IGLTA announces 2 board appointees
IGLTA
Under the current IGLTA bylaws (Article 12.1), the board has the ability to appoint up to two representatives, who are otherwise eligible candidates, to fill board positions "to properly reflect the IGLTA membership." We are pleased to announce two strong additions to our board for 2011-2012: Rika Jean-François, who is with top global travel trade show ITB Berlin (ITB Corporate Social Responsibility/Product Manager ITB Berlin/LGBT Travel Segment/Competence Centre Travel & Logistics); and Marta Dalla Chiesa, co-director of Florianopolis-based tour operator Brazil Ecojourneys. These two appointees will serve a one-year term and have the same rights and responsibilities as all elected board members. They may be reached at: rjeanfrancois@iglta.org and mdallachiesa@iglta.org.More

IGLTA welcomes first ambassador in India
IGLTA
After a successful career with companies like Google, American Express and KPMG, New Delhi resident Abhinav Goel parlayed his love for travel into Out Journeys, an agency specializing in India tourism with an eye to the country's fledgling LGBT market. Abhinav now is applying that passion for the Indian tourism sector to his new role as IGLTA Ambassador. "Having been witness to a scenario where being a gay was a 'crime' in India and also to the historic moment when the law became favorable for the LGBT community, I believe that India's time is arriving," he said. "I love spreading the word about India's attractions and cannot wait for the day when India is firmly entrenched as a top LGBT tourist destination in the world!" Welcome Abhinav to the IGLTA team at india@iglta.org.More

Member benefits
IGLTA
Check out our upcoming brochure distribution and booth share opportunities open only to IGLTA members:

• SPECIAL RATE — ASTA's The Trade Show: 11-13 September in Las Vegas, USA. ASTA's Travel Retailing & Destination Expo provides quality travel agents the opportunity to develop their professional career.
• International French Travel Market: 20-23 September in Paris. IFTM Top Resa is France's international travel and tourism trade fair. The industry's leading event for networking, doing business, innovating and keeping abreast of market developments, the exhibition offers a 360° panorama of the travel industry, covering all sectors: leisure, business and events.

Reception at ASAE
IGLTA
Save the date for the 8th Annual GLBT Party during the ASAE 2011 Annual Meeting & Exposition in St. Louis. Co-sponsored by IGLTA, Meet Minneapolis, Delta Air Lines and the Mall of America, the party will be held at Erney's 32, 4200 Manchester Ave., on Monday, 8 August, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.mMore

Munich Airport breaks new record in traffic
PATA
Munich Airport accommodated a little under 18 million passengers in the first half of the year. This shows a 13% increase compared to figures same time last year.More

Indian travel firms eye growing gay tourism pie
Daijiworld
Having visited countries they find safe and fun, foreign gay travelers increasingly are touring India to get an experience of this varied and beautiful travel destination, thanks to niche travel agencies and a mindset change.More

Latin American cities fighting for gay travel market
GlobalPost
Rio de Janeiro is trying to lure tourists with pictures of muscular men. But the brochure, with the slogan "live the Rio sensation," isn't aimed at women. It's for gay men.More

PATA reaffirms Japan is safe for tourists
Travel Pulse
The Pacific Asia Travel Association said that after assessing the situation in Japan, it reaffirms that the vast majority of the country is safe to visit.More

Business travel spending to remain steady despite slow economy
Travel Pulse
A new survey by the Global Business Travel Association finds that business travel spending and volume remained steady in the second quarter of 2011, despite threats to the economic recovery.More