“Group travel’s just not my thing,” you say? “I’m more of a lone wolf. Master of my own domain…” That is, until you’re on a street corner in Istanbul trying to find a taxi, or lost in Buenos Aires with no clue where to find the hot restaurant — or the hot gays!
That’s why LGBT tour operators rock. They take care of you. They show you the world, and the best do it in a safe, smart and fun-centric (yes, that’s a word) way. And face it, managing any group of gays — on a scuba trip, a Caribbean cruise, a hike to view amazing ruins or even to the corner bar — comes with challenges.
So, let’s give it up for the nomineees Best Gay Tour Operators. They forge ahead for us, en masse. They introduce you to the world, and vice versa.
November 10, 2010 – UPDATE: Congratulations to Zoom Vacations for winning the 2010 award for Best LGBT Tour Operator! And please check out all of our esteemed nominees. They each do great work.
|
Alyson Adventures One of the first and the best. And since Alyson Adventures also oversees Hans Ebenstenn Tours, they really are the pioneers of gay tour travel. Give props! |
|
Atlantis Events Listen, if you’re managing hundreds of gays on a big boat all at once, through tea dances, costume parties, trips ashore and brunch buffets, you’ve gotta be good. And after all these years, Atlantis still sets the standard. |
|
Olivia Travel Now in their third decade of service, Judy Dlugacz’s landmark travel company set the standard for lesbian travel worldwide. And thanks to their expertise and their loyal clientele, they show no signs of slowing down! |
|
Out Adventures Affordable, sporty, excellently guided and well-planned, Toronto-based Out Adventures are barely a year old, but they’re already setting new standards in exciting travel done with enthusiasm, class and a responsibility that’s admirable. |
|
Sweet When lesbian-focused Sweet launched last year, they sparked a new way of thinking about travel. In short, they give back, leading the charge for responsible eco-friendly travels where you can volunteer locally. And yes, you’ll still be having a blast. |
|
Zoom Vacations From China to Paris to the Caribbean and beyond… The smart guys at Zoom just keep delivering awesome trips to awesome locations. |
We asked the nominees if they’d like to respond to their nomination, or tell you more about themselves. Here’s what we’ve heard so far!
From Robert Sharp, Co-Founder, OUT Adventures:
We are extremely humbled to be nominated for the TripOut Gay Travel Awards and would like to thank the Academy of writers and travel professionals for considering us. Our motivation, vision and core values at OUT Adventures are all evident in our mission statement: “At OUT Adventures we strive to provide the most unique and engaging travel product to the LGBT community while fostering an environment for travelers from all backgrounds, ages and races to experience new cultures in a safe, active and respectful manner”. By voting for OUT Adventures you will help us continue to grow and provide these life changing experiences for LGBT travelers around the globe.
Again, thank you so much for the nomination. It’s amazing after 2 years of blood, sweat and tears (literally) to be recognized by industry professionals not only for our marketing efforts but the product that we offer.
Cheers!
From Shannon Wentworth, CEO & Founding Partner, Sweet:
After creating a children’s library in Belize, connecting kids with computer learning in Roatan and cleaning hundreds of bags of trash from Mexico’s beaches while having a blast with thousands of women in gorgeous destinations, Sweet’s nomination for Logo’s TripOut Gay Travel Award is the icing on a very rich cake.
Check out more of the 2010 TripOut Gay Travel Award nominees
