Gays Travel More Than Non-Gays

According to recent research, gay travelers travel more frequently than non-gays. 98% have taken at least one overnight trip in the last 12 months compared with 72% for non-gays. Gay travelers stay longer, an average of 15 nights in a hotel last year compared with an average of about three nights for all U.S. travelers. Gay men spent twice on average per trip compared to non-gay travelers and are more likely to be passport holders. In total, Gay men spend thousands off dollars on travel every year and in total spend Billions of dollars a year on travel. Gay men tend to travel throughout the entire year unlike non-gays. Gay men tends to travel on a whim and not just during peak seasons.

So with that in mind cities all across the country are now courting the gay travelers. Could it be that most of these cities went to a National Convention & Visitor's Bureau meeting and heard a lecture saying just that? Almost sounds too good to be true. We have been flooded with phone calls, emails and letters from different cities all across the country wanting us to write a travel column on their city.

Laguna Beach is an "attractive artists' community"

Californias Laguna Beach Has Something For Everyone A diverse range of events takes place at Laguna Beach in California all year round, it is reported.

Surf competitions, guided walks and arts festivals are among the treats on offer, states Alf Alderson, writing for the Daily Telegraph.

There are 30 beaches and coves in the area, he adds, so there is something to suit just about everyone.

"Enjoy an early morning swim in the sparkling Pacific surf followed by superb breakfasts at the Montage Hotel's Loft Restaurant, which has superb sea views," the travel writer advises.

Catering to gay travelers

It's been escalating over the past 10 years and could be fueled even more by legalized marriage for gay men and lesbians. Now that Connecticut has joined California and Massachusetts in legalizing same-sex marriage, more honeymoon trips are expected all around the world.

"The opportunity for tourism is pretty staggering," said David Paisley of San Francisco-based Community Marketing, which has been researching gay and lesbian consumer preferences since 1992. "There are a huge number of people out there waiting."

Travel experts expect business to pick up, despite the economy, if Proposition 8 on the November ballot fails to approve a change in California's constitution to eliminate the right of gay men and lesbians to legally marry. Since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year, about 11,000 gay and lesbian couples statewide have taken the plunge.

California adds travel office in Korea

The California Travel and Tourism Commission will open an office in Seoul on Monday to generate marketing and promotional campaigns to bring South Korea travelers to California.

The commission hired AVIAREPS Marketing Garden to represent the California tourism industry in South Korea.

South Korea is California’s fourth-largest overseas market, with 331,000 visitors, Caroline Beteta, CTTC chief executive officer, said in a news release. “We expect that number to increase dramatically with the easing of visa restrictions and expected expansion in airlift.”