supports ENDA

It would be great if all of corporate America could organize together behind this initiative.

Virgin America's New Technology for Flirting in Flight

Takes awhile to get to the point, but brilliant idea.


Related: KLM uses social media to let passengers choose their seat mates:

Hilton Launches Gay Travel Offer

Hilton has a new program for LGBT travelers attending pride festivals and other LGBT events around the world, called "Stay Hilton. Go Out." It includes free high speed internet, two welcome beverages, a year's subscription to OUT magazine, and late checkout. Not bad! Hilton scored a 90/100 in HRC's 2013 Corporate Equality Index.

Ad Spotlight: Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau

Love the insight and concept, but the execution feels a bit too photoshopped to me. Read more here.

2012 GLBT Travel Expo Dates: Chicago, Philly, & NYC

Illinois Launches LGBT Tourism Site

Illinois tourism officials have launched a website dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism in the state. The site lists resources available throughout the state as well as recommendations on the best places to eat, play, shop, and stay. Its clear the cash-strapped state is looking for its share of the gay dollar – the average LGBT person in the U.S. spends $1,974 a year on leisure travel.

Tel Aviv: The Next Big Gay Tourism Spot

That's right, Tel Aviv is emerging as an iconic international gay vacation destination. Did you know that Tel Aviv hosts the largest pride parade in Asia? Or that it was named by Out Magazine as the gay capital of the middle east? Or that the city devotes more than a third of its marketing budget to attracting LGBT tourists with campaigns like this one? Or that gays serve openly in Israel's military? I didn't. Here's an interesting article to learn more. 

LAN Airlines Launches LGBT Site

LAN, a Latin American airline, just launched a new microsite that showcases the diversity found throughout South America, and is a one-stop-shop resource for LGBT travelers there. LAN's new LGBT microsite features a host of information and resources for the prospective traveler to South America. It includes detailed descriptions of key South American destinations with information of interest to gay and lesbian travelers. The site also features recent LGBT-related news pertaining to countries throughout South America, as well as events of interest to gay and lesbian travelers to South America, including trips from leading LGBT tour operators.

Ad Spotlight: Kimpton Hotels

Kimpton Hotels has launched a new website dedicated to communicating the various LGBT services and programs they offer, including LGBT marriages, ceremonies, honeymoons, parties, and events. Check it out here.

En Route to the GLAAD Amplifier Awards in NYC

I'm currently on a plane to New York, where I'll be attending the 2011 GLAAD Amplifier Awards. I'll be attending with execs from Allstate, who will be accepting the 2011 Corporate Responsibility Award, as well as the 2011 Outstanding Outdoor Campaign, which I worked on. So excited for this and grateful to both Allstate and Leo Burnett for giving me this opportunity. Hard work and passion does pay off!

New Photos of The Out NYC

These new computer renderings have surfaced of The Out NYC, a gay hotel/nightlife complex that is under construction on 42nd street between 10th and 11th avenues. The 105-room boutique hotel will include a spa, wellness center, business center, an 11,000-square-foot nightclub, a 24/7 café and a restaurant called Kitchen. The nightclub is scheduled to open in November, and the rest of the property will open its doors in early 2012. 

Out Magazine's Parent Company Launches new LGBT Website

Here Media, the parent company of Out magazine, just launched a new LGBT website called Gay.net, which features content related to LGBT culture, entertainment, travel, style, and leisure. Gay.net’s content features a mix of editorial voices and opinions. Upon visiting, readers have access to the nine most recent features and news headlines through the site’s “The It List.” Additionally, a horizontal thread across the bottom of the homepage allows readers to see the day’s most popular trending stories. A unique feature to the new site is the new “The Randomizer” tool, which, which clicked on, automatically pulls an arbitrary headline that a reader may have missed but may be of interest.

Hyatt & Absolut Sponsor New "Answers" Feature on GayCities

Hyatt Hotels and Absolut Vodka are the first sponsors of GayCities' Answers Q&A feature. The LGBT city guide and travel site debuted the new feature on their site earlier this week. It enables members to tap into the collective wisdom of the community to provide answers to everyday questions. Members can share their knowledge about their home towns and anywhere they travel. Read more here. 

New York State Promotes Same-Sex Wedding Packages

ILOVENY, New York State's official tourism campaign, is inviting same-sex couples around the country and around the world to get married in New York and celebrate the occasion with a vacation package. Check out their site here. 

Atlantic City Casino Opens Gay Bar

Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City just became the first major casino in the country to open a full-time gay bar. The initiative is part of a strategy to revitalize gay tourism which was once much more prevalent in the area, and also to save the struggling hotel, which lost upwards of $20 million last year. Read more in this N.Y. Times article. 

Hotels to Avoid for San Francisco Pride

Sleep With The Right People (SWTRP), a collaboration between the organization UNITE HERE and the LGBT community, has launched a list of hotels to avoid if you're going to San Francisco this year for pride. They are: 

• Hyatt Regency Hotel – Embarcadero
• Grand Hyatt Hotel – Union Square
• Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel
• Le Meridien Hotel
• Hotel Frank

Click here for more information. Or, to see a list of hotels to avoid across the whole country, click here.