Thursday, March 7, 2024
This week, at the renowned ITB Berlin, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) unveiled its choice of Seville, Spain, as the venue for the 2026 IGLTA Global Convention. This decision was made in collaboration with Sevilla City Office and receives backing from the Tourism of Andalucía and Turespaña. The choice highlights Seville’s commitment to hosting the association’s top event for education and networking. The event is scheduled for November at the modern FIBES conference and exhibition center, known for hosting significant events like the annual Tourism Innovation Summit and the 2019 World Travel & Tourism Council Summit.
The convention is a key gathering for LGBTQ+ travel professionals, industry pioneers, and influential speakers from across the globe. It promises a program full of engaging learning sessions, valuable networking moments, and motivational talks.
“Seville’s vibrant culture, rich history, and commitment to inclusivity make it an ideal location for our 2026 Global Convention,” said Dougal Mckenzie (he/him), IGLTA Board Chair. “The city’s tourism office has actively engaged with IGLTA for nearly 20 years, underscoring its dedication to LGBTQ+ welcoming travel. We look forward to convening in this beautiful city and fostering meaningful connections within the LGBTQ+ travel industry.”
The ITB announcement featured notable attendees such as Angie Moreno, Tourism Delegate from the Seville City Council/Sevilla City Office; Francisco Montes, Director General of Turismo Andaluz/Junta de Andalucía; and Miguel Sanz, Director General of Turespaña/Tourspain.
The Tourism Councillor for the Seville City Council, Angie Moreno (she/her) highlighted that “Seville is a city with a great capacity to host events of this magnitude. We are a LGBTQ+ friendly city, which already attracts LGBTQ+ tourists from all parts of the world and has an extensive calendar of LGBTQ+ activities.”
“Andalucía can be considered one of the first international LGTBTI tourism destinations. Since the beginning of the LGBTI movement, Torremolinos has been one of its main landmarks, and this has expanded now to the entire region, notably the destination of Seville,” said Director General of Tourism of Andalucía, Francisco Montes (he/him). “The organization of an event such as IGLTA Global Convention Sevilla 2026 will serve as an opportunity for Andalucía to show all its potential to all the professionals of the sector participating in this meeting.”
“The organization of the IGLTA Convention in Seville in 2026 is a sign that Spain is a leading destination in the world for the LGBTQ+ segment. We are an open country to everyone,” said Miguel Sanz (he/him), Director General of Turespaña. “Those who visit us will be able to find numerous experiences personalized to the wishes of each person. And in order to be able to offer these products, services and personalized experiences we must count on professionals in the sector, with the organizations that are part of IGLTA being great allies for this. From Turespaña, and through our network of Tourism Departments abroad, we will work to communicate it to the world.”
Since Spain embraced same-sex marriage in 2005, it has emerged as a symbol of inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide. The Seville City Council has been proactive in implementing equality policies and fighting against sexual orientation discrimination. A landmark initiative in 2016 was the creation of the LGTBI Municipal Council, serving as a crucial forum for LGBTQ+ advocacy and societal recognition. Seville celebrates its LGBTQ+ culture throughout the year with events such as the Andalesgai film festival, the FOC (Culture with Pride Festival), and the Togayther Drag Queen Gala, highlighting the city’s vibrant queer scene. The Diversity Month, a joint effort with the Seville City Council, and Andalucía Pride, organized alongside Plataforma Orgullo Andalucía, both affirm the city’s foundational values of diversity and equality. Seville embodies the spirit of LGBTQ+ pride through and through.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
